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On April 11, 1975, Robin was so overjoyed
after scoring the last-minute winner in
Reading’s 2-1 victory over Rochdale that in
celebration he ran behind the goal and
kissed a policeman! He later said he regretted
this action as he ‘hated coppers’.
Recollections of a
likeable rogue
There are numerous stories of Robin’s antics in The
Greatest Footballer You Never Saw, but there are
many more. Here are some of my own recollections:
Robin’s fine form continued into the 1975-76
season and on March 31, 1976, he scored one
of the greatest goals I, and many others, have
ever seen.
On a three-day trip up north to play Hartlepool and
Workington in November 1974, I was one of the first
members of the media allowed to travel on the team
coach and to stay with the team.
Fourth-placed Reading were at home against
third placed Tranmere Rovers and in charge
of the game was the experienced World Cup
final referee Clive Thomas.
Following a 3-2 victory at Hartlepool, we returned to
our hotel in Darlington. Manager Charlie Hurley
brought a round of drinks in the hotel bar and then
retired to bed, instructing the players NOT to stay up
late! He had barely left the room when a player said
‘Who’s in the kitty