Robbie Earle

An attacking midfielder, Earle was a junior player at Stoke City whilst he attended Longton High School. However, after suffering from a broken leg, he was released from the Victoria Ground. He was snapped up by Stoke's local rivals Port Vale, where he turned professional in 1982.{{cite book|last=Sherwin|first=Phil|title=The Port Vale Miscellany|publisher=The History Press|location=Brimscombe Port|year=2010|pages=5|isbn=978-0-7524-5777-2}} He had been scouted by Ray Williams.{{citation|first1=John|last1=Rudge|first2=Simon|last2=Lowe|title=To Cap It All: The Autobiography of John Rudge|publisher=Pitch|year=2023|isbn=9-781801-505017|page=81}}

Earle made his Port Vale debut under John McGrath in a 1–0 defeat by Swindon Town at the County Ground on 28 August 1982.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Robbie Earle on Port Vale: Debut at Swindon debut and a bus home|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/robbie-earle-on-port-vale-debut-at-swindon-and-the-bus-home/story-30191147-detail/story.html|access-date=18 December 2017|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=9 March 2017}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He scored his first goal in his next appearance, in a 4–1 win over Aldershot at the Recreation Ground.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Is this the best Port Vale select team of last 50 years? Have your say |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-best-ever-team-4025394 |access-date=7 April 2020 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=6 April 2020}} He finished the 1982–83 campaign with one goal in nine appearances, as the "Valiants" won promotion out of the Fourth Division. He made 13 appearances in 1983–84; John Rudge replaced McGrath as manager in December, but could not stop the club from sliding straight back out of the Third Division.

Earle won a regular first-team place in August 1984. He hit 19 goals in 56 games in 1984–85, including a hat-trick against Hereford United at Vale Park on 2 February; Earle and Alistair Brown's partnership got the club a combined total of 40 goals. An ever-present in the 1985–86 Fourth Division promotion squad, he scored 17 goals in 58 games; he and strike partner Andy Jones bagged a total of 35 goals for the club. Earle made 142 consecutive appearances between September 1984 and January 1987, the run coming to an end due to a groin strain. The strain led to a hernia operation in the autumn of 1987, but he returned to first-team action in January 1988. He scored seven goals in 35 games in 1986–87 and scored four goals in 11 games in 1987–88. That season, he played in the FA Cup upset when Vale knocked out Tottenham Hotspur.{{cite news|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/port-vale-look-spurs-bbc-vale-s-greatest-games/story-25876461-detail/story.html|title=Port Vale: Look out Spurs, the BBC are to show one of Vale's greatest games|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=16 January 2015|access-date=18 October 2016}} {{Dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} A regular in the 1988–89 season, Rudge claimed that Earle and Ray Walker was one of the best-ever midfield partnerships at the Vale.{{cite news |title=The 'lost' Robbie Earle interview |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2013/01/lost-robbie-earle-interview/ |access-date=6 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=27 January 2013}} He scored both goals past Bristol Rovers in the two-legged 1989 play-off final that took Vale through to the Second Division.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Personalities|publisher=Witan Books|page=92|year=1996|isbn=0-9529152-0-0}} After the match Earle wept in the tunnel, such was his emotions to have taken his local team to victory in the play-off final. Throughout the 1988–89 campaign, he scored 19 goals in 57 appearances.

He scored 12 goals in 52 games in 1989–90, including one in a 1–1 draw with Stoke City at the Victoria Ground on 23 September. He remained a vital player in 1990–91, hitting the net 11 times in 37 appearances. As he was affectionately known, 'The Black Pearl' played 357 times for the "Valiants" and scored 90 goals. A cult hero,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/4063429.stm|title=Port Vale's cult heroes |date=3 December 2004|work=Football Focus|access-date=18 December 2017|department=BBC Sport}} he is considered one of the best midfielders ever to play for the club.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Tales: A Collection of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories|publisher=Witan Books|date=December 1991|pages=298|isbn=0-9508981-6-3}} In July 1991 he was transferred to Wimbledon for a fee of £775,000 (and 30% of any future transfer fee above that figure). It was later reported that Wimbledon chairman Sam Hammam had locked Earle in a room during transfer negotiations and only let him out when he agreed to sign for Wimbledon.

