Robinson determined to help save Queens .... reports the SFL Website

Although the decision to re-schedule last season's ALBA Challenge Cup Final to a sunny spring day was welcomed by just about all supporters, the moving back of the game by over four months still disappoints Queen of the South shot-stopper Lee Robinson.

The 25-year-old was in line to play in the Cup Final against Ross County in November, 2010 before heavy snow saw the game at St. Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park postponed and with the wintry weather expected to set in, it was decided to re-schedule the game for April 2011 by which time Robinson’s second spell at the Palmerston Park club had ended.

 

Robinson said, “I had signed for Queen’s after a disappointing spell at Kilmarnock. I only initially signed for a month after Roddy McKenzie had been injured in a Testimonial Game at the start of the season and to be honest that was all I wanted at the time as I was thinking of moving away from Scotland.”

“David Hutton had signed a 2 year deal the year before so I could understand that he would be first choice. But when I got into it I enjoyed working with Kenny Brannigan and played a few games so I decided to stay on until the January.”

Robinson became the ‘cup-tie’ goalkeeper for the Dumfries club and he helped them see off Albion Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic, East Fife and Peterhead to reach the ALBA Final and he said, “It wasn't an ideal situation playing just the cup games after starting the season well. Kenny was good with me and wanted me to stay longer but both David and Roddy were on contracts till the end of the season.”

“I had the consolation of the Final to look forward to and had been interviewed for the Programme and everything. I woke up on the day of the game and it was off and it was unfortunate for me that it was not going to be played again quickly.”

Robinson added, “To be honest my feelings about wanting to get away from football had not really gone away, so when my contract ended at the start of last year I decided to take a break and clear my head. I got a few offers to go back and play but I wanted to get myself fitter mentally and physically.”

It was not an easy thing to do as Robinson explained, “It was hard financially but I stuck it out and I was really refreshed by the time last summer came around.”

As it is often said ‘a change is as good as a rest’ and a lot has changed since Sunderland born Robinson first came to Scotland in 2003 as he explained, “I was at college but was due to sign for Sheffield United when an agent told me that he could get me a move to Glasgow. At first he spoke about Celtic but that move never happened but I did get a move to Rangers.”

Moving to Glasgow was no hardship as Robinson said, “I had been up to Glasgow a few times as my dad had worked up there and I liked the city. I really enjoyed my first few years at Ibrox and I made a first-team appearance in May 2006 when I came on as a substitute for Ronald Waterreus.”

“I came on in the second half at Ibrox and felt I did okay in a 2-0 win over Hearts.”

Robinson’s career got further encouragement later that year from an unlikely source as he explained, “Paul le Guen came in as the new manager at Rangers and he thought I would do well at the club and gave me a new 3 year contract. Unfortunately I never made the breakthrough to the first team as Allan McGregor really developed at that time but I was on the bench a lot.”

“It did not really work out for me or for Paul but I am still proud that a guy who had been head coach at a club like Lyon for a good length of time was willing to invest in me to the extent of a 3 year deal.”

With first team opportunities at Rangers hard to come by Robinson took the opportunity to gain match experience at Morton who were going to be having their first season of First Division football following promotion.

Robinson said, “It was my first real experience of playing competitive football on a week in, week out basis. It started off really well, but I had a wee dip in the middle of the season. David Irons came in as the manager at the start of 2008 and I got back into things and it was good to play my part in keeping them in the First Division.”

“We had to win our last couple of games to stay up and we beat Dunfermline 4-0 at Cappielow and Partick Thistle 3-0 at Firhill to do it. It was a hard year but I learnt a lot and went back to Ibrox hoping to get going again there.”

After a frustrating time where Robinson never got his gloves dirty Robinson joined Queen of the South for the first time when Gordon Chisholm signed him on a loan deal.

It was just a few months since Rangers had won the Scottish Cup at the Doonhamer’s expense and after a bright start to their First Division campaign Chisholm’s side were beginning to falter with Robinson saying, “I think at one stage they went 12 games in a row without a win and I was facing another relegation battle. It was a bit of a surprise as there were still some great players at Palmerston with the likes of Stevie Tosh, Stephen Dobbie, Sean O’Connor and Neil Macfarlane.”

“We had been ninth at one time but got ourselves back up to fifth.”

That summer saw Robinson’s contract run out at Rangers and following his release he was given the opportunity to remain in the SPL with Kilmarnock, however the move never worked out for the player or the club.

“I am honest enough to admit that my attitude was not always spot-on when I was there as I was not enjoying the day to day stuff,” said Robinson before adding, “I played once in an away game at Hibs and thought I did well but I look back on it as a bit of a wasted year now. It was hard not to feature as Mark Brown came in on loan and played a lot with Cammy Bell beginning to emerge as well.”

Robinson added, “As the Scottish Communities League Cup Final against Celtic showed he has gone on to do really well.”

“Looking back it was a step in my career that just did not work out. I learned a few things but overall it was a disappointing time. I left in the summer and that is when I ended up at Queen’s for a second time under Kenny.”

The third time around came last summer when recently appointed manager Gus McPherson made Robinson a Doonhamer again and despite his side being in the bottom half of the table for most of the season the number one is enjoying his football again.

Robinson said, “I have enjoyed myself this season but it has been hard as we have been fighting relegation. The manager and his assistant Andy Millen have been great with us but all the players realise that we are in a poor position and need to get out of it.”

Fine margins have went against Queen’s recently and in particular one week in February worked against them with Robinson explaining, “We were winning at Ayr on Saturday, February 11 and looking good to get a win when Stephen Simmons scored but they equalised just before the end. We went out and played Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup on the Tuesday night and they scored in the last minute to beat us 2-1.”

“Ayr beat Falkirk in the Scottish Cup the next night and on the following Saturday we lost another late goal against Dundee to draw 1-1 and Ayr hit back to get a good result at Ross County. That one week summed things up about how your season can change very quickly and we are now looking to change things back.”

Queen’s face Ayr at Palmerston this weekend and Robinson knows that a win would be a huge boost to their survival hopes as he explained, “Ayr have been on a great run but I am sure we will get out of trouble starting in this game. We have good players at our club and with a bit of extra luck we can get a few goals and win this one.”

“This is a big game and one where we need to stand up and be counted.”