About Jack Robson
Lived 1860 – 1922 (aged 61). Jack Robson was a British association football coach.
John Robson (24 May 1860 – 11 January 1922) was an Englishman who was the full-time secretary manager of Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as manager of Manchester United.
Career Robson started his managerial career with Middlesbrough, where he was paid £3 a week and declined to travel to away games as an economic measure. Despite his parsimonious attitude, he took the club from being an amateur outfit in the Northern League to a professional club in the First Division. He was also the first manager of Crystal Palace and coached the club to one of the greatest FA Cup shocks of all time when they defeated Newcastle United at St James' Park in 1907. He later managed Brighton & Hove Albion and started the concept of being a manager and not a secretary at Manchester United. He stepped down as United manager due to ill health in October 1921 and died of pneumonia on 11 January 1922.
Managerial statistics
Honours
As a manager Brighton & Hove Albion Southern League Division One: 1909–10 Charity Shield: 1910
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Important facts
People in Jack Robson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jack Robson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jack Robson?
English football manager (1860–1922)
When was Jack Robson born?
Jack Robson was born on 24 May 1860 in Durham.
When did Jack Robson die?
Jack Robson died on 11 January 1922 in Manchester.
What was Jack Robson's occupation?
Jack Robson was an association football coach.
What nationality was Jack Robson?
Jack Robson was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Jack Robson (football manager)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jack Robson. https://biography.guide/jack-robson-association-football-coach/
MLA: "Jack Robson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jack-robson-association-football-coach/.
Chicago: "Jack Robson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jack-robson-association-football-coach/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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