By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie
After being handed a starting place in Ashington’s side to face Thornaby at Woodhorn Lane on Saturday, Paul Robinson had an extra-special afternoon to remember.
The Colliers won the game 3-0 – with the Whitley Bay-born midfield maestro notching his side’s third just past the hour mark before he spotted his 12 year old son Charlie standing behind the goal and was able to give him a hi-five. However, unbeknown to Robinson senior, club photographer Ian Brodie captured the moment on camera to provide the family with a lovely keepsake memory.
Reflecting on the 62nd minute, Robinson said: “First of all it was brilliant play on the right by Lee Mason, Andrew Cartwright and Dan Maguire. Maguire fired the ball across and the way it came to me, I knew I was going to touch it out of my feet and feign to shoot and drag it back onto my left foot. I didn’t connect that cleanly – but the shot was accurate, kissed the post and went in.”
He continued: “Charlie has come to loads of our games this season. He sometimes sits in the stand but for the start of the second half I picked him out behind the goal and when I scored it was a great feeling to be able to celebrate with him. Not many players get the opportunity to do that and the photograph taken by Ian Brodie is unbelievable. It was a lush little moment – and it’s a memory which our family will cherish forever.”
However Robinson – a football coach with Pro Direct Academy – had been the centre of attention early in the match when he came close to scoring – from the half way line!
The 38 year old recalls: “I knew the Thornaby ‘keeper (Robert Dean) plays quite high. When he slipped after kicking the ball out, it sat up for me and I didn’t really think about it – but I couldn’t have made a sweeter connection. I thought it had a massive chance (of going in) and it would have been nice if it had dropped in – but I was unlucky. On reflection maybe I should have hit the ball a little bit harder so it bounced into the goal instead of over it!”
Robinson had opportunities to add to his single strike later in the contest – but was denied by Dean’s brilliance: “We had loads of chances but Dean was unbelievable,” he said, “I could and should have had another two which the ‘keeper has tipped over and when I got to my car afterwards, even Charlie said ‘Dad, you could have scored a hat-trick!’”
Robinson – based at Seaton Delaval – added: “I’m always ready to play whenever the manager (Ian Skinner) needs me. Because of my age, sometimes I know there are games which won’t suit me and others which will but at Ashington, it’s a brilliant club with a brilliant squad.”