Earle played an important part in the South London club's success during the nineties, and in particular, the club's 'Crazy Gang' mentality, which fostered team spirit and intimidated opposing players. He played alongside cult figures such as Aidan Newhouse, John Fashanu, Vinnie Jones, Lawrie Sanchez, Jason Euell, Dean Holdsworth, Marcus Gayle, Andy Clarke and Efan Ekoku. Earle was known for his late runs into the box, his ability to finish, and his agility at heading the ball.

His first season at the club was turbulent, as manager Ray Harford was replaced by Peter Withe, who in turn was replaced by Joe Kinnear; nevertheless, Earle scored 14 league goals to help the "Dons" to maintain to their top-flight status. He scored seven goals in the newly formed Premier League in the 1992–93 season, including two in a 3–2 win over Liverpool at Anfield,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-earle-scuppers-leaky-liverpool-1553872.html|title=Football: Earle scuppers leaky Liverpool |work=The Independent|date=27 September 1992 |access-date=4 June 2014}} and nine goals in 1993–94 – when Wimbledon finished a club best sixth in the final table.

After injury limited him to nine goalless appearances in 1994–95 (when Wimbledon still finished ninth), he regained his fitness for the following season. He was appointed club captain. His 11 goals in 1995–96 went some way towards securing Wimbledon's survival in 15th place; he scored against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. Under his captaincy in 1996–97, the Selhurst Park side reached the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup, where they were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea and Leicester City respectively. In February 1997, he was handed the Premier League Player of the Month award.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211025934/http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=466965&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsSpecialFeatures&breadcrumb=sfsub_breadcrumb|title=Carling Premiership Player of the Month 1996/97|archive-date=11 December 2006|url=http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=466965&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsSpecialFeatures&breadcrumb=sfsub_breadcrumb|access-date=3 October 2009|work=premierleague.com|publisher=Premier League|url-status=dead}}

The club survived again in 1997–98, though dropped from fourth in December to 15th by the season's end. He scored seven goals in all competitions in 1998–99 as Wimbledon again reached the semi-finals of the League Cup; however, they finished just two places and six points above the Premier League relegation zone. The "Dons" then struggled under new manager Egil Olsen, and were relegated on the final day of the 1999–2000 season after losing 2–0 to Southampton at The Dell.{{cite news|title=Dons sent down at the Dell|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/748075.stm|access-date=18 December 2017|publisher=BBC News|date=14 May 2000}}

During a reserve team game for Wimbledon in 2000, Earle sustained a heavy blow to the stomach and became seriously ill with a ruptured pancreas.{{cite news|last=Earle|first=Robbie|title=First-class medical facilities must be made available to all players at all clubs|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Robbie-Earle-class-medical-facilities-available/story-15589160-detail/story.html|date=22 March 2012|access-date=22 March 2012|newspaper=The Sentinel|archive-date=24 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324232137/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Robbie-Earle-class-medical-facilities-available/story-15589160-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}} At the age of 35 he was forced to give up playing in November 2000.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/1013470.stm|title=Earle hangs up his boots|date=8 November 2000|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 December 2017}} His retirement coincided with the end of the 'Crazy Gang'. In nine years as a Wimbledon player, he made 244 league appearances for the South London club, scoring 59 goals.{{cite news|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=39698|title=Wimbledon FC 1991–2000|work=sporting-heroes.net|access-date=12 August 2011}} {{Dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} Towards his end of his time at the club he began coaching the reserve team.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Rob Page is right, but reserve football is no fun, says Robbie Earle|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-comment-Rob-Page-right-reserve-football/story-28745784-detail/story.html|access-date=18 February 2016|work=The Sentinel|date=18 February 2016}} {{Dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

{{Blockquote|"One afternoon in hospital I was told that I had picked up an infection again. By this time I had lost {{convert|4|st}}. My breathing was irregular, I was in agony. If somebody had told me that death was the best choice, I'd have accepted it – anything to take away the pain."|The stomach injury that ended his career was intensely painful.{{cite book|last=Shaw|first=Phil|title=The Book of Football Quotations|year=2008|publisher=Ebury Press|isbn=9780091923334|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bookoffootballqu0000unse/page/90 90]|url=https://archive.org/details/bookoffootballqu0000unse/page/90}}}}

