Every footballer has a different story. Some join a club at a young age and work their way through the academy ranks before bursting into the first-team. Some get that bit of luck and get the chance to showcase their talents at a later age.
Zach Robinson fits into neither of those categories. Born and raised in London, the 22-year-old was kicking a football in the streets with his friends after long days at school. He would play for a couple of teams before his first major breakthrough arrived in his career.
He then played very few minutes at academy level as he was loaned out at the age of 17 to play first- team football. But all of this has led him to Motherwell and for that, he will always be grateful.
But going all the way back to the very start of his life, football was always playing a big role.
“I grew up in Lewisham,” Robinson stated.
“There were a lot of footballers around that area, I wasn’t too far away from Crystal Palace actually. Everyone in the area played football, that’s a London thing.
“I just played wherever and whenever I could. At home, in my park or on the street, my friends and I played all the time. I played for my local team and then when I was 13 or 14, I played for another team called Lambeth Tigers who were pushing me a bit more and trying to showcase me.”
That extra nudge and encouragement meant it wasn’t long before trials with some big clubs came next for the forward.
“It was a higher level and the exposure meant more interest,” Robinson added.
“It was at that point when I came up against Academy players and teams that I realised I could compete with them. I was always a striker; scoring is the best thing about the sport.
“I’d had trials with Fulham and Wolves but they didn’t quite go my way, so you do get knocked down a bit.
“Wimbledon gave me a trial and they were happy with me. I was over the moon as it kind of felt like I got my foot in the door. All I’d ever wanted to be was a footballer, so it was cool to be in that environment for the first time.
“It had been tough to deal with the rejection of the trials, but when you’re young, you can hear the word no a lot but there will still be other opportunities. I wasn’t down about it too much and now I was moving forward.”
At the age of 15, Robinson had made a huge step towards achieving his goals. He began to play for the Wimbledon Under 16 side and his eyes were opened to what life can be like for a professional footballer.
“It was an awakening to be in a professional environment,” Robinson explained.
“The whole thing was new to me. I was joining a group of guys who had been there for a few years. Some of them will be my friends for life.
“Jack Currie has just joined Oxford United.
“Ayoub Assal is playing in Qatar now. There’s a good few still at Wimbledon. They’re all great lads.
“Before I went there, I had been playing football every day. Sometimes, I was playing for one or two teams at the same time. So I was going to school then going straight to training Monday to Friday. Then, on Saturday and Sunday I’d be playing games.
“I had always been focused on football but this chance showed me the finer details involved in football. It showed me what it would take if I was going to make the step up again.”
It’s at this stage where Robinson’s career becomes very unique. Now, at the age of 17, he went on loan to Basingstoke. A first taste of first-team football at a young age. This was the first of seven loan moves to six different teams in his career.
“I was going into my second year as a scholar and I was doing well at Under 18s level,” he added.
“My coach Mark Robinson was pleased with my progress. He suggested I go out on loan to get exposure to men’s football. It wasn’t the best level but it was exciting for me to see what the difference was like. I didn’t think about anything negative.
“The difference was huge, even though it wasn’t a high level. You’re playing for points and after a couple of weeks, the manager got sacked. That was an experience you’re not going to get at academy level.”
Robinson was beginning to mature and with every loan move he made, he’d learn something about himself but more importantly, it was heightening his chances of breaking into the first- team at his parent club.
“At Leatherhead, it took me a couple of games to settle in,” he stated.
“It was a step up from my previous move and I had to get used to another dressing room. When I came back to Wimbledon, I was in and around the bench and made my debut.
“That was a great feeling. I was playing well and scoring goals when I went on loan. I felt on top of the world.
“I was 18 when I made my debut for Wimbledon. I didn’t play a lot of academy football because of the loan moves. There’s a whole load of different reasons why a player might be going out on loan. As the player, you can only go and attack the opportunity that’s in front of you. It’s exposure and a chance to play games, you’ll improve as a result.”
That improvement was clear to see. Robinson scored his first Wimbledon goal against Brighton’s Under 23s in the EFL Cup but he wasn’t resting there.
“I held myself to a high standard,” he said.
“Scoring that goal was great but it was a weird feeling because of the opponent. My first league goal against Charlton was different. All I wanted to be was a footballer and as a striker, you just want to score. Every day I tell myself I’m lucky and privileged.
My family is proud of me and supports me. That’s what it’s all about.”
In 2022, it was time for another step up in class. This time, the loan move wasn’t a local one and it would be a real test for Robinson. He was Dundee bound.
“It was the biggest change of my life at that point,” Robinson stated.
“Moving away from home, a nine hour drive, a league I hadn’t been exposed to, it was a lot. It took me a couple of months to settle but it was a good group of players and we had a good season.
“I had a recall clause in January and I went back down south. I played five minutes and then ended up re-joining Dundee on Deadline Day.
“I’d had a good first-half of the season and wanted to finish what I started. It was a place where I was doing well.”
Helping his side win the league and earn promotion back to the top-flight, Robinson finished that campaign with 12 goals in 29 league games. As Dundee began recruiting for the next season, they turned to Robinson once again.
“I became known as the boomerang,” he laughed.
“I went back up again and this time it was a step up to the Premiership. It was a good opportunity for me but I was injured a bit. In and out the team a bit. I’m still grateful for the opportunity.”
In the summer of 2024, Wimbledon and Robinson parted ways as he plotted his next move. But with very little academy football, he had gained massive amounts of experience with first-team players.
At the age of 22, Robinson has played in the top two leagues in Scotland. Excluding the Premier League and Championship in England, he had featured in the top eight tiers of the English pyramid.
That meant he wasn’t scared of change and left his options open in the summer.
“For me it wasn’t about where I was going to play,” the striker added.
“It was more if I was going to play and where I would enjoy it. Motherwell was by far the best fit for me.
“I didn’t have a great season last year and I want to do better this time around. It’s the same league and I’m excited at the prospect.
“It’s the first move away from Wimbledon so it’s different from a loan because the cushion isn’t there now.
“I’ve had the best pre- season in my career in terms of fitness and being a part of every session. My body is feeling great.
“I think as a team, we’re just needing that game where we click and score a few goals. We are solid and I have no doubt we’ll kick on. The past success here with strikers is something I looked at.
“The detail the manager and staff go into is something I’m all about. I’ll spend as much time as I need to with them, looking at clips, trying to improve. It’s a great place to be.”
