Five years ago I prepared a talk for the Pennine Cricket Conference which had to be cancelled because of snow in late March. My notes for that talk 'Every Picture tells A Story' remain on my computer and I came across them recently while looking for something else, which is often the way. The gist of my talk was the idea that the social structure of cricket teams at that time both on the county circuit and the village green mirrored the structure of society. I chose Somerset to illustrate the divisions between gentlemen and players and my notes make brief reference to one Ernest Robson, born in Chapel Allerton, and who served Somerset as a professional for 27 years. Although described as an all-rounder Robson's work was mainly that of a bowler, he stands fourth on the counties all time list of wicket takers,
In his history of Somerset cricket, 'From Sammy to Jimmy', the late Peter Roebuck devotes more than three pages to Robson, a man of 'somewhat melancholic appearance whose manner, in times good and bad, was of unequalled tranquillity'.' Impassive of countenance, respected for his unflagging determination and unfailing accuracy.' That fine writer RC Robertson-Glasgow spoke highly of Ernest's bowling and recounts that Jack Hobbs said that he (Robson) troubled him more than any other bowler of his type, in particular with his late outswing. Ernest's reaction to success was 'a slight, very slight, smile and with a smoothing of the moustache, a 'thank you, sir, I was lucky.'' There is a wonderful picture in David Frith's Pageant of Cricket (page 240) of WW Lowe of Worcestershire being given out caught behind off Robson at Taunton in 1910 and of the six players plus the umpire in the picture the bowler is the least animated, indeed he could almost be a soldier standing to attention.
In the talk that never was I ran through the various ways in which the gentleman player distinction was symbolised, different railway carriages and dressing rooms even different gates, and Vic, Robson's son, recalled a time in 1919 when his father, the only professional*, would sit in his own enclosure watching play and come on to the field through his own gate. Even after her husband's death, Vic's mother would mend gloves for the amateurs while Vic would telegraph their bets through to their London bookmakers.
Robson's death is recorded in Wisden in 1925, aged 52, and having played as recently as 1923, a season in which the 51 year old sent down 839 overs. For years he had suffered from rheumatism, in his later seasons he doubled up as groundsman, imagine Ben Stokes sweeping the pitch at tea, and although almost crippled to the point where he could barely run his guile got him 81 wickets in that last season. Although he finally hung up his boots he appeared on the umpires' list for 1924 but died before he could stand following an operation for cancer.
Somerset did not forget this loyal servant, he had been given a cheque for £178 in 1919 for recognition of his services, he had a benefit with a match against Worcestershire in 1905 and on August 23, 25 and 26 1925, just three month's after Ernest's death, the proceeds from the match against the same county went to Mrs Olive Robson.
In Robson's obituary Wisden recalls some of his batting feats, he hit five first class centuries, including one against Worcestershire when aged 50, and recalls how in 1922 at Weston our Ernie finished the match with a six off the second ball of the last over to beat Middlesex by two wickets. For this he received a cheque for £50, Wisden says it was an 'anonymous gift' but Roebuck, and he should know, says it was from the celebrated Somerset cricketer, Malcolm 'Dar' Lyon. Robson was one of only two pros in the Somerset side, Middlesex had five.
Robson had talents beyond the cricket field, Roebuck says he played cricket for Derby County, although I can find no supporting evidence for this but Wikipedia list him as having been right back for Cheshire, Somerset County and Bristol South End, later to be Bristol City. A good snooker player and one who on occasions could be persuaded to entertain with his fine tenor voice Robson was popular wherever he played, as Roebuck says 'salt of the earth'.
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Ere stroke of seven, with stroke of six
Our Robson won the game
Extract from a poem 'How Robson made the Winning Stroke'
Somerset in 1901, Robson standing second from the left
* Despite looking through the 12 championship matches Somerset played in 1919 I can find no occasion when they had fewer than two professionals
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