Eric Redrobe

Eric Redrobe (born 23 August 1944 in Wigan) is a former English footballer who spent much of his career at Southport and Hereford United during the 1960s and 1970s. He played as a striker.

Redrobe was once offered a contract to play Rugby League, but chose to play football instead. His style was bustling and often physical, although he was not a particularly big man, with a height of about 6'1". He exhibited excellent ball control.

A former England youth international, he started his career at Bolton Wanderers making four appearances and scoring one goal in two and a half seasons. He had a trial at Colchester United before joining Southport, where he scored seven goals to help them finish runners-up in the Fourth Division. Called 'Big Eric' or 'Big Red' by Southport fans, Redrobe was a regular in the side during its three seasons in the Third Division before relegation.

After another three seasons in the Fourth Division, he was released and joined newly-elected Hereford United in October 1972, scoring nine goals as the Bulls were promoted at their first attempt. He remained at Edgar Street until the end of Hereford's successful 1975-76 season when they won the Third Division. He dropped into non-league football to play for Bath City before a brief return to Hereford in 1978. He later became a bailiff.

He is now an official host at Southport on matchdays.

In 2007 he was chosen as Southport's favourite player by the BBC.