Born in Kirkby in Ashfield on 15 February 1908, George William Robinson began his cricket with Blidworth Village CC and then with Rufford Colliery. A left-arm spin bowler and right-hand bat, he joined the Trent Bridge staff in 1928. He played little for the Second team before making his First-Class debut for the county versus Northants at Northampton in August 1930. He took the first two wickets to fall, looked a promising prospect and retained his place for the following game. In 1931, he had three First-Class matches and in 1932 four, but in 1933 he was given an extended trial, taking 19 wickets @28.15 in 10 matches. The Nottingham Journal commented at the season’s close: “Robinson was included whenever the wickets were likely to be favourable to him, but progress seems slow.”
In fact a disagreement over his salary for 1934 resulted in him leaving the Trent Bridge staff at the end of 1933 and he joined the City Police. In 1936 when Notts were weakened by injury, Robinson re-appeared as an amateur and bowled well enough to produce comments that he ought to have been retained in 1934. His last appearance in First-Class cricket was v Derbyshire at Worksop in August where he had match figures of 8-141, including innings best figures of 4-54. In 21 matches for Notts he scored 39 runs @3.00 and took 46 wickets @26.00.
Apart from county cricket he played for Worksop CC in 1930, 1931 and 1932 and latterly for the Police. A good player soccer player, he played Mansfield Town Reserves between 1931 and 1933. George Robinson died in Derby on 16 July 1967, aged 59.
April 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 346