David Robertson ⭑ From A-Z since '92
Robertson came to Elland Road remembering the Battle of Britain of 1992, and how Leeds fans had clapped Rangers from the field. It was one of the last rounds of applause he received from Leeds fans.
This is part of my (eight year long, it'll fly by) attempt to write about every Leeds United player since 1992. For more about why I'm doing this, go back to Aapo Halme, and to read all the players so far, browse the archive here.
Nothing about David Robertson's demeanour suggested he'd be anything other than a success at Leeds United. Recently, documentaries following his managerial career to Kashmir have given us a rare glimpse into the private world of this 1990s left-back from Aberdeen, revealing a determined and entertaining grump with an enquiring mind and a colourful vocabulary.
He left Glasgow in 1997 after winning Rangers' ninth consecutive title, his sixth — one every season he'd been with them — because he was bored of playing the same clubs four times a season. Elland Road had long been a home from home for Scots, for everyone from Billy Bremner and Eddie Gray to Robertson's new teammates David Hopkin and Derek Lilley, and manager George Graham. So why didn't it work?
Some will say the step up from Scotland to the Premier League was too great for him. Six titles? The players greeting him in Leeds, Robertson said, told him they were only worth two down south. Tony Dorigo was another factor. He'd been one of United's best ever left-backs and, after a spell injured, had been in good form to end 1996/97 season. To Leeds fans, Dorigo was one of the best attacking wing-backs in the Premier League, so if he was leaving for free — to Torino — his £500,000 replacement had better be good. Leeds fans, though, didn't know what the club's medical had discovered about their new signing's knee.
Robertson, who once told Scotland manager Craig Brown that if he wasn't going to pick him to play he should stop putting him in squads, will tell you George Graham didn't help. After Graham left in 1998, Robertson said he was looking forward to being part of what new manager David O'Leary was doing, telling the press, "Then I can get back to doing what I love best, and the Leeds fans can see the real Davie Robertson!"
Whatever the reasons, it's hard to imagine that what Leeds fans saw in Robertson's 31 games bore any resemblance to the player who built up such a strong reputation in Scotland. Success was ingrained in him. His first encounter with football was Aberdeen's open top bus parade to celebrate winning the League Cup in 1976. After that his family got season tickets, and eight-year-old Davie got interested in the sport that had generated so much celebration.
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