Not many players can claim to have a fanzine named in their honour, but not many players are revered as much as defender Robin Trott was. Well, there was Gitts Is Up before Don’t Run… Trott – but both were worthy of that honour in their own unique way. Gitts for scoring a bazillion goals for us; Trotty for bringing the fruits of his day job to bear in painting a half-naked lady in Boro’ colours for our FA Cup clash with Newcastle United.
He almost left sooner than he actually did too. In November 2001, a lack of first team time led to the defender requesting a transfer. At the time, chairman Phil Wallace said that he’d put a five-figure fee on the man to deter any interest. It seemed to work. A few months on and Trotty penned a new deal; Wallace saying at the time: “I turned down three bids and kept talking to him, hoping he would change his mind. And I’m delighted he has.”
By modern standards, a transfer fee of £8k for Trott’s services paid to Welling United feels like a snip. Obviously, this doesn’t fully take into account that we were still a semi-pro team and Trotty was still paintin’ and a-decoratin’ to earn his proper crust. By the time his career at Boro’ met a pretty limp end in a 3-0 FA Trophy humbling at Tamworth, the defender had nearly 200 appearances to his name. Just don’t mention the testimonial. We think it got mentioned once, but whoever it was might’ve just got away with it.
Robin Trott: Before Boro’
With limited data available to us, we can only guess how swashbuckling a player Robin Trott was in his days before Boro’. But we suspect the reality was rather mundane. After starting out with Gillingham, first team opportunities were at a premium and he ended up at Hastings Town on loan for a spell in 1993. He chanced his arm out in Hong Kong for a spell, before returning to the more luxurious climes of Welling United.
Robin Trott: After Boro’
For Trotty, calling points after life at Boro’ included Grays Athletic and Ebbsfleet United. He seemed to like life around the Thames Estuary based on his previous clubs. Next to follow were Billericay Town and Heybridge Swifts, before it was back across the Dartford Bridge and onto Margate.
In April 2006, Trott was made player-manager on a temporary basis with Chris Kinnear suspended. He took the club on a five-match unbeaten run and got a one-year contract as gaffer by way of thanks. The following season, the Gate came close to promotion and this got Trott another new contract. But, close to the end of the 2007-8 campaign, his time in charge was at an end.
