Robert Fitzgerald "Robbie" Earle MBE (born 27 January 1965 in Newcastle-under-Lyme) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and played approximately 600 games in senior club football, scoring around 150 goals. He currently works in television as a commentator and pundit for ITV.

[edit] Club career

An attacking midfielder, Earle was originally a junior player at Stoke City before moving to local rivals Port Vale, where he turned professional in 1982.^[1]

[edit] Port Vale

Earle made his Port Vale debut in a 1-0 defeat at Swindon Town on 28 August 1982, earning a regular first team place in August 1984. An ever-present in the 1985-86 Fourth Division promotion squad, he made 142 consecutive appearances between September 1984 and January 1987, the run coming to an end due to a groin strain. The strain led to a hernia operation in the autumn of 1987, but he returned to first team action in January 1988. A regular in the 1988-89 season, he scored both goals of the 1989 play-off final that took Vale through to the Second Division on aggregate.^[1]

In all, he played 357 times for the Valiants and scored 90 goals. In July 1991 he was transferred to Wimbledon for a fee of £775,000 (and 30% of any future transfer fee above that figure).^[1]

[edit] Wimbledon

Earle played an important part in the South London club's success during the nineties, and in particular, the club's 'Crazy Gang' mentality which fostered team spirit and intimidated opposing players. He was appointed team captain in 1995.

During a reserve team game for Wimbledon in 2000, Earle sustained a heavy blow to the stomach and became seriously ill with a ruptured pancreas. At the age of 35 he was forced to give up playing.^[2] His retirement coincided with the end of the 'Crazy Gang'.

[edit] International career

Though English-born, Earle was eligible to play for Jamaica at international level because of his Jamaican heritage. Before deciding to play for Jamaica in 1997, Earle was in fact once called up to the England squad, but never actually played for England. Earle was the scorer of Jamaica's first ever World Cup goal, against Croatia, in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.^[3]

[edit] Post-retirement

Since his retirement, Earle has moved into sports journalism and has worked for Capital Radio, BBC Radio 5, BBC TV, ESPN, ITV, Sky Sports and OnDigital. He has also written columns for the London Evening Standard and recently for the Stoke-on-Trent Evening Sentinel.

Earle was awarded an MBE in 1999 for his services to football.^[4] He is also an Honorary Patron for the campaign against racism, 'Show Racism the Red Card' and has appeared in television commercials promoting blood donation.

In 2005, he took part on BBC's Strictly African Dancing as part of Africa Lives season. He scored 33 and won the competition.

He has not ruled out one day heading into management with old club Port Vale,^[5] where he is considered a cult hero.^[6]

[edit] Honours

with Port Vale

• Football League Fourth Division 4th place promotion: 1985-86
• Football League Third Division Play-off winner: 1989
• PFA Fans' Favourites player: 2007

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Robbie Earle career stats at Soccerbase
• Robbie Earle at the Internet Movie Database
• Profile at MTC Talent Management

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