Robinson Billy Image 2 Darlington 1925

Description

Darlington, County Durham born centre half Billy Robinson began his football career with Croft after the First World War, from where he joined hometown Third Division (North) club Darlington in 1921, making his Football League debut against Ashington in January 1922, the first of his 5 appearances in his debut season as Darlington finished runners up in the Third Division (North) in their inaugural League season. After 15 matches the following season, he established himself as a regular from November 1923, and missed only 4 matches as Darlington won the Third Division (North) Championship in 1924-25.

He remained a regular in The Quakers’ first Second Division campaign as the club recorded the highest League finish in its history of 15th in 1925-26, but lost his place in December 1926 as Darlington slid towards relegation and played only once more for The Quakers before the end of the season, and he was released by them, joining Southend United in the 1927 close season after 155 appearances for Darlington, for whom he never scored. He made only 4 appearances for The Shrimpers during 1927-28 and had a brief spell with Torquay United without making the first team before a move to Carlisle United in August 1928, where he scored his only career goal on his debut for The Cumbrians in an 8-0 win over Hartlepools United that September, playing 4 matches before the end of October before drifting out of professional football.

NB by the time this image was published he had transferred to Southend United, however he is clearly in a Darlington shirt in the photograph.