Robson Bill Image 2 Reading 1935

Description

Southwick, County Durham born left back Bill Robson began his football career with Hylton Colliery from where he joined First Division club Derby County in 1927, making his first team debut in an FA Cup tie at Millwall in January 1928. Unusually he played three FA Cup ties before he made his Football League debut which came more than a year later at West Ham United in April 1929. Robson played 8 matches during Derby’s title challenge in 1929-30, when they finished runners up to Sheffield Wednesday, and remained a fringe player for three more seasons at The Baseball Ground, making just two further appearances, before a transfer to West Ham United in the 1933 close season after 16 matches for The Rams.

Robson fared little better at Upton Park, playing in the first three matches of the new season before losing his place, and he transferred to Third Division (South) club Reading in November 1934, where he enjoyed four seasons of regular football, helping The Royals to finish runners up in the division in 1934-35 as they narrowly missed out on promotion, and to finish in the top half dozen throughout his time at Elm Park. However he lost his place in February 1938 and played only twice more before the season’s end before retiring from professional football after a single goal, scored in his final match for Reading, a 2-2 draw with Northampton Town in April 1938, in 153 appearances.

NB in the photograph showing Reading’s back line, he stands on the right with right back Fred Gregory (left) and goalkeeper Percy Whittaker (centre).