George Robb

George Robb gave Great Britain the lead after 12 minutes against Luxembourg at the 1952 Olympics and the British team held that lead until the 60th minute. The game then went into extra time and within seven minutes of the start of the extra period, Britain’s chances were dashed by three quick goals from their European opponents. Robb started his career as a teenager with Finchley as an inside-forward but whilst serving with the Royal Navy he played for their football team and was switched to the wing and it was in that position that he became yet another one of the many fine wingers in England in the 1950s. He first signed amateur terms with Tottenham Hotspur in 1944 but with not being offered a permanent contract he continued with his teaching career at Crouch End primary school. However, he re-signed for Spurs in December 1951 on amateur forms and made his début on Christmas Day that year, scoring one goal in a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic at The Valley. He was offered a professional contract in the summer of 1953 and went on to play 200 League and Cup games for Tottenham, scoring 58 goals. Having won 17 amateur caps he went on to become one of the few post-war players to win England amateur and full international caps. Sadly, his only senior cap was in the humiliating 6-3 defeat by Hungary at Wembley in November 1953, England’s first defeat on home soil by continental opposition. His penultimate game for Spurs was in the 10-4 win over Everton in October 1958 (Bill Nicholson’s first game in charge of Tottenham). A week later he was in the side that won 4-3 at Leicester City. However, a knee injury sustained in the London 5-a-side tournament meant an end to his career and he eventually called it a day in 1960. Robb continued his teaching career whilst at Spurs, at Christ’s College Finchley, and after he quit the game he took up a post at Ardingley Public School, Sussex, in 1964 where he stayed until his retirement in 1986. In the 1970s he was a member of the Lindfield Cricket Club in Sussex. He died on Christmas Day 2011, on the 60th anniversary of him scoring on his Spurs debut against Charlton.