Though English-born, Earle was eligible to play for Jamaica at international level because of his Jamaican parents. He hoped to be called up to the England squad, before he accepted the call-up from Jamaica at the age of 32.{{cite news|last=Carlin|first=John|title=Football: Earle keen to show that England's loss is Jamaica's gain|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-earle-keen-to-show-that-englands-loss-is-jamaicas-gain-1234694.html|access-date=18 December 2017|work=The Independent|date=8 October 1997}} Earle was the scorer of Jamaica's first ever World Cup goal, in a 3–1 defeat by Croatia at the Stade Félix-Bollaert, at the 1998 World Cup in France.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8736/report.html|title=Jamaica – Croatia|publisher=FIFA|access-date=17 May 2009|archive-date=19 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619022443/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8736/report.html|url-status=dead}} He played in all three of the Group H games, as Jamaica lost 5–0 to Argentina at Parc des Princes and beat Japan 2–1 at Stade de Gerland.{{cite web|title=Argentina – Jamaica|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8752/report.html|publisher=FIFA|access-date=17 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721222009/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8752/report.html|archive-date=21 July 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Japan – Jamaica|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8771/report.html|publisher=FIFA|access-date=17 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721032253/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8771/report.html|archive-date=21 July 2012|url-status=dead}}

Since his retirement, Earle has moved into sports journalism. He has worked for Capital Radio, Radio 5 Live, BBC, ESPN, ITV, Sky Sports and OnDigital. Earle was a regular pundit on ITV's football coverage, as well as World Football Daily, and occasionally joins the team on ESPN PressPass.{{cite news|url=http://socawarriors.net/Yellowgreen/7283/|title=Former T&T goalie Hislop picks Brazil, Spain for World Cup final|publisher=SOCA Warriors|date=5 June 2010|access-date=18 December 2017}} He has also written columns for the London Evening Standard and for the Stoke-on-Trent Evening Sentinel.

In 2005, he took part in BBC's Strictly African Dancing as part of Africa Lives season; he scored 33 and won the competition. He also appeared in the 2007 edition of MasterChef.

In June 2010, he had his £150,000 a year contract with ITV cancelled for giving away World Cup tickets for the Netherlands v Denmark match. Meant for family and friends, he passed them on to a friend who then sold them to Bavaria Brewery. The Brewery company orchestrated an ambush marketing event in breach of FIFA rules.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/fifaworldcuptickets/default.html|title=FIFA World Cup Tickets|publisher=ITV Press Centre|date=15 June 2010|access-date=16 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617034851/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/fifaworldcuptickets/default.html|archive-date=17 June 2010|url-status=dead}} The incident also led to him losing his role as an ambassador for England's 2018 World Cup bid.{{cite news|title=Robbie Earle to lose role as England 2018 ambassador |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8743469.stm|department=BBC Sport|access-date=18 December 2017|date=16 June 2010}} Earle described his actions as "naive" and insisted that he had "not profited in any way".{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/World-Cup-Earle-axed-ITV/article-2312824-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505162032/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/World-Cup-Earle-axed-ITV/article-2312824-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=World Cup: Vale hero and Sentinel columnist Robbie Earle axed by ITV|date=16 June 2010|work=The Sentinel|access-date=16 June 2010}} It later emerged that ITV had given Earle 400 free tickets for the tournament, including 40 for the final itself. This allocation had a RRP of around £70,000. Not permitted to sell the tickets, Earle had freely given them out to friends and family, unaware that a 'close friend' would then sell a significant number on to the Dutch company.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Sacked-Earle-defends-shattered-reputation/article-2328157-detail/article.html|title=Sacked Earle defends his shattered reputation|date=21 June 2010|work=The Sentinel|access-date=21 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623071609/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Sacked-Earle-defends-shattered-reputation/article-2328157-detail/article.html|archive-date=23 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

In March 2011, he became a broadcasting analyst at US Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers.{{cite web|url=http://www.majorleaguesocceruk.com/2011/03/robbie-earle-joins-portland-timbers.html|title=NEWS: Robbie Earle Joins Portland Timbers Broadcast Team|last=Williams|first=Glenn|date=12 March 2011|work=majorleaguesocceruk.com|access-date=18 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319063608/http://www.majorleaguesocceruk.com/2011/03/robbie-earle-joins-portland-timbers.html|archive-date=19 March 2011|url-status=dead}} In 2004, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Show Racism the Red Card.{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.srtrc.org/about/hall-of-fame?bio=100|work=srtrc.org|access-date=17 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232144/http://www.srtrc.org/about/hall-of-fame?bio=100|archive-date=2 December 2013|url-status=dead}} He has also appeared in television commercials promoting blood donation.

