THIS TIME LAST year, Tommy Robson was about to make his Premier League debut for Sunderland in a final day fixture at Vicarage Road.
Now, he’s living out of a Limerick city hotel preparing for a mid-table clash that is likely to have less than two thousand people at it.
Funnily enough, he would recommend every academy player do the same thing.
21-year-old Robson grew up in Stanley in the county of Durham. He began his career in football with Darlington and, despite the Sunderland association, actually supported Newcastle as a young boy.
“I played for Darlington when I was younger,” he details. “I was there for five years. It was very similar to what it is at Limerick. When I signed my scholarship with Sunderland, obviously you have everything given to you. I mean everything.
“Coming to Limerick, it’s been pretty refreshing. It’s like what I was used to at Darlington. It’s been very good in that way.”
A lot of academy players are sent to lower leagues in England due to affiliations and proximity, but Robson thinks that the move to Ireland has been a more beneficial experience.
“I wouldn’t like to go to League Two,” he says. “I’d recommend players come here to play ahead of that.
I think, depending on what you’re looking at, if you’ve a lad who’s in his comfort zone, I would send him here to get him out of it.
“There are too many boys playing now. At Sunderland’s U23s, there are too many who are comfortable there. They’ll be coming up to near 100 appearances and it’s like ‘you’ve got to get out and play first team football’.
“There are some good players there too that can do a job. For me, they are wasted doing that. That’s just my opinion.
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“If you go and play 20 first team games somewhere or win the reserve league for Sunderland, what’s the bigger achievement? What are you going to get remembered for?”
Playing against Watford in the Premier League at the end of last season. PA Archive / PA Images
PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images
The primary purpose of reserve football is to act as a conveyor belt for talent to progress to first team duties, but Robson had his eyes opened when he arrived in the SSE Airtricity League and he says it has matured him greatly.
“I needed this,” he explains. I was getting too comfortable playing reserve football. I played over a hundred games. I needed to get out. It’s not really competitive.
“If you get beat, you get beat. You haven’t lost anything. Over here, you’re playing for points. There’s even people playing for mortgages. It’s a lot different.
It’s matured me. It has helped me with playing first team games, but just being away from home has helped me massively. I’ve become my own man. At home, I’m with my mam and dad so everything’s being done for me. I’d never been away from home, so this has been an experience.”
Robson was handed his Premier League bow by former Limerick boss Sam Allardyce before landing at the club where, nearly three decades previously, the then manager had walked around city estates collecting money for the Blues. Robson grins when informed.
“He’s a great manager,” he says of Allardyce. “He’s a really nice guy — he’s very funny. You’ve seen what he did with Sunderland when he came in. He’s done the same with Crystal Palace.
“The thing I liked about him was that he was big on defending. You’ve got to be. You can’t keep the focus on going forward. If you do, you’ll keep conceding. What he wanted to do was stop us conceding, and he’d say ‘if you can’t win, then don’t get beaten’. Simple as that.”
Robson was also quick to praise John O’Shea for his role with the Black Cats.
“I made my debut alongside John. I was left-back and he was left-sided centre-half. He helped me loads in that game. He’s a great guy and a great captain.
“He probably speaks to the lads more than the manager does. He’s just like that. I can see him being a very good manager. I don’t know how long he’s going to play for, but he’ll go into coaching after that and I look forward to seeing it. He might end up at Sunderland.”
Robson believes John O'Shea would make a fine manager. Owen Humphreys
Owen Humphreys
Discussing the League of Ireland in general, the Limerick loanee expresses his surprise at the disparity in standard among a 12-team division, but does highlight how much quality there is at the top end.
“I think [Cork] would definitely be near the top of League One,” he adds. “[Sean Maguire] is quality, but all around, they’ve got a good side. I’ve watched the game against them in league cup, and played in the league game. They just look a different class. Even to Dundalk, they look a class above.
I was reading something about Martin O’Neill maybe putting Maguire in the next Ireland squad. I don’t see why not. You don’t know if he’s good enough until he’s put in the situation. He’s doing the best job to his ability in this league — what more can you do?”
Robson’s loan is due to expire in June, but he still doesn’t know what awaits him.
“Sunderland’s pre-season begins on 28 June. They have put in the loan deal that I’ve to go back on 20th of that month. I’ve to have a week’s break. Even if I was to come back to Limerick, I’d still not be able to play whatever game we had that week.
“I’ve been offered an extension from Limerick for the loan. Pat [O'Sullivan] even said that if I left Sunderland, I could sign for Limerick. I think I’ve done well since I’ve been here but I want to push onto another level. But it’s nice to know I’ve got something here.
