Chris Robertson (footballer, born 1986)

Chris Robertson

Personal information
Full name	Christopher Robertson
Date of birth	11 October 1986
Place of birth	Dundee, Scotland
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Centre-back / Right-back
Club information
Current team	Ross County
Number	6
Youth career
2004–2005	Sheffield United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2005–2007	Sheffield United	0	(0)
2005	→ Leigh RMI (loan)	10	(0)
2006	→ Chester City (loan)	1	(0)
2007–2012	Torquay United	179	(11)
2012–2013	Preston North End	39	(1)
2013–2015	Port Vale	61	(3)
2015–	Ross County	18	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 14 March 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Christopher "Chris" Robertson (born 11 October 1986) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Scottish Premiership club Ross County.

He turned professional at Sheffield United in July 2005, but was released by the club after two brief loan spells at Leigh RMI and Chester City. He joined Torquay United in March 2007, and went on to spend five years with the club, helping them to win the 2009 Conference play-off final. He was sold to Preston North End for an undisclosed fee in January 2012, but left the club at the end of the 2012–13 season after losing his first team place. He signed with Port Vale in June 2013. He returned to his native Scotland with Ross County in June 2015.

Playing career

Sheffield United

Robertson was born in Dundee, but moved to Nottingham with his family at the age of two.^[1] He joined Sheffield United as a trainee before he signed professional forms with the "Blades" in July 2005. Prior to this, manager Neil Warnock sent Robertson to join Leigh RMI of the Conference on loan in the 2003–04 season, and he went on to make 10 appearances for the "Leythers" under the management of Phil Starbuck.

Robertson joined League Two side Chester City on loan on 1 February 2006,^[2] making his league debut as a half-time substitute for Mark Roberts in a 5–0 defeat to Carlisle United at Brunton Park three days later.^[3] However Chester manager Keith Curle cancelled his loan spell after a week, along with the loan spells of Wayne Corden, Mark Roberts, and Evan Horwood.^[4]

Torquay United

In March 2007, Robertson joined Torquay United on non-contract terms, rejoining manager Keith Curle who had signed him on loan while manager of Chester City.^[5] He scored on his "Gulls" debut, volleying in the third goal in a 3–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers at Plainmoor on 10 March.^[6] He made a further eight League Two appearances in the 2006–07 relegation season, and signed a full contract with Torquay in June 2007.^[7]

He played 28 games in the 2007–08 campaign, and was an unused substitute in the 2008 FA Trophy Final, as Torquay lost 1–0 to Ebbsfleet United at Wembley Stadium.^[8] He was transfer-listed by manager Paul Buckle in June 2008,^[9] but forced his way back into the first team after Torquay made a bad start to the 2008–09 season. He played 32 games despite missing a three-month period recovering from surgery after he ruptured the main supporting ligament in his ankle.^[10] After forming a solid partnership with Chris Todd at the heart of defence, Torquay were promoted back to the Football League after beating Cambridge United 2–0 in the Conference National play-off final at Wembley.^[11]

Robertson was linked to a move to Burton Albion in summer 2009,^[12] but instead signed a one-year contract after protracted negotiations.^[13] He played 50 matches in the 2009–10 season, and signed a two-year contract as United finished comfortably in mid-table.^[14] A club record run of ten clean sheets was ended after 998 minutes without a goal four matches into the 2010–11 season.^[15] United reached the play-off final, but lost 1–0 to Stevenage at Old Trafford.^[16]

An ever-present in the back four in the 2011–12 campaign by the January transfer window, Robertson began to attract the interest of other clubs as manager Martin Ling struggled to find the money to compete with other interested parties.^[17] At the time of his departure Torquay were aiming for automatic promotion after a lengthy series of victories.^[18] In his absence the club finished fifth, and lost to Cheltenham Town in the play-off semi-finals.

Preston North End

In January 2012, Robertson signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with League One side Preston North End for an undisclosed transfer fee (later reported to be £60,000).^[19][20] He scored his first goal for the "Lambs" on 14 April against Huddersfield Town, and after the game was praised by manager Graham Westley for his application and character.^[21]

Due to the form of summer signings Paul Huntington and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Robertson had to wait until 14 October for his first league appearance of the 2012–13 season, when he put in a "terrific display" and again earned praise from Westley for his hard work and professionalism.^[22] He was limited to a total of 24 league starts over the course of the campaign, and decided to leave the club after failing to play at Deepdale under new boss Simon Grayson.^[23]

Port Vale

He signed with newly promoted League One club Port Vale in June 2013.^[24] Upon securing him to a two-year contract, manager Micky Adams noted that Robertson had experience of League One football and had made a good impression on him during his time at Torquay.^[25] He opened the 2013–14 season in a centre-back partnership with Carl Dickinson.^[26] On 1 April he was sent off during a 2–1 win over Crawley Town after the referee mistakenly thought he had made a tackle from behind, when in fact the culprit was club captain Doug Loft.^[27] He ended the campaign with 44 appearances to his name, but said that he was not taking his future at the club for granted despite being one of only a few players contracted until 2015.^[28]

