The Birkenhead Sunday League has paid tribute to one of Wirral's most important amateur football figures, Frank Robinson, who sadly passed away on December 22, 2021.

League representative John Traynor explains why Frank was held in such high regard across the borough.

Frank Robinson attended a school that was renowned for football, none other than St Hugh’s (more commonly known as The Yozzers).

Like most lads from Birkenhead, Frank was no different with a love of football. In fact, he was one of those lucky people to attend Wembley Stadium amongst the 96,924 people to witness England’s one and only World Cup winning triumph on July 30, 1966.

Wirral Globe: A younger Frank Robinson, back in 1986A younger Frank Robinson, back in 1986

Frank was Secretary of Sunday League Team Livingstone Stag. He was co-opted on to the Birkenhead Sunday Association Football League in 1968 as the league’s first Press Secretary. 

A couple of years later he was doing such a good job of writing two columns a week, many of the clubs unbeknown to himself were so impressed with his Wednesday and Friday columns that they thought he was right man to take the Birkenhead Sunday League forward and at the age of 29 he was then elected as the new Hon General Secretary. 

Frank worked tirelessly, often burning the midnight oil, always wanting to promote the league and get Sunday football more recognised at district, county and national Levels. 

Frank virtually rewrote the Birkenhead Sunday League rule book and it was a model hand/rule book with Cheshire County Football Association being impressed with it as they have to sanction it for every new season.

With youth football In mind, in 1976 Frank introduced a youth division into the Birkenhead Sunday League.

When the Wirral District Football Association came calling, he stood down as Hon League Secretary to take the position of Wirral Hon Assistant/Competitions Secretary, eventually becoming  Hon General Secretary. 

While he was at Wirral DFA, he did play some vital roles in the Birkenhead Sunday League as Chairman and President. 

While at Wirral FA, Frank also had key roles with Cheshire County FA. The most prominent roles were Competitions Secretary and a board member.

He also did the league's printing with their own 'in house copying service' bringing in many funds from other football and sporting organisations to keep league fees as low as possible.

For the 1984/85 season, Frank was again at the forefront securing the Birkenhead League’s first-ever sponsorship with Smith and Sons. 

Fast forward to the 1993/94 season when Frank played another huge part in securing an initial new league sponsor for three seasons.

That was then extended and is currently in its 29th season with Houlihan’s Variety Club in Claughton Village.

In 2018, Frank completed fifty seasons in amateur football and decided to retire from the position of Hon Secretary of Wirral District FA. He did accept the mantle of President. 

His proudest moment was when Avenue lifted The FA National Sunday Cup at the town's professional football club, Tranmere Rovers.

He was also known as Mr Encyclopedia of Amateur football right throughout the Wirral and Cheshire County.

If you happened to be in his company, it was like having a history lesson for local football. 

He could bring to light big football matches in which local Wirral teams had brought pride to the area. 

It was the same when the Wirral District FA Youth Teams had won Cheshire County FA District Cup competitions. He was so proud.

Frank certainly left a legacy in football administration with many people aiming to keep up with his extremely ambitious standards.