Theo Robinson

Watford

Robinson was born in Birmingham, West Midlands. A graduate of Watford's youth academy, Robinson was an unused substitute in Watford's victory over Ipswich Town on 17 April 2006. Five days later, he made his first team debut against Queens Park Rangers, coming on as a half-time substitute for Darius Henderson.

Robinson could have been lost to the game at the age of 16 when he was released after a season as a schoolboy at Stoke City. Fortunately for Robinson, he had been spotted by Watford at an exit trial held by The Football League at Derby County's Moor Farm training ground in 2005. Having impressed during a subsequent week's training at the club, he was signed on a two-year apprenticeship, which was followed by his first professional contract. Robinson was later cited by the Football League as an example of how their exit trials are helping to keep talented young players in the game.

He signed his first professional contract with Watford on 1 February 2007, and, in the same month, went on a month's loan to Wealdstone. His loan was later extended until the end of the season with Robinson's goals helping to keep Wealdstone in the Southern Football League Premier Division.

On 13 May 2007, Robinson made his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute in Watford's final game of the season, at home to Newcastle United.

Hereford loan

On 8 August 2007, Robinson and his teammate Toumani Diagouraga both joined League Two side Hereford United on loan, initially until Christmas and subsequently extended until May 2008. Robinson finished the season as top goalscorer for Hereford with 16 goals in all competitions as they achieved promotion.

Southend loan

Robinson made four appearances for Watford in the 2008–09 season. On 24 January 2009, he joined League One side Southend United on loan until the end of the season. The same day he made his debut against Yeovil Town, coming on as a substitute at half-time for Kevin Betsy in a 1–0 defeat. He scored his first goal for the club against Tranmere Rovers on 14 February.

Huddersfield Town

On 3 July 2009, Robinson signed for Football League One club Huddersfield Town on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Robinson took the number nine shirt vacated by Danny Cadamarteri.

He made his debut in the 2–2 draw at Southend United on 8 August 2009. He scored his first goal for Huddersfield in a League Cup tie at home to Stockport County three days later. A week later, he scored his first league goals for the Terriers, getting a brace in the 7–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. He then scored twice in Huddersfield's 4–3 defeat at Newcastle United in the second round of the League Cup.

Due to the performances of top scorer Jordan Rhodes and Lee Novak, Robinson struggled to make it in to Huddersfield's starting 11 and was mostly restricted to the bench. He made his first start since October 2009 in Huddersfield's 2–0 win away at Leyton Orient on 20 March 2010 and scored his first goal since November. He then went on to score 7 in Huddersfield's last 10 games of the regular season. His season total was 13 league goals and 16 in all competitions.

Millwall loan

On 8 September 2010, after falling down the pecking order at the Galpharm, Robinson moved to Millwall on a 93-day emergency loan. He scored his first for The Lions, the winner at Crystal Palace on 16 October in a 1–0 victory. A week later he scored a diving header against Derby County in a 2–0. He returned to Huddersfield in early November through injury, with the need for an operation on his knee, cutting his loan spell short. Millwall manager Kenny Jackett expressed his desire to bring back Robinson permanently once the transfer window was reopened and Robinson was fully fit. As of 30 December 2010 Robinson was back training with Millwall.

Millwall

He completed his permanent move to Millwall on 13 January 2011 for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £300,000. He struggled to settle at The Den and, in February 2011, signed a three-month loan deal at Derby County, with a view to a permanent move. Robinson scored twice in 13 games during this loan spell.

Derby County

After a short loan spell, Robinson agreed to join Derby County on a 2-year contract. The transfer was completed on 1 July 2011, when Robinson's contract expired with Millwall. Robinson was one of four strikers to join Derby over the 2011–12 close season, alongside Jamie Ward, Chris Maguire and Nathan Tyson and was used as a substitute in each of Derby's first six league games of the season, scoring in a 2–1 home defeat to Burnley. However, his performance in the 2–1 victory over Nottingham Forest helped Robinson cement a place in the first team and he started the next five games, netting twice with the opening goals in draws against Southampton and Reading. Despite being Derby's second top scorer, with three goals in six league starts (plus one goal in the league cup defeat to Shrewsbury Town, Robinson was sometimes criticised by supporters for "not scoring enough goals" and being "rubbish" on social networking site Twitter. He silenced his critics by scoring a brace in Derby's 3–2 defeat at Peterborough United, taking his tally for the season up to six, making him the club's top scorer. On 17 March 2012, Robinson scored a well taken 25-yard finish away at Doncaster Rovers that helped guide Derby to a 2–1 victory. That goal took Theo's total for the season into double figures, reaching 10 goals for the 2011–12 season at that point. Nigel Clough, Derby's manager said after the game that "Theo has scored some important goals this season and he's improving all the time". Robinson finished the season with 12 goals in all competitions and joint top scorer with Steve Davies.

In August 2012, Robinson was reprimanded by the after he posted on Twitter that he was dropped from the matchday squad for the game at Bolton Wanderers on 21 August before the team was announced, a move which broke club rules. 4 days later Theo came off the bench to score a last minute equaliser against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Theo Robinson became a fan hero after his time-wasting step-overs against Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands derby at the end of September. Robinson struggled to get into the starting line-up as Conor Sammon and Jamie Ward was Clough's preferred attack, but after an injury to Ward; Robinson regained his place in the starting line-up and after period of scoring five goal in six matches in October–November, Clough praised Robinson after improving his work ethic from pre-season, Clough said of Robinson "He has taken it on board and he's doing his job now. He missed a sitter at an absolutely crucial time at Peterborough in the previous game but he now has seven goals for the season and he is liable to get goals."

Huddersfield Town loan

On 22 February 2013, after asking to leave on loan to get regular first team football, Robinson rejoined his former club Huddersfield Town on an emergency loan to the end of the season. He made his 2nd debut as a substitute in Town's 0–0 draw with Ipswich Town at the John Smith's Stadium the following day. He made his first start 3 days later in the 1–0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor. Robinson failed to score in 6 appearances and he lost his place in the match-day squad in April.

Return to Derby County

Upon his return to Derby County in May, Robinson was made available for transfer with one year left on his contract.

Doncaster Rovers

On 15 August 2013, Doncaster Rovers announced the signing of Robinson on a two-year deal. The fee was undisclosed but is believed to be in the region of £150,000. He scored his first goal for the club on his debut the following day, in a 2–0 win over Blackburn Rovers. Robinson, in May 2015, was released by Paul Dickov.

Motherwell

On 28 August 2015, it was announced Robinson had signed for Scottish Premiership side Motherwell until the end of the 2015–16 season. He made his debut the following day, as a substitute, in a 1–0 victory over Kilmarnock.

International career

In November 2012, the Jamaica Football Federation reported that Robinson had shown interest playing for the Reggae Boyz and that he was in the pool of players eligible to be called up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. In January 2013, Robinson was called up for the Jamaica squad for the first time for their World Cup qualifier at Mexico which was played on 6 February, Robinson made his international debut in the 0–0 draw as a 54th-minute substitute for Jermaine Johnson.