Christy Robinson

An inside-forward, Christy Robinson was not used in either of the Irish Free State’s (now the Republic of Ireland) two matches at the 1924 Paris Olympics but did score on his début in the friendly against Estonia at the Stade de Colombes the day after the quarter-final defeat by Netherlands. It was Robinson’s only international appearance. On his way to the Paris Games Robinson had a confrontation with customs officials after he was found to be carrying a gun. He claimed it was for his own protection as it was shortly after the end of the Civil War in Ireland.

At club level, Robinson played for Bendigo, Shelbourne, and Bohemians, winning a League title with the latter in 1924 (scoring 12 goals), and was then in their all-conquering team of 1928 that won the Leinster Cup and the FAI League and Cup double. His younger brother Jeremiah, known as Sam, was also in that 1928 side, and he too enjoyed an Ireland international career as they became the first brothers to play for the Republic of Ireland.

After his playing days ended, Christy became manager of Dublin-based Fearons Athletic and in 1936/37 took them to the semi-final of the Free State Cup (now the Football Association of Ireland Cup), before a 4-0 defeat by St, James’s Gate. After severing connections with football, Robinson became a barman and moved to London and later Dover, where he died in his early-50s.

Before becoming a top footballer, the Robinson brothers had been active members of the IRA as youngsters. It is reported that Christy was to have had a trial with Arsenal, which was cancelled because of his IRA involvement.