The Robinson Ambush
Tiger Treasure
TIGER TREASURE — THE TIMES OF OLD
A LITTLE NEWSPAPER CLIPPING. A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY.
Sometimes the smallest pieces of history lead to the most interesting stories. On Thursday, 5 September 1929, the Esperance Echo published a short article about Edward “Eddie” Robinson. Eddie, captain of the Harrismith Carnival team, had just been awarded the Gold Medal as the best player at the Great Southern Eastern Districts Football Carnival, held at Kulin and Kondinin.
A fine achievement in its own right. But it was the final sentence that caught our attention: “Eddie is now teaching at Dudinin, but was previously a member of the Boulder City Football Club.”There it was. A Tiger connection, tucked away in a newspaper almost 100 years old.
A little digging followed.
And what started with one footballer has uncovered something much bigger.
BCFC F&B 1965
A PACK OF TIGERS — ONE FATHER. FOUR SONS. ONE CLUB.
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EDDIE ROBINSON — THE FATHER
Eddie wore the Black and Gold during the late 1920s, before his teaching career took him into country Western Australia. His football connection with Boulder City didn't end there. In 1959, Eddie was on the Committee when the Tigers won the League Premiership. But perhaps his greatest contribution to the Tigers' story was the next generation.
Four sons — Ted, Jack, Percy and Bill — would also represent Boulder City.
TED and JACK
Ted “Punter” Robinson became a respected Tiger captain and leader, while his twin brother Jack established himself as one of the Goldfields' outstanding ruckmen and goalkickers. Between them, the twins played in five losing League Grand Finals — three for Jack and two for Ted. And their Grand Final disappointments had started much earlier. In 1957, both were members of Boulder's Juniors side that lost the Grand Final. Plenty of individual honours and wonderful football careers, but that elusive League Premiership never came their way.
BILL — THE PREMIERSHIP BROTHER
While his brothers endured Grand Final heartbreak, Bill Robinson enjoyed a different experience. Bill played in Boulder's back-to-back Reserves Premierships of 1956 and 1957, and went on to serve as vice-captain in 1956. Jack recalls that Bill may have been the only Robinson brother to play in a Tigers premiership. An interesting piece of family football folklore — and one we're continuing to investigate.
PERCY — THE YOUNGEST TIGER
And completing the family line-up was Percy Robinson, the youngest of Eddie's four sons. Percy also represented Boulder City, ensuring all four brothers had worn the Black and Gold.
A FAMILY FOOTBALL LEGACY
Five Robinsons - Two generations
A father who played for the Tigers and helped select a premiership team. Four sons who followed him into the club. Two brothers who endured five losing League Grand Finals. And another who celebrated back-to-back Reserves flags. But there's one more little story that brings this family history to life. As a youngster, Bob Renton would wait outside Boulder Oval for Eddie Robinson and offer to carry his football boots through the gate.
Eddie had someone to carry his boots. Young Bob got into the football for free! Years later, Bob recalled Eddie to his daughter-in law Dot with a few simple words:
“Your Dad was a great footballer.”
And perhaps that's the nicest part of this entire discovery. A newspaper records the footballer. A childhood memory recalls the man. And nearly a century later, we've brought together the story of a father and his four sons.
All because of one little newspaper clipping.
THE ROBINSON AMBUSH.
