RTID met up with livewire striker Theo Robinson ahead of an Easter double header which could make or break Rovers’ season.
Is it true that one of your middle names is ‘Ronaldo’?
Yeah, obviously it’s a bit weird, but playing football my mum put it in there. I do have other ones though, which makes it a bit long.
Do you have the coolest middle name in the squad – David Cotterill’s middle name includes ‘George Best’?
That’s decent as well, but I think Ronaldo’s up there for me. He was a great player and I think he was better.
How did your career start?
I started in the local Sunday leagues in Birmingham, county cups, playing for school etc. I always wanted to get in to football from an early age but didn’t get to a professional outfit until I was fifteen years old, with Stoke City where I got a real taste of proper football and discipline which I had to adapt to. I played in different positions which was hard and I had to get the train every day and it took me a while to get used to that while I was still at school doing my GCSE’s.
From Stoke I got released but was awarded a YTS at Watford which was a whirlwind experience but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
You’re a Jamaican international, how did that come about?
I tried to get involved when I was 20 but didn’t quite make it and the opportunity never quite developed. I qualify through my grandparents and my granddad was very excited when I got my first call up to the national side. From then I’ve moved on to playing the likes of Mexico in full World Cup qualifiers.
Growing up watching France 98 and the ‘Reggae Boyz’, what sort of inspiration was that for you?
Theodore Whitmore played in that tournament and he was the manager who gave me the original call up and came to see me while I was playing for Millwall and to play in front of them after they’d come over and showed interest, I just loved it and it’s built from there, it’s an honour to play for Jamaica.
Back on the domestic scene, you had a spell with Wealdstone, who are known for bringing the likes of Johnny Haynes, Stuart Pearce and Jermaine Beckford through, how was that?
It was good, I was a young player on a professional contract and to go there and get kicked about was good because at the time they were fighting survival and my goals helped them stay up so it was a great experience.
You also had time at Hereford, where your goals helped them to promotion from League 2…
Yeah I loved my time down at Edgar Street, I managed to score quite a few that season and winning promotion when you’re quite young is a massive buzz and one of the highlights of my career so far.
Your first break came with Huddersfield Town, how was it at the Galpharm (now John Smith’s) Stadium?
Again, it’s another place where I managed to get a few goals and help them in to the play-offs but didn’t really get a chance to start as many games as I wanted. At the time it was (Jordan) Rhodes and (Lee) Novak up front so I spent time on the bench and just had to be patient and wait for the chance.
Derby are another former club of yours, how would you like to be remembered by their fans?
As someone who worked hard and, as a striker, you want to be remembered for your goals. It was a whirlwind there, they’re a big club and when the chance to sign for them came up, I jumped at it. To be fair I didn’t start as bright for them but ended one season (2011-12) as top scorer and bagged 9 the next season before drifting out of the side and going on loan.
What sort of impression do you feel you’re giving to the Doncaster fans since you arrived at the club?
I started well which was the main thing but then I picked up an injury in January which didn’t help because I thought I was getting back to scoring ways and finding my form and I was really excited for the rest of the season. Since the injury I’ve had ups and downs and found it hard to get a regular spot in the side.
Rovers face two of your former clubs over the Easter period in Derby on Good Friday and Millwall on Bank Holiday Monday, is it a time which has your name written on it to potentially ensure survival?
Hopefully if I get a chance, it would be nice to do so against clubs that I have played for. If I do get that chance, everyone knows that I’d do my best to take it.