John Robinson (18 April 1936 – June 2019), often referred to as Johnny Robinson, was an English professional footballer who played primarily as a winger. Born in Chorley, Lancashire, he came through the regional non-league scene before joining the professional ranks in the 1950s. His career illustrates a common mid-20th-century pattern of players progressing from works and local teams into the Football League.
Career
Robinson began his senior football at Leyland Motors, a works side that provided many players with the chance to combine employment and competitive football. In 1954 he signed for Bury, where he spent the bulk of his Football League career. Across all competitions for Bury he made 127 appearances and scored 21 goals. In 1961 he moved to Oldham Athletic and featured in three league matches for the club before leaving the professional game.
- Leyland Motors – local works team and stepping stone into professional football.
- Bury – 1954–1961: 127 appearances, 21 goals.
- Oldham Athletic – joined 1961, three league appearances.
Playing style and position
As a winger, Robinson's role would have focused on providing width, crossing the ball into the penalty area and supporting both attack and defence down the flank. In the formations common in the 1950s and early 1960s—often featuring traditional outside forwards—wingers were relied upon to beat full-backs and deliver accurate passes for centre-forwards.
Later life and legacy
After his time in the Football League there is limited public record of Robinson's later activities, a common situation for many players of his era who often returned to local football or non-playing careers. He died in early June 2019 at the age of 83. While not a household name nationally, his steady contribution at Bury is part of the club's post-war history and of the wider story of English lower-league football.