Who was Tommy Robson?

As we at PISA 2000 approach the end of our five-year-plus project to get Tommy Robson home with a statue at London Road, I have been asked to explain what exactly has made him so important to our football club.

Who was Tommy?

In this piece, I will concentrate on the man as a player and try to explain just what made Tommy not only an integral part of every team for 13 years but how, with the record number of appearances for the Posh, which will never be beaten.

He is a club legend - one that deserves the love and admiration of all Posh supporters regardless of age and whether they were lucky enough to have seen him play.

On the wing

In the modern game wingers can be described as a touchline winger, inverted, pressing winger or playmakers. I accept that times change in the game as do definitions, but Tommy was 'just' a winger. Back then things were much simpler!

He'd square up his defender; he'd dribble the ball directly at him and then with those famous swivel hips he'd go on the outside with pace.

In those bygone days, it was a matter of honour for the full back to take out his winger at least a few times, but it rarely happened to Tommy, as he kept clear of them; hence his being absent due to injury was so rare.

He was my George Boyd. As soon as he got the ball, the buzz went round the ground. Whatever the story your mate's telling you about this girl he's seeing at work, it's gone out the window because Tommy's got the ball and we're going to concentrate on him.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Assist king

Tommy knew that once that part of his work was complete, he could look up and with his trusty left foot he'd cross the ball outswinging from the keeper knowing that his mates Jim Hall and John Cozens in particular, would meet that ball with venom and intent.

No such thing as assists in the olden days but I know those two gentlemen who between them scored over 160 goals for us would put down most of them to Tommy's abilities.

 

Off the pitch

Many who saw him play will have him as their favourite ever Posh player and that isn't just due to his fantastic efforts on the pitch.

Off it he was always the most approachable of people and back then the players genuinely lived amongst the supporters. Seen in the street he'd happily stop and chat (no selfies then), his popularity never waned and when he retired, he stayed with the club and acted as an incredibly well appreciated youth team manager much loved by many young players including Micky Gynn, Steve Collins and Trevor Quow who went on to have successful careers.

He was even the club physio for a period but before some of the readers assume he must have been incredibly intelligent to qualify post career as a physio what with all those exams and such like, that position required back then running on the pitch with a bucket and sponge, wiping off any blood and convincing the 'injured' player that all was ok. 

Tommy Robson played for Peterborough United between 1968-1981.

He made a total of 559 appearances, scoring 128 goals.

Face of Posh

For many years Tommy became the 'Face of Posh' as a match day host and apart from his time as a player this was the favourite part of his career.

As a people person, this was a job made for him and one that made memories for many generations of Posh fans.

Coming home

If any of the above goes even a tiny way to explain why my generation in particular but equally many decades of Posh fans since hold Tommy in such high esteem, then my work is done.

I sincerely hope that you enjoy seeing Tommy home soon.

We have one more event to go and with his sculpture already completed we hope to have him back at London Road, where he belongs by the end of the year.

This, like with the Chris Turner Statue was a 'by the fans, for the fans’ project but has taken a lot longer than it did for his great team-mate and friend due to numerous circumstances.

Rest assured, he'll be looking down with great pride that the fans remember him, still love him and can visit him at will back at his favourite place.

The final statue fund-raising event is An Evening With Barry Fry and Ron Atkinson at The Fleet on Thursday, September 3^rd. Tickets are £25 and available from Stuart on 07799 581768. More information on Tommy is available here: https://thetommyrobsonstatue.co.uk