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Jimmy Robertson |
James Alexander Robertson was born on Friday, 6th September, 1878, in Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire. The 5' 8½ midfielder signed for George Easton's Thistle in October, 1909, having most recently been with Leyton. Aged 31, he made his only appearance on Saturday, 16th October, 1909, in a 2-1 defeat away to Bathgate in the Scottish Qualifying Cup. There were no goals for Jimmy in his one-off appearance for Thistle. His club-list included Glasgow United, Crewe Alexandra, Small Heath, Chelsea, Glossop, Leyton, Partick Thistle, Dundee Hibernian, Ayr United, Barrow, Stoke, Leeds City and Gateshead Town. Jimmy died on Tuesday, 6th July, 1965, in Glasgow, aged 86. |
Glasgow United were the first-known club of this journeyman inside right, who got a move in 1901 to Crewe Alexandra, of the Birmingham & District League, where he made his name as a regular scorer. He signed for top-flight Small Heath in 1903 for a fee of £25, and scored twice in his 6 League appearances that term. In August 1905, Jimmy was one of three Small Heath players who made their way over to London, joining the newly formed Chelsea FC, who had been elected to the English Football League. Jimmy did well there, scoring over 20 goals in his first two seasons, as the Blues won promotion to the First Division. After spells at Glossop and Leyton, Jimmy moved back up to Glasgow, joining a Thistle side who were playing in their new home at Firhill and were looking to rebuild after a shattering season of homelessness. In this regard, he was in company with similarly experienced new recruits from down south in Alec Raisbeck and Maurice Parry. From Jimmy's perspective, perhaps he hankered after finishing his career back “home” at that time. As it transpired, he only made one “first-team” appearance and even that was a bit of an anomaly, the reserves stepping in to fulfill a meaningless Qualifying Cup fixture at Bathgate, the Jags being double-engaged with a League fixture at Airdrie. Jimmy played at right half on the day, as opposed to his usual forward position. With Thistle holding his registration papers, his next few years were spent restlessly, including a second spell at Glossop, and loan spells with Dundee Hibernian, Ayr United and Barrow. He got his career back on firmer ground in season 1912-13, signing for Herbert Chapman's Leeds City of the English Second Division. He opened his goals account for City in his second game, his home debut, when the Peacocks beat Barnsley 2-0. The mighty Leeds website tells that, after being a fixture for the first eighteen games, Robertson lost his way somewhat in the second half of the season after the arrival of Arthur Price from Worksop in December. Nevertheless, he still ended the campaign with 7 goals from 27 appearances. It was to be his only season at Elland Road and he left for Gateshead in the summer, remaining two years with the North Eastern club before retiring. |
(WS/JK) |