While nothing about Dagenham's season went to plan whatsoever, characteristically unravelling away from the increasingly elusive target of play-offs without many positives on which an upwards platform could be built either, it did at least end with fitting homage to departing midfielder Matt Robinson as he chalked up his landmark 250th appearance through a final ten second cameo in the concluding game at Barnet.
Beckoned over to the healthy away contingent afterwards, his tearful eyes were a window into the emotional upheaval at bidding farewell to the club for whom the midfielder had served seven years, whereby he progressively acquired a far more varied skillset to transcend an initial status as the kind of box-to-box enforcer who goes under the radar to eventually become divisionally recognised among the very best in his position after developing a goalscoring pedigree. A predominant mainstay around which everything at the club changed beyond recognition, Robbo has experienced several guises fluctuating between financial extremities, first part of a rebuilt squad that suffered play-off heartbreak at semi final stage (albeit he wasn't involved while recovering from a broken leg) then one who looked set to go further until the acrimonious departure of its primary benefactor Glyn Hopkin instead catalysed an existential crisis. The authentic measure of a man comes in adversity and Robinson remaining committed while most others left - despite the remit being altered to surviving relegation the following season, with a team comprising inexperienced youngsters - underlined a loyalty rewarded when a solution in the form of an American consortium spearheaded by Peter Freund elevated the club back to substantial wealth. Ever since, the combative midfielder has personified the place itself to eventually earn the captaincy, though never seeing a replication of the initial heights. Among this nonetheless fulfilling duration was some truly special goals indelibly etched into club folklore, none more so than the iconic stoppage-time winner at Hartlepool United amid a sensational streak of form in late 2018, a time when Robinson entering the penalty box was an extremely unique occurrence. Yet, as the opposing goalkeeper pushed Tomi Adeloye's cross away, the Daggers man delivered a moment savoured eternally by both him and the away contingent who witnessed it in pure disbelieving elation.
Following that joyous anomaly, normal service resumed for 26 months before he would next find the net, halving the deficit in another eventual comeback away at Wrexham and this time it would spark a permanent transformation of incredible proportions; another in the very next game, against Notts County, begun a staggering streak of 8 in eighteen games with no discernible origin for his sudden golden touch. There were three as many games during the turnaround between April and May, before a brace in a 5-0 demolition of Wealdstone soon afterwards.
This form was carried into the 2021/22 season against a returning backdrop of our supporters, whom Robinson helped give a truly incredible experience at title favourites Stockport on opening day, putting in a phenomenal showing capped with the killer third goal. The very next week, he scored another big goal to establish daylight in our favour against Bromley, continuing what would become a phenomenal start to the season. Robbo was integral, contributions going far beyond just finding the net, and even when that subsided his influence certainly did not. The next had us on track for victory at home to Altrincham until a late collapse that ultimately begun our stark downfall. After that, there was the second goal on our Boxing Day trip to bottom-placed Dover Athletic, then deficit-halver versus Halifax Town after the turn of the year. He would score twice more that campaign, each quality finishes which added gloss to memorable 3-0 victories plus the vintage team performances underpinning them, against Southend United and Wrexham. Nobody could forget the jubilant celebrations after the former.
This time around, Robinson did not reach quite the same levels albeit played every single minute throughout each of the first 41 league games to reaffirm his integral role, an ever-present run broken only by untimely injury. Nonetheless, his impact was significantly lessened as evidenced by a downgraded tally of just three goals. All held deep significance for him at the time, in the form of a brace against Solihull Moors on a birthday weekend where he also celebrated accomplishment in his alternate musical profession, as well as the opener in our FA Cup replay at Gillingham, which set us enroute to a lucrative third round visit by his hometown club Leicester City. Devastatingly, it wasn't to be.
As we amicably part ways at probably the right time, then, Robinson leaves so many memories that immortalise his legacy - Southend, Stockport, most of all Hartlepool. Plus, worth noting, that assist at Notts County to engineer our most incredible result in years. Whoever gets him now will have one of the division's most capable midfielders whose credentials are among the very best. Thank you, Robbo, for enriching us with them for so long. Dagenham loves you more than you will know.
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January 2024
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