Robinson played in all four seasons of wartime football for Leeds City,
though he only amassed 17 games.
A Bradford Park Avenue player, Robinson played for Castleford Town in
1914/15 and had been turning out for Leeds City reserves for some weeks
before he made his first-team debut. He played inside-left when the Peacocks
were at Rochdale in a Midland Section game on 4 March 1916. City won 1-0
with a goal from debutant Willie Wilson
with the Mercury reporting that Robinson was 'effective in midfield
and somewhat weak in front of goal'. The Evening Post commented,
;It is pleasing to be able to say that his play against Rochdale was distinctly
encouraging. He controlled the ball well, and passed it with judgement;
with coolness in shooting he might on one occasion have scored a goal.
If he could add a stone to his weight and a cubit to his stature, he might
even be regarded as a potential League player. As it is, the Leeds City
officials must be pleased to know that they have in Robinson a very useful
and promising reserve forward.'
On 15 April, when City were away to Bradford Park Avenue, Robinson appeared
for his host club. Though Leeds won 1-0, the Mercury reported that
Robinson 'played a great game, and won frequent applause for his cleverness
and the co-operation extended to Bauchop on his left. The wing was a fine
one.' Robinson featured again for City in a 1-1 draw at Notts County on
21 April and three days later when they beat Barnsley 1-0 at Elland Road.
In 1916/17, Robinson played
for Park Avenue, figuring in the side that lost 3-1 at home to the Peacocks
in October. On 27 January 1917 he deputised for Leeds City winger Jimmy
Stephenson when the Peacocks hosted Park Avenue at Elland Road,
a game which ended goalless. For Leeds, Robinson came closest to a goal.
He featured again for City on 17 February when they drew 3-3 at Nottingham
Forest and on 17 March when they drew 1-1 at Bradford Park Avenue.
Robinson was first choice left winger when City kicked off the 1917/18
campaign, but after playing in eight of their first ten games, during
which he scored twice, his run came to an end. He played another three
games early in the following season.