“It’s more physical here. It’s the side of the game I actually like. I love getting stuck in. I think the problem at Sunderland was that the manager didn’t think I was physically-ready. I disagree with that. I think I’ve come here and I’ve shown that.”
Whatever lies ahead for the 21-year-old, he’s adamant that Limerick has not only made him more prepared for football, but for life in general.
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'I needed to get out. I was getting too comfortable playing reserve football for Sunderland'
THIS TIME LAST year, Tommy Robson was about to make his Premier League debut for Sunderland in a final day fixture at Vicarage Road.
Now, he’s living out of a Limerick city hotel preparing for a mid-table clash that is likely to have less than two thousand people at it.
Funnily enough, he would recommend every academy player do the same thing.
21-year-old Robson grew up in Stanley in the county of Durham. He began his career in football with Darlington and, despite the Sunderland association, actually supported Newcastle as a young boy.
“I played for Darlington when I was younger,” he details. “I was there for five years. It was very similar to what it is at Limerick. When I signed my scholarship with Sunderland, obviously you have everything given to you. I mean everything.
“Coming to Limerick, it’s been pretty refreshing. It’s like what I was used to at Darlington. It’s been very good in that way.”
A lot of academy players are sent to lower leagues in England due to affiliations and proximity, but Robson thinks that the move to Ireland has been a more beneficial experience.
“I wouldn’t like to go to League Two,” he says. “I’d recommend players come here to play ahead of that.
“There are too many boys playing now. At Sunderland’s U23s, there are too many who are comfortable there. They’ll be coming up to near 100 appearances and it’s like ‘you’ve got to get out and play first team football’.
“There are some good players there too that can do a job. For me, they are wasted doing that. That’s just my opinion.
“If you go and play 20 first team games somewhere or win the reserve league for Sunderland, what’s the bigger achievement? What are you going to get remembered for?”
The primary purpose of reserve football is to act as a conveyor belt for talent to progress to first team duties, but Robson had his eyes opened when he arrived in the SSE Airtricity League and he says it has matured him greatly.
“I needed this,” he explains. I was getting too comfortable playing reserve football. I played over a hundred games. I needed to get out. It’s not really competitive.
“If you get beat, you get beat. You haven’t lost anything. Over here, you’re playing for points. There’s even people playing for mortgages. It’s a lot different.
Robson was handed his Premier League bow by former Limerick boss Sam Allardyce before landing at the club where, nearly three decades previously, the then manager had walked around city estates collecting money for the Blues. Robson grins when informed.
“He’s a great manager,” he says of Allardyce. “He’s a really nice guy — he’s very funny. You’ve seen what he did with Sunderland when he came in. He’s done the same with Crystal Palace.
“The thing I liked about him was that he was big on defending. You’ve got to be. You can’t keep the focus on going forward. If you do, you’ll keep conceding. What he wanted to do was stop us conceding, and he’d say ‘if you can’t win, then don’t get beaten’. Simple as that.”
Robson was also quick to praise John O’Shea for his role with the Black Cats.
“I made my debut alongside John. I was left-back and he was left-sided centre-half. He helped me loads in that game. He’s a great guy and a great captain.
“He probably speaks to the lads more than the manager does. He’s just like that. I can see him being a very good manager. I don’t know how long he’s going to play for, but he’ll go into coaching after that and I look forward to seeing it. He might end up at Sunderland.”
Discussing the League of Ireland in general, the Limerick loanee expresses his surprise at the disparity in standard among a 12-team division, but does highlight how much quality there is at the top end.
“I think [Cork] would definitely be near the top of League One,” he adds. “[Sean Maguire] is quality, but all around, they’ve got a good side. I’ve watched the game against them in league cup, and played in the league game. They just look a different class. Even to Dundalk, they look a class above.
Robson’s loan is due to expire in June, but he still doesn’t know what awaits him.
“Sunderland’s pre-season begins on 28 June. They have put in the loan deal that I’ve to go back on 20th of that month. I’ve to have a week’s break. Even if I was to come back to Limerick, I’d still not be able to play whatever game we had that week.
“I’ve been offered an extension from Limerick for the loan. Pat [O'Sullivan] even said that if I left Sunderland, I could sign for Limerick. I think I’ve done well since I’ve been here but I want to push onto another level. But it’s nice to know I’ve got something here.
“It’s more physical here. It’s the side of the game I actually like. I love getting stuck in. I think the problem at Sunderland was that the manager didn’t think I was physically-ready. I disagree with that. I think I’ve come here and I’ve shown that.”
Whatever lies ahead for the 21-year-old, he’s adamant that Limerick has not only made him more prepared for football, but for life in general.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
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