Danny Robinson

Early career

Robinson began his career playing for Derby County playing for the schoolboys team from the age of 11 to 16. In 1999, at the age of 17, he signed as an apprentice at Blackpool and played two years at youth and reserve team levels. In 2001, he signed a professional contract with Burton Albion, who were then under the management of Nigel Clough. During four seasons with the Brewers the bulk of his first team appearances would come in cup competitions. He made his one and only league appearance for Burton Albion in January 2003 in a Football Conference fixture away to Scarborough and was sent off on debut in the 4–1 defeat.

Move to New Zealand

In 2004, Robinson joined New Zealand side Gisborne City on loan and in 2005 he returned on a permanent basis, also taking the role as the club's academy director. After two seasons of winter regional football with Gisborne, Robinson signed with Waikato FC for the 2006-07 New Zealand Football Championship. He would return for one more winter season with Gisborne between his first two summers in the national league with Waikato. Since 2008, Robinson has played national league football in the summer for Waitakere United but he has played for various regional clubs in the winter including Hamilton Wanderers, Bay Olympic, Lynn-Avon United and Birkenhead United.

Waitakere United

In 2008, Robinson moved to Auckland to develop his coaching career and sign for then Oceania Champions Waitakere United, who…

Following a three-month loan to Gisborne City in 2004, former New Zealand coach Kevin Fallon enticed Robinson to return on a permanent basis in 2005 with a full-time contract that included a role as the club's academy director. He continued to balance playing and coaching roles when he signed for Waikato FC in the New Zealand Football Championship, coaching the club's U-20 team in the National Youth League for one season. While playing in Gisborne and the Waikato he also held development roles with Central Football Federation and Waikato-Bay of Plenty Football. Robinson moved to Auckland move in 2008 partly to pursue more coaching opportunities. His first international role came as goalkeeper coach for the New Zealand U-20 Women for the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany and he would retain the same role for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan. He was elevated to the goalkeeper coach role for the senior women's team in 2012 ahead of the London Olympics where the team lost in the quarterfinals to eventual gold medal winners, USA. The same year Robinson also coached Waitakere City in the premier division of the Northern Region Football League. Northern Football Federation appointed Robinson as a Football Development Officer in February 2013 with a regional responsibility for clubs in the West Auckland area. In 2014, his coaching role with the Football Ferns became full-time with additional responsibility for overseeing the development of U-17 and U-20…

Robinson is married and has one child. He is a lifelong fan of Derby County F.C. His father, Phil, was a match official in the Football League and his Robinson's younger brother, Adam, is lead sports scientist at Derby County's Academy.

Player

Club

Waitakere United

New Zealand Football Championship: (4) 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13 New Zealand Football Championship Minor Premiers: (3) 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13 OFC Champions League Runners-up: (2) 2009–10, 2012–13 ASB Charity Cup: 2012 New Zealand Football Championship Runners-up: 2008–09 Bay Olympic

Northern League (New Zealand): 2011 Burton Albion

Northern Premier League: 2001–02

Other individual honours

OFC Champions League Golden Glove (best goalkeeper): 2012–13 New Zealand Football Championship Goalkeeper of the Decade (2004/05–2013/14) New Zealand Football Championship Team of the Decade (2004/05–2013/14)

Records

First goalkeeper to play 100 matches in the New Zealand Football Championship