Focus On……John Robson

Series continues on players who have spent some of their careers as a player or manager in the Southern League.

John Robson is well-known and well-respected in non-League football in the south of England.

After a lengthy career as a very decent player, John went on to have an even longer spell as a non-League manager at Southern League, Isthmian League and Wessex League level.

He has had spells in charge of the likes of Gosport Borough, Winchester City, Andover Town, Blackfield & Langley, Worthing and Dover in a long managerial career.

Brought up in the north-east, John first moved into the area early in the 1970s after joining the Army.

He played at Basingstoke Town and then joined Waterlooville.

After a brief spell with St Johnstone in Scotland he returned to play for Waterlooville again.

When his playing days finished, John turned to coaching and was involved in that capacity and as manager at a host of clubs and also worked with the likes of former England, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alan Mullery.

He rates the Worthing team of the early 1990s as the best side he was involved with, firstly as coach alongside another ex-Spurs man in former Northern Ireland striker Gerry Armstrong, and then as manager when, under his guidance, they finished second in the Isthmian First Division and won promotion to the Premier Division.

In 1994 they reached the first round of the FA Cup where they lost 3-1 against Bournemouth at Dean Court.

In his excellent book `Football, Family And Friends`, John recounts many characters and incidents illustrating the wonderful world of non-League football, with his lowest point was being sacked by Winchester City in 2004 on the eve of an FA Vase semi-final!

John has been a wonderful servant to non-League football as a player, coach and manager and now lives in retirement in Hampshire.

Clubs Played For:

St Johnstone, Waterlooville, Basingstoke Town, Eastleigh, Bognor Regis Town, Salisbury.

Clubs Managed Include:

Gosport Borough, Winchester City, Camberley Town, Andover Town, Bashley, Southwick, Blackfield & Langley, Worthing, Dover, Alton Town, AFC Totton, Petersfield Town.

Best Game Played In?

At Wembley versus Northern Ireland in a charity game. We won 4-2 and I scored two goals playing for the late great Peter Osgood XI.

Best 11 Played With (or managed):

Richie Damarell

Micky Seymour

Bobby Griggs

Gerry Armstrong

Steve Riley

Gary Joseph

Darren Robson

Gary Stevens

Sandy Brown

Brian Bromley

Jeremy Stagg

Subs:

Kim Manns

Mick Bennett

Nick Holmes

Mick Catlin

Neil Hider

Best Captain?

Brian Bromley

Funniest Team-mate/Manager?

Brian Bromley and Darren Hewitt

Best Manager?

Cliff Huxford (Eastleigh)

Best Mate in Football?

My son Darren

Words of Advice?

Always work hard for your team and team-mates.