THIS week, Ross McGinn from the Innerleithen Community Trust writes for the Peeblesshire News' Tweeddale History page. This time, he's bringing us the history on one of the town’s famous footballers.

BORN in Innerleithen on April 15, 1899, John Hardy “Jock” Robson played in the position of goalkeeper despite only standing at 5’8”. 

Jock Robson had served in WWI with the 6th Seaforth Highlanders and, after returning home, he played for local side Vale of Leithen FC. 

In November 1921, Robson was signed by the English league club Arsenal for a fee of £5, and initially was the club’s third-choice goalkeeper behind Ernest Williamson and Stephen Dunn. 

With limited experience and his lack of height, Arsenal’s smallest-ever goal keeper, Jock was never expected to be thrust into the first team as first-choice ’keeper, but after Williamson was dropped for letting in 14 goals in the first five games, and Dunn, who not only let in the four against Bolton but, two days before that, let in four against Huddersfield, Jock made his debut for Arsenal against Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day 1922. 

Arsenal won 5-0 and Robson earned his place. He played for the rest of the 1922-23 season, keeping 12 clean sheets in 20 matches, and became a regular first team presence in the Arsenal side for the next season and a half.

Arsenal were by no means a top side at this time, and close to relegation in 1924 and 1925, but Robson’s athletic goalkeeping helped keep them up. 

Border Telegraph:

Vale of Leithen team in 1919, with Jock Robson, centre of the back row (Photo: Ross McGinn - Innerleithen Community Trust)

However, after Welsh International goalkeeper Dan Lewis joined Arsenal in late 1924, Robson had to share first team duties with him. 

Robson started the 1925-26 season as first-choice goal keeper but, after the appointment of new Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman who brought in a change of playing strip and took Arsenal to second in the league, signed Bill Harper in November 1925, Robson’s days at Arsenal were numbered. 

He made his last first-team appearance in a 5-2 win against Manchester City on November 7, 1925.

After spending the rest of the season in the reserves, Robson left Arsenal in August 1926 for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.

In all, he played 101 matches for Arsenal and 42 for Bournemouth.
After his time with Bournemouth, he returned to Scotland and played for Montrose FC in the Scottish league. 

Thereafter he returned and worked for the Burgh of Innerleithen, at one point looking after the Memorial Hall, and served as a retained fireman. 

Jock Robson died in Innerleithen in 1995 aged 96.

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