CANCER BEATS BOBBY; Scotland soccer hero Robinson dies aged 46.

Former Scotland footballer Bobby Robinson has died of cancer at the age of 46.

And last night, one of his former managers paid tribute to the midfield star.

Gordon Wallace, who signed Robinson for Raith Rovers, said: "You could not have met a nicer person than Bobby."

Robinson - nicknamed Trigger because of his speed - was born in Gorebridge, Midlothian, and started off in junior football.

But he went on to spend 11 years in Scotland's top flight.

He was with Dundee for five years and played more than 200 games for the Dens Park side.

And he didn't cost them a penny - the Tayside club signed him on a free transfer from Falkirk in 1972.

Robinson, who died on Christmas Eve, won a League Cup winners' medal in 1973 when Dundee beat Celtic in the final and got his first cap a year later.

Scotland manager Willie Ormond picked him another three times for the national side - for games against Romania, Sweden and West Germany.

After leaving Dens Park, Robinson played for Dundee United, Hearts and Raith Rovers before quitting the senior game in 1983.

He became a school teacher in Kirriemuir, Angus, but kept on playing with a string of junior clubs.

Taken from the Daily Record