LIves in Cricket No 31 - Walter Robins

34 Test Match Debut the ground were packed long before the game was begun, and soon after the start of the match hundreds of the visitors were allowed to sit on the cinder track round the pitch.’ The official attendance figure was 58,775. The professionals had finally got their act together, but it wasn’t a pretty sight. The Times reported that ‘Twice the referee had to speak to members of the Millwall defence for their tactics, and one at least of their players must be considered lucky that he did not have to retire from the game before it ended.’ In the previous replay, K.E.Hegan had suffered a fractured tibia after a vicious tackle from Pike, the Millwall right-back, so for this game W.S.Parker was brought in and Robbie switched to outside-left to fight fire with fire. The pair had words early on and then Pike sent Robbie crashing to the ground and the referee was heard to shout at the Millwall defender: ‘That’s enough of that or I’ll send you off!’ Robbie couldn’t resist the opportunity to remind the official of his leniency in the game before, and shouted up at him: ‘Pity you didn’t do it last time!’ The referee scowled down at him and warned him: ‘Any more of that you’ll go as well!’ Yellow cards all round today, of course. The match was eventually won by Millwall and the three games of extremely competitive football played over five hours had been watched by over 136,000 spectators. The Corinthians’ share of the receipts went a long way towards paying the rent at Crystal Palace for the next two years. Now, though, it was time for Robbie to start preparing for life with Sir Julien Cahn and what some called his ‘travelling circus’. * * * * * * * Robbie playing on the left wing for Corinthians.