 Robinson was born in Whitburn and played for Hylton Colliery before joining Sunderland as an apprentice at the age of 15.His Sunderland debut came against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 30 August 1937 and he made 10 League appearances, scoring 3 goals in 1937–38.He then played 14 League games in 1938–39, scoring 11 goals.