Walter Robbins
{{short description|Welsh footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Walter Robbins
| image =
| fullname = Walter William Robbins
| birth_date = {{birth date|1910|11|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cardiff, Wales
| death_date = {{death year and age|1979|1910}}
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1928–1931
| years2 = 1931–1939
| clubs1 = Cardiff City
| clubs2 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps1 = 86
| caps2 = 84
| goals1 = 38
| goals2 = 28
| nationalyears1 = 1930–1935
| nationalteam1 = Wales
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| manageryears1 = 1969 | managerclubs1 = Swansea City (caretaker)
}}
Walter William Robbins (24 November 1910 –1979) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a forward. He represented Wales from 1930 to 1935.
Following the end of World War II, Robbins worked as a trainer with Cardiff City, Newport County and Swansea City, where he briefly served as caretaker manager.{{cite web|url=https://www.swanseacity.com/history/our-managers|title=OUR MANAGERS|publisher=Swansea City A.F.C.|access-date=27 February 2024}} After his coaching career, he moved to Manchester United as a scout.
Club career
Having previously worked for a local brewery, Robbins was serving a motor engineering apprenticeship when he rose to attention after scoring 70 goals during a single season for Ely United in the Cardiff and District League at the age of 16.Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players, Davies and Garland 1991 He signed for Cardiff City, making his debut during the 1928–29 season against Portsmouth, before scoring his first goal for the club in his next game, a 1–1 draw with Bolton Wanderers. Relegation to Division Two saw the departures of George McLachlan and Fred Warren during the following season, handing Robbins a regular first team place. On 6 February 1932, Robbins scored five goals during a 9–2 win over Thames, which remains the club's record league win.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/1920-1947-724302.aspx |title=Club history |publisher=Cardiff City F.C. |accessdate=2013-09-09}} Several months later, Robbins was sold to West Bromwich Albion where he spent eight years, before the outbreak of World War II.
International career
In 1929, Robbins was selected for the Football Association of Wales tour of Canada but these matches were not classed as international cap matches.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/britishfatours.html |title=British "FA XI" tours |website=RSSSF |accessdate=2010-03-19}} His Cardiff City teammates Len Davies, Fred Keenor and Fred Warren were also selected for the tour. He made his full debut for Wales on 25 October 1930 in a 1–1 draw with Scotland.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wfda.co.uk/international_details.php?id=142 |title=Scotland 1-1 Wales |publisher=Welsh Football Data Archive |accessdate=2010-03-20}}
=International goals=
:Results list Wales' goal tally first.
| class="wikitable"
! Goal !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition | |||||
| 1. | 18 November 1931 | Anfield, Liverpool, England | {{fb|ENG}} | 1–3 | 1932 British Home Championship |
| 2. | 7 December 1932 | rowspan="2" | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales | {{fb|IRE}} | 4–1 | rowspan="2" | 1933 British Home Championship |
| 3. | 7 December 1932 | {{fb|IRE}} | 4–1 | ||
| 4. | 4 October 1933 | Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales | {{fb|SCO}} | 3–2 | 1934 British Home Championship |
References
- {{Cite book
| title = The Who's Who of Cardiff City
| first = Dean
| last = Hayes
| publisher = Breedon Books
| year = 2006
| isbn= 1-85983-462-0
}}
{{reflist}}
{{Swansea City A.F.C. managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robbins, Walter}}
Category:Footballers from Cardiff
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Wales men's international footballers
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players