In February, the English-born striker famously arrived as a late substitute to deliver a last gasp winner and propel a delirious 50,000 Melbourne Victory fans into football heaven and the club into its first A-League Grand Final.

Images of Robinson wheeling away in sheer delight with Victory players throwing themselves on top of their hero dominated the media the following day. After playing second fiddle to Thompson and Allsopp, Robinson, spectacularly, inevitably, had his day in the sun. Aussies love stories of battlers who come good.

Now, he’s back with the battlers.

Last week, Robinson signed for NSW premier league side Marconi. Crowds of up to 1,000 will be watching the former Crewe striker in what is essentially a part-time league that sadly receives little if any media attention.

Robinson, 24, said he was using his three-month stint to keep fit ahead of the next A-League season. "Obviously I want to stay in the shop window so this is an ideal opportunity," says the Scouser who was released by the champions after their Grand Final win in February.

The former Victory man is also keen to keep his options open for an overseas move. "I'm classed as a visa player here which does make it harder so you have to look at all options."

He adds that seeking Aussie citizenship is one option for him to get around the A-League visa rules.

“You never rule anything out because this is my profession. There are always options in what you want to do. But I have seen the potential in the A-league before I decided to come to Oz last year and it’s proven to be a real hit with the fans.”

After an eye-catching season in the Victorian Premier League with Richmond Eagles, Robinson was picked up Melbourne Victory last season. He largely was played off the bench. He recalls the moment that propelled him into the spotlight…

“Well, Sarks [Kristian Sarkies] had the ball on the left wing taking a free kick. He has whipped it in and I’ve pulled to the back half of the goal. The ball has gone off one of the players’ heads and come off to me. But as the ball is coming to me I’ve noticed the keeper edging towards me but cutting off the near post.

“I was always taught you head the ball back were it came from. So the only choice was to guide the ball into the far corner. And once the ball hit the back of the net – it took a life-time - the feeling was amazing. It is what you dream of.”

And football is what Robinson has always dreamed of ever since he began his football apprenticeship at one of England’s best youth development clubs, Crewe Alexander, as a nine-year-old.

“Crewe was a fantastic place to learn my trade and I would go as far as saying there is no better place to learn it,” says Robinson. “Dario [Gradi] is regarded as the best in the business for producing home grown talent. You are taught right from the start how to master the ball and how to use that.

“Everything was about technique and playing football. You had to be comfortable on the ball because you played in every position and in the end you would get a better understanding of the game when it come to playing your position. You get kids over there in England preferring to go to Crewe rather than Man Utd or Liverpool because the reputation they have.”

That’s a big call. But Gresty Road has developed the likes of Danny Murphy, David Platt, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon and others. While Gradi – who joined Alex in 1983 – has since been awarded an MBE for his services to football.

A-League clubs would do well to investigate how Gradi and the club runs its academy.

A stint in Iceland (“I didn't make it past the fire, it was freezing!”) was followed by interest from Australia and Richmond Eagles. Fortuitously, it was the same city as Victory, and the gamble of playing on the club’s doorstep in a lower-tier league worked well.

“The facilities were top class and you could see from the first time I trained with the lads that they were a talented bunch. I knew of Musky because I’d played against him and I had seen Danny [Allsopp] play when he was in the UK.”

Robinson’s father flew in the week before the grand final. Robinson Snr was stunned by Melbourne’s football fever in the lead-up to the big day, comparing it to “Wembley and the FA Cup.”

“It was fantastic,” adds his son James. “To do what we did and and how we all did it will never be forgotten.

“It showed we were a tight group and we would do that bit extra for each other. Musky summed it up that day, 'The biggest compliment you could get as a footballer is the respect of your team mate.' We had it all. Every member of the squad.”