By Anton Rippon
Bruce Robinson, who for 11 years covered the affairs of Norwich City for the Eastern Daily Press, has died. He was 80.
Born in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, Robinson began his career in 1951 as a junior reporter with the Lincolnshire Free Press before National Service in the RAF.
After his demob he became sports editor of the Free Press and its sister paper the Spalding Guardian, covering Spalding United and Holbeach United in the days when local non-League clubs counted their support in low thousands, rather than the double figures of today.
Robinson moved to the Eastern Daily Press in 1959, and as well as covering Norwich City also wrote a popular column, “Clement Court – Window on East Anglia”.
In his book Confessions of a Norfolk Newshound, Keith Skipper describes Robinson as “a kindly, encouraging character who brought a studious approach to the world of professional football”. Skipper says that Robinson began covering Norwich City on a snowy Boxing Day at Mansfield in 1960 “because no one else wanted to do it”.
Robinson later worked as a sub-editor on both the EDP and Norwich Evening News before retiring through ill-health in 1993.
Between 1973 and his death he also wrote more than 20 books on subjects as diverse as local history, walking, roads and tracks, and football.
Bruce Robinson was married to Cynthia, and had four sons.
He died peacefully at home in Sheringham, Norfolk, on June 21. His funeral will be held at St Faith’s Crematorium in the town at 1.15pm on Monday July 11.
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