In 2013, he became one of the lead studio analysts for NBC Sports' coverage of the Premier League and a co-commentator on their Match of the Day and Premier League Download programmes.

Earle attended Longton High School in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Remember-school-s-beginning-end/article-1557973-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913045734/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Remember-school-s-beginning-end/article-1557973-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 September 2012|title=Remember school's beginning at its end|date=28 November 2009|work=The Sentinel|access-date=16 December 2009}} UK magazine The Vegetarian Society stated that Earle is a vegetarian.{{cite web|title=Famous Vegetarians – Robbie Earle|url=http://www.ivu.org/people/sports/earle.html|work=International Vegetarian Union|access-date=18 December 2017}}

He got married in the summer of 1989.{{cite news |title=Port Vale v Wimbledon, 1989 |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2013/09/port-vale-wimbledon-1989/ |access-date=4 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=25 September 2013}} His son, Otis, is also a footballer and was drafted by FC Dallas at the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite news|last=Sulat|first=Nate|title=2015 adidas MLS Player Combine: Despite famous father, Otis Earle stock rising from obscurity|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2015/news/article/2015/01/13/2015-adidas-mls-player-combine-despite-famous-father-otis-earle-stock-rising|access-date=15 January 2015|work=mlssoccer.com|date=13 January 2015|publisher=Major League Soccer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118042002/http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2015/news/article/2015/01/13/2015-adidas-mls-player-combine-despite-famous-father-otis-earle-stock-rising|archive-date=18 January 2015|url-status=dead}}

Earle was appointed an MBE in 1999 for his services to football.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/queens_birthday_honours/366834.stm|title=Arise Sir Alex|date=12 June 1999|publisher=BBC News|access-date=18 December 2017}} In 2007, he was voted as Port Vale's PFA Fans' Favourites. In 2009, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame as 'Football Foundation Community Champion'. He was inducted into the Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame in May 2018.{{cite news |last1=Earle |first1=Robbie |title=I'd have cut my toe off rather than missed World Cup finals! |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/robie-earle-world-cup-finals-1623924 |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=Stoke on Trent Live |date=30 May 2018 |language=en}} In May 2019, he was voted into the "Ultimate Port Vale XI" by members of the OneValeFan supporter website.{{cite news |last1=Fielding |first1=Rob |title=This is the OVF viewers all-time Port Vale XI |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2019/05/this-is-the-ovf-viewers-all-time-port-vale-xi/ |access-date=4 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=26 May 2019}}

:Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Earle goal.

Port Vale

• Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83
• Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1985–86{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale|publisher=Witan Books|year=1990|pages=258–290|chapter=From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)|isbn=0-9508981-4-7}}
• Football League Third Division play-offs: 1989{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Promotion Chronicle 1988-1989: Back to Where We Once Belonged!|publisher=Witan Books|year=1989|isbn=0-9508981-3-9}}

Individual

• Premier League Player of the Month: February 1997{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/598/Robbie-Earle/overview |title=Robbie Earle: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=27 September 2018}}
• PFA Fans' Favourites player (Port Vale): 2007

{{reflist}}

• {{Soccerbase}}
• {{IMDb name|1078538}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090606151958/http://www.mtc-uk.com/talent/robbie-earle Profile] at MTC Talent Management

{{Jamaica squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Earle, Robbie}}

Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Newcastle-under-Lyme

Category:English people of Jamaican descent

Category:Sportspeople of Jamaican descent

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Black British sportsmen

Category:Jamaican men's footballers

Category:Jamaica men's international footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Stoke City F.C. players

Category:Port Vale F.C. players

Category:Wimbledon F.C. players

Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players

Category:English Football League players

Category:Premier League players

Category:Wimbledon F.C. non-playing staff

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:British association football commentators

Category:English television presenters

Category:English sportswriters

Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Jamaican journalists

Category:English male journalists

Category:English columnists

Category:Major League Soccer broadcasters

Category:Association football coaches

Category:20th-century Jamaican sportsmen