Eric Redrobe is dead “Big Red” passed away on New Year’s Eve aged 81. Eric was an institution at Haig Ave; no player has won greater adulation from Southport fans than Eric during the sixty-eight years that I have been following the ’Port.
William Eric Redrobe was born in Billinge, near Wigan on 23rd August 1944. He first visited Haig Avenue in November 1957 when as a pupil at Gidlow Secondary Modern when he joined 7,000 Wigan Athletic fans who saw the then Lancashire Combination side knock Third Division North Southport out of the FA Cup.
A giant of a man weighing over 13 stones and over six feet tall who was built like a rugby forward. Not surprisingly he appeared for Lancashire schoolboys at Rugby League and turned down the opportunity of signing for St Helens and Wigan Rugby League clubs, but Eric preferred association football Bolton Wanderers spotted his talent, and he went there straight from school. He won two Youth International caps before turning professional , becoming understudy to Welsh International, Wyn Davies. He made two First Division appearance against Aston Villa and Chelsea and two Second Division appearances for the Wanderers, scoring in his last game at Rotherham and was a regular in their Central League side.
On being freed Eric had a trial with Colchester United. Whilst touring Northern Ireland Southport played Colchester in a pre-season friendly and Eric impressed Billy Bingham so much that he offered him terms . I was present at Eric’s Southport debut in the opening match of the 1966/67 season at Port Vale. However, he spent much of the earlier part of the season in the Reserves, scoring all four goals against Clitheroe in October 1966. It wasn’t until after Jim Fryatt’ was transferred to Torquay United late in the season that Eric came into his own in the final promotion push scoring the vital second goal in the thrilling 2-1 win at Prenton Park before 15,555 fans which earned him cult status. I can still see in my mind’s eye Eric heading the ball over the advancing Jim Cumbes in the Tranmere Rovers goal and the ball trickling ever so slowly over the goal line. The Liverpool Echo called Southport’s victory “Twilight robbery”, which of course it was it was, as we had been under pressure for much of the game. The following week Eric laid on the winning goal for George Andrews in the emotion-charged last game of the season against Southend United.
Between 1967 and 1969 Redrobe formed a formidable spearhead with Terry Harkin and George Andrews. When both were transferred to Shrewsbury Town extra burden was placed on “Red” who carried the forward line. Despite his size Eric was still capable of surprisingly intricate ball-play at times, but it was as a bustling, barnstorming centre-forward who unsettled defences , creating scoring chances for both him and others who played alongside him that he will be best remembered by his surging runs down the wing or through the middle. Nor was he adverse to winding up the opposition or using the old-fashioned shoulder charge which left goalkeeper Gordon West traumatised in the Everton cup-tie in 1968.
In October 1972 Eric asked for a transfer after making 186 League games( plus six as substitute) and scoring 55 goals and was transferred to Hereford United for £5,000. In twenty first position when he joined the club, his signing culminated in an amazing run of success which resulted in them gaining promotion in their first season as runners-up to Southport. Further success followed including a Third Division championship medal in 1975/76. He also scored a memorable goal in an FA Cup tie at West Ham.
Eric drifted into non Leage football first with Bath City and then Ledbury Town and then almost two years after being re leased made a brief comeback, receiving a rapturous welcome from the fans when he came on a 59th minute substitute against Plymouth Argyle He concluded his Football career with Lydbrook as their Player Manager. Eric then went back to playing rugby – Union rather than League – turning out for Ledbury before moving back to Wigan with his wife Margaret who predeceased him after almost fifty years marriage. He went on to play for Orrell’s second and third XVs (whose coach was brother-in-law, Bill Lyon)until the age of 46. When his footballing days were over, he obtained employment in the Lord Chamberlain’s Department as a Court Bailiff, latterly based in the Southport County Court.
Eric was among first players to be elected to the Southport FC Hall of Fame in 2019. Twelve years earlier he had been chosen as the Southport Fans all-time favourite player as part of thew PFA Centenary celebrations. He became President of “Trust in Yellows”. He was made an Honorary Vice President of Southport Football Club and before each game would solemnly hand fellow Vice Presidents an “Uncle Joe’s Mint Ball”. Blessed with a great sense of humour, Eric would often join Keith Mitchell, the late David Rimmer and myself on away trips which invariably concluded with a pint or three of Eric’s local in Orrell with “Big Red” regaling us with amusing stories about his playing days.
Since Margaret’s Passing Eric’s health declined and he spent his latter days in a Wigan Nursing home. His funeral with take place at St. Thamas the Martyr Church, Up Holland at 1pm on Wednesday, 11th February.
Back in 1974 Geoff Wilde and I wrote a series of articles in the Southport Visiter entitled “Players from the Past”. We concluded with the following words “Supporters are unlikely to forget Eric’s ability, enthusiasm, and clowning. Even his name intoned “Redrobe” or Eric-the-Redrobe” – became a rallying cry for Southport fans up and down the Country”.
There will never be another Eric Redrobe.
Rest in peace, “Big Red”.
Michael Braham
