Playing Career
My playing career is detailed below, or click here for some interesting facts
Cardiff City
Robert Earnshaw signed a 2-year YTS contract with Cardiff City he came through the club’s youth development programme. Earnshaw scored 57 goals for the youth team, which lead to him making his full Cardiff City first team debut Vs Brighton at 16 years old. Earnshaw became a full time professional in August 1998.
Earnshaw made his full debut against Hartlepool United scoring the Goal of the Season with an incredible overhead kick from the edge of the box on the opening day of the 98/99 season.
“It was the perfect way to introduce myself to professional football”
Earnshaw was loaned to Greenock Morton when he was 17 yrs old by manager Frank Burrows to help him gain experience. After spending a month on loan Billy Aire took over as manager of Cardiff City and brought Earnshaw back. He returned and became a key figure in the clubs history.
He was capped at youth and under 21 level. He then exploded onto the international scene scoring the winning goal in his debut for Wales against Germany at the Millennium Stadium in May 2002.
“There’s nothing in the world that could ever feel as good as that day. It was a Perfect day”
Earnshaw gained promotion through all the leagues right through to the championship being named in the PFA Division Two Team of the Year 2002/03 after a prolific season scoring 35 goals in all competitions, with 31 scored in the league which broke the 56-year old club record of Stan Richards.
“I remember I was rested on the last game of the season because we had a huge play-off game the week after but all I could think about was breaking the club record when I got on and when I scored to do it I felt like running forever”
At the end of 2003/04 Earnshaw was named in the First Division Team of the Year after scoring 26 goals. Robert Earnshaw scored 87 goals in 175 appearances for Cardiff City and became one of the clubs all time best players and a cult hero. This attracted attention from several top premier league clubs.
Greenock Morton(loan)
Robert went up to Greenock Morton on loan for one month played 4 games and scoring 2 goals.
“It was a great experience for me cause I needed games and even played against Glasgow Rangers in the cup.It set me up to achieve so much at Cardiff”.
West Bromwich Albion
In 2004 Robert Earnshaw signed for Premier League team West Brom for £3 million. Earnshaw made his debut at Anfield versus Liverpool in a 3-0 defeat on September 11 2004 coming on as sub in the second half.
Robert’s first goals soon followed after settling in to the club against Southampton where he scored both goals in a 2-2 draw. The famous somersault was seen countless times from then on.
Earnshaw racked up 14 goals in that season,12 in the premier league,which included scoring in a 1-1 draw at Arsenal, a Hat-trick at Charlton on March 19th 2005 which made Robert Earnshaw the only person ever to score a hat-trick in all four English leagues,F.A. Cup,League Cup and at International level. An amazing achievement that will probably never be done again.
Robert also scored a penalty at Old Trafford in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United which led to them beating Portsmouth 2-0 on the last game retaining the club’s Premier league status.
“I’m happy to have been involved in key moments in that season and scoring that many goals was a joy for me cause it’s what I live for”
Earnshaw then left in January of the next season 2005-06 after being frustrated at the lack of starts despite of being a key member of the squad.He was sold to Norwich city on January 31st deadline day 2006.
Norwich City
Robert Earnshaw signed for Norwich City for £2.75 million and made his debut versus Norwich City’s biggest rivals in the local derby against Ipswich Town.
“It took a few weeks to settle in but when I did I loved every minute of it”
Earnshaw’s first goals followed shortly after scoring 2 goals against Brighton in a 3-0 win and the fans could see that famous somersault celebration in the yellow and green colours. Earnshaw followed that up with 6 more goals by the end of that same 2005-06 season.
The 2006-07 season began with a breathtaking volleyed goal against Preston in a 2-0 win at home. This set him off on an incredible season which saw Earnshaw break the clubs record of most consecutive home games scored in. Robert Earnshaw scored in 7 consecutive home games in a row during that season and scored 17 goals by Christmas day. He was top goalscorer in the championship and looking like he was going to smash all kinds of records.
“I was surrounded by a good team and they helped me achieve this”
In January Robert suffered a terrible groin injury in training which seemed to have put him out for the rest of that season, but in April 2007 after 3 months out and with 5 games left of the season Robert made a surprise return to action and even scored after coming off the bench to score against Leicester City.
“That moment when I came back and scored was one of the best feelings ever, it was a special day”
Earnshaw finished with 19 goals at the end of that season and in the summer 2007 was sold due to the club having a buy-out clause in Robert’s contract.
Derby County
Robert Earnshaw then signed for promoted Premier League side Derby county for £3.5 million in July 2007. He made his debut in a 2-2 draw with Portmouth on the opening day of the Premier League 2007-08 season. His first goal came against Preston North End in a 4-1 defeat in the F.A. Cup and scored against Arsenal in the Premier League in a 6-2 defeat. Robert scored 2 goals in 7 starts keeping up his good record of goals to starts.
Nottingham Forest
May 2008 saw Robert Earnshaw sign for Nottingham Forest for £2.65million signing a 3 year contract. He made his debut against Reading on opening day. Robert started with the “Reds” in the best way by scoring his first 2 goals against Morecambe in the League Cup, then following that up by scoring against Watford in a 3-2 win, and then scoring a superb free-kick from 25 yards against Sunderland in the Carling Cup. Robert Earnshaw was soon a huge hit with the Club and the Fans.
“As soon as I moved to Nottingham Forest I had a smile on my face because it felt right and I have a special closeness with the Fans.”
Robert scored 17 goals in a injury hit first season which was an achievement in itself and finished top goal scorer at the club. “I love going into training everyday and working hard for the team to do well I love this place”
Earnshaw is in his second season at the Club.
