George Robledo

Robledo started his footballing career at Huddersfield Town, playing as a part-time amateur while he earned his money coal mining, though he never managed to break into the first team. He was able to give up the coal mining when he moved to Second Division Barnsley during World War II. First Division club Newcastle United signed him on 27 January 1949, for a fee of £26,500. The fee included his brother Ted; this is because Newcastle were only interested in buying George but he refused to move without his brother. Robledo's league debut for Newcastle came in the 2–0 victory away to Charlton Athletic on 5 February, while his first league goal came a month later in the derby match against Sunderland at St James' Park. Newcastle came out of the match 2–1 winners, with Robledo's goal separating the sides, helping to quickly make him a fan favourite. The other Newcastle goal scorer was Jackie Milburn, marking the start of one of the great striking partnerships in Newcastle United's history. Robledo went on to score 5 more goals in the last 12 games of the season.

The following season, Robledo scored 11 goals for Newcastle, then netted 14 times in the 1950–51 season and became the first South American to play in the FA Cup final, when Newcastle beat Blackpool 2–0 to lift the Cup. Robledo finished as Division One's top scorer in the 1951–52 season with 33 goals, 39 in all competitions (equalling Hughie Gallacher's record). Robledo finished the season by scoring the goal which…

Chile recruited Robledo for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, even though he spoke no Spanish. He made his debut in the opening group game against England (one of his opponents reputedly warned him after he had hit the post "Steady, George, you're not playing for Newcastle now, you know") and scored in Chile's 5–2 victory over the United States. He was in the Chile squad for the 1955 and 1957 South American Championships, finishing as runner-up in the former tournament. Robledo made thirty-one appearances for his national side, scoring eight goals over a period of seven years.

Robledo married in 1959, and later had a daughter. He finally retired from football in 1961 and took charge of the sports program in St Peter's school, Viña del Mar, where he remained leading a quiet life until his death of a heart attack on 1 April 1989, just before his 63rd birthday. He was survived by his wife Gladys and daughter Elizabeth. His brother Ted had died nearly 20 years earlier, having fallen from an oil tanker into the sea off the coast of Dubai in December 1970. His body has never been found. In May 2022, his daughter, Elizabeth, announced that she would auction some belongings of her father. The shirt with which George scored the goal against Arsenal in the 1952 FA Cup final – the goal that was included in the artwork of the John Lennon album Walls and Bridges – was sold for £7,500.

Newcastle United

FA Cup: 1950–51, 1951–52 Colo-Colo

Primera División de Chile: 1953, 1956 Copa Chile: 1958 Individual

Football League First Division top scorer: 1951–52 Primera División de Chile top scorer: 1953, 1954