At the start of the 2014–15 season he fell down the first team pecking order behind Richard Duffy, Ryan McGivern, Stéphane Zubar and Remie Streete, and was told by new manager Rob Page that he must go out on loan in order to find first team football.^[29] He said the club told him to leave for financial reasons and that "He [Page] explained to me that I was part of his plans, as long as he is here. Then a week later, he started signing centre-halves and loan players. I didn't really know what was going on."^[30] He was released in May 2015.^[31]

Ross County

Robertson signed for Scottish Premiership club Ross County in June 2015.^[32] In making the move he turned down better financial offers from lower league English clubs.^[33] He broke his hand in pre-season and started the 2015–16 season on the bench.^[1] He was an unused substitute in the 2016 Scottish League Cup Final at Hampden Park, as the "Staggies" won the Scottish League Cup for the first time in their history.^[34]

Statistics

As of 14 March 2016.

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other[35]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sheffield United	2005–06[36]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2006–07[37]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Chester (loan)	2005–06[36]	League Two	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Torquay United	2006–07[37]	League Two	9	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
	2007–08[38]	Conference National	25	2	2	0	0	0	1	0	28	2
	2008–09[39]		32	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	32	3
	2009–10[40]	League Two	45	2	2	0	1	0	2	0	50	2
	2010–11[41]		43	2	4	0	1	0	5	0	53	2
	2011–12[42]		25	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	27	1
	Total		179	11	9	0	3	0	8	0	199	11
Preston North End	2011–12[42]	League One	18	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	1
	2012–13[43]		21	0	3	1	1	0	3	0	28	1
	Total		39	1	3	1	1	0	3	0	46	2
Port Vale	2013–14[44]	League One	37	3	5	2	1	1	2	0	45	6
	2014–15[45]		24	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	26	0
	Total		61	3	5	2	3	1	2	0	71	6
Ross County	2015–16[46]	Scottish Premiership	18	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	21	0
Career total			298	15	18	3	9	1	13	0	338	19

Notes

• Leigh RMI statistics unavailable.

Honours

Torquay United

• Conference National play-off winner: 2009^[11]

Ross County

• Scottish League Cup: 2015–16^[34]

References

1. Skinner, Andy (20 August 2015). "Chris Robertson enjoying Ross County switch". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
2. "Chester boss signs defensive trio". BBC Sport. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
3. "Carlisle 5–0 Chester". BBC Sport. 4 February 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
4. "Chester make Hinnigan appointment". BBC Sport. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
5. "Ailing Torquay seal treble swoop". BBC Sport. 2 March 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
6. "Torquay 3-0 Wycombe". BBC Sport. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
7. "Gulls boss Buckle brings in duo". BBC Sport. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
8. Mawhinney, Stuart. "McPhee fires Fleet". FA. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
9. "Torquay put pair on transfer list". BBC Sport. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
10. "Robertson will need ankle surgery". BBC Sport. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
11. "Robertson believes Torquay can compete". thisisdevon.co.uk. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
12. "Gulls upbeat over Robertson". football.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
13. "Robertson commits to Gulls". football.co.uk. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
14. "Chris Robertson signs new two-year deal at Torquay". BBC Sport. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
15. "We Were Worthy Winners". torquayunited.com. 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 1 September 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
16. Begley, Emlyn (28 May 2011). "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
17. "Torquay's Chris Robertson generating transfer interest". BBC Sport. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
18. "Torquay United aiming for top three says Chris Robertson". BBC Sport. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
19. "Preston sign Chris Robertson and Graham Cummins". BBC Sport. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
20. "Preston release ex-Gull Robertson". Herald Express. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
21. "Chris Robertson 'will be boosted by first Preston goal'". BBC Sport. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
22. "Chris Robertson earned Preston return – Graham Westley". BBC Sport. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
23. "New boy Robertson aiming to make most of fresh start". The Sentinel. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
24. "Port Vale complete Chris Robertson and Gavin Tomlin deals". BBC Sport. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
25. "Valiants set to double up". The Sentinel. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
26. "Carl Dickinson says they have no reason to fear anyone". BBC Sport. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
27. Baggaley, Mike (2 April 2014). "Port Vale set to appeal Chris Robertson's red card". The Sentinel. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
28. Baggaley, Mike (29 April 2014). "Chris Robertson uncertain over future". The Sentinel. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
29. Baggaley, Mike (3 November 2014). "Rob Page keen for Chris Robertson to go on loan". The Sentinel. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
30. "Chris Robertson: Port Vale dropped me for 'financial reasons'". BBC Sport. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
31. Baggaley, Mike (9 May 2015). "Robertson the high-profile casualty of Valiants’ cull". The Sentinel. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
32. "Ross County sign Foster, Davies and Robertson". BBC Sport. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
33. Skinner, Andy (2 July 2015). "Chris Robertson reveals he turned down ‘financially better’ offers to join Ross County". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
34. Wilson, Richard (13 March 2016). "Scottish League Cup Final: Hibernian 1 Ross County 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
35. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
36. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
37. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
38. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
39. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
40. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
41. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
42. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
43. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
44. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
45. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
46. "Games played by Chris Robertson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.

External links

• Chris Robertson career statistics at Soccerbase