DICKY ROBINSONFootballer Dicky Robinson, one of the heroes of fans on the terraces at Middlesbrough in the 1950s, died on 19 April, 2009, aged 82.The talented full-back made more than 400 appearances for the club, playing alongside such greats as Brian Clough, Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick.He also played five times for the Football League representative side.Born in Whitburn, he was recruited to Middlesbrough by manager David Jack after Robinson carried his clubs for him in the 1951 PFA golf championships.After leaving Ayresome Park in 1959, he joined Barrow where he played another 139 games and later became the club’s trainer.Alan Peacock, of the Middlesbrough Former Players Association, who played briefly with the defender in the late ‘50s, said:"Dicky was one of my heroes when I used to watch Boro from the terraces. He and George Hardwick were the regular full-backs and he was a class act."Rolando Ugolini, who was goalkeeper when Robinson was in his prime, also paid tribute to him, saying: "Dicky was a fantastic player. He was a great header and a beautiful deliverer of the ball."As well as being a very good footballer, Dicky was also a scratch golfer. He was well liked in the dressing-room and was popular with supporters."Winger Billy Day, who played with him at the start of his Boro career, added: " He was a very versatile player who could play in both full-back positions and also at centre-half. He was the master of the sliding tackle and very few wingers got the better of him."He died at his home in Barrow on Furness after a long illness and was survived by three children and two step children.
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