George Robb

George Robb, who has died aged 85, was a gifted Tottenham Hotspur winger in the 1950s; he made his international debut in England’s humiliating 6-3 defeat by the Hungarians at Wembley in 1953, and was never picked to play again.

George Robb scoring for Spurs against Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane in 1953 

Alongside the likes of Stanley Matthews, Len Shackleton and Tom Finney, Robb was part of the great flourishing of English wingers after the Second World War. Facing a back line of only three defenders, as opposed to today’s four, these skilful wingmen would twist and turn defences, ruthlessly exploiting the extra space at the fullback positions. It was an era that was short-lived, however, as the English game encountered a new-style collectivist football that emerged from the Communist bloc.

Robb was one of the few players to have seen the Hungarian team play before their famous visit to Wembley. He had been part of Britain’s team at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, where Hungary had stepped from the shadows of the Iron Curtain to sweep aside all competition, displaying a growing swagger on their way to the title. “Oh, how they sparkled,” Robb recalled later. “They had all the suggestions of greatness.”

Having turned professional and become a regular feature on Tottenham’s left flank, Robb was selected to play for England against the “Mighty Magyars” on November 25 1953. Despite the reputation of the Hungarians, led by Ferenc Puskás, England were confident of victory; they had, after all, never lost to a foreign team on home soil, a record stretching back to 1863.

Within 90 seconds England found themselves one down. By the end of the match, they had conceded six. Robb’s only impact on the match was to be bundled over in the penalty box, winning a late penalty which took the final score to 6-3. He never got another England cap.

George Robb was born on June 1 1926 in London. Joining Finchley FC as a teenager, his assured performances as an inside forward soon attracted the interest of Tottenham, who signed him as an amateur in 1944. Yet Robb failed to earn a full-time contract and instead decided to train as a schoolmaster, eventually joining a primary school at Crouch End.

He continued to play football during the 1940s, however, turning out for Finchley and appearing in the England Amateur XI (receiving a total of 18 caps). In 1951 Spurs came calling again. Robb signed, scored on his debut and within 18 months was offered a full professional contract.
Throughout the 1950s, Robb delighted White Hart Lane with his aggressive wing play. Impressive with either foot, he was most dangerous when cutting inside off the touchline, sharing neat passes with Eddie Baily, the man he had often played with at Finchley. Robb also had a mean shot, scoring 58 goals in 200 games for Tottenham.
Yet Robb’s proficiency in front of goal never won him a major trophy. Arriving just after Tottenham’s league triumph in 1950-51 and retiring before they repeated the feat in 1960-61, he came closest to silverware in Spurs’ 1956 FA Cup run. Having scored three times on the way to the semi-final, Robb was about to score a later equaliser against Manchester City when he was bought down by the goalkeeper, Bert Trautmann. No penalty was given, Spurs lost 1-0 and City went on to lift the cup.
Robb had already begun to lose his starting place when a crocked knee forced him to retire from football in 1960. He continued to teach at Christ’s College, Finchley, where he had been a sports master throughout his time at Tottenham, before moving to Ardingly College in Sussex in 1964. He spent the next two decades there, often fondly recounting the time when he faced the Mighty Magyars at Wembley. He retired in 1986.
His wife, Kate, whom he married in 1960, survives him.

George Robb, born June 1 1926, died Christmas Day 2011