Robbie Earle Biography: Net Worth, Playing Style, Family, Lifestyle and Career Stats

One of the Jamaica legends to have played in the Premier League is Robbie Earle helped reinvent the role of a midfielder always having an eye for the goal in the 1980s. While being born in England to a Jamaican family, he chose to represent Jamaica but still made an affectionate image in the hearts of the fans he played in England. He started his professional career with Port Vale in the third division where he would almost six seasons before his move to a top flight club.

Earle was part of some of the iconic players of his era alongside Vinnie Jones, Dennis Wise and John Fashanu becoming household names in the Barclay era. Earle would be a part of some of the biggest underdog teams helping his team seal games off through pure passion and strength over the opposition. After his football career got over he delved into the role as an analyst for major broadcasting networks like NBC Sports and ITV.

Robbie Earle Bio

Robbie Earle: Early Life and Family

Born on 27 January 1965 in Newcastle-under-Lyme in England, Robbie Earle came from a working-class family and made his way into football through his work ethic. Earle was scouted by former Port Vale striker Ray Williams after he started his career at his to-be club’s local rivals, Stoke City while attending Longton High School. However, he would get his leg broken, resulting in a dismissal from the club, making Port Vale sign him instantly.

He debuted against Swindon Town in 1982 in the English Third Division for Port Vale. Earle spent some good years at the club, making over 350 appearances and scoring 90 goals in different divisions before moving to Wimbledon in 1991 for a transfer fee of £775,000, a significant sum for a third-division club. He became a part of the “Crazy Gang” in his time with Wimbledon, resurfacing old-school football to the mainstream at the highest stage.

Robbie Earle would make over 350 appearances for the side, scoring over 70 goals. His Wimbledon career spanned three divisions for almost a decade. Earle became a cult figure in the 90s before retiring in the early 2000s due to an injury at 35 after playing over 550 professional football matches. Earle was also a prominent figure for his nation and became a renowned pundit after retirement.

Robbie Earle married Sandra Earle in the summer of 1989, and they would have a son, Otis Earle, on 17 January 1992. Otis followed his father’s footsteps and grew up loving football. He played professionally as a defender for just one season. While Otis was born in London, he moved to England and is now a green card holder, having played most of his professional football career in the States. Otis Earle’s career ended due to an ankle injury that would limit his abilities, and even after a trial with New England Revolution in January 2017, he could secure a contract.

On the other hand, Robbie Earle’s career was marked by hardships, and his spirit overcame them. Earlier in his career, he suffered a horrific abdominal injury, which kept him out of action for several months. However, he still made a comeback, from the point where people feared his career would be over. He became an even better player, pushing himself till he was 35, and would eventually succumb to shoulder problems as well as knee injuries. After undergoing shoulder surgery before 2000, he knew he could not push his body to the demands of professional football and retired, delving into the next step of his career in journalism.

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Robbie Earle Career

Club Career

Robbie Earle started his career at Port Vale under John McGrath and would score in just his second appearance for the club in a 4-1 win over Aldershot. He helped the ‘Valiants’ secure promotion in his first season from the fourth division but would be relegated back to the next season. He would then become a regular under John Rudge and scored 19 goals in 56 games, partnering up with Alistair Brown to score 40 goals together.

Earle had a knack for connecting with his forwards and pouncing on the loose ball, making him a dominating force from the midfield earlier in his career. After a good run of form, he was worn out with a groin injury, which led to a hernia operation in 1987. He would return to scoring form with four goals in eleven matches, helping Port Vale knock out Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.

In 1989, Earle would help Port Vale earn promotion to the English Second Division in an emotional play-off final match where he scored twice over Bristol Rovers. He would go on to score around 20 teams in the next season. He was a fan favorite, known as ‘The Black Pearl’ and a cult hero who was one of the best-ever players to put on a Port Vale shirt.

He was on Wimbledon’s radar long before chairman Sam Hammam convinced him in 1991. However, despite the move, his time was tough initially, with the club going through a managerial change with Peter Withe taking charge after Ray Harford, who Joe Kinnear also replaced. He helped the ‘Dons’ stay in the top flight with 14 goals and scored some iconic goals in the upcoming 1992 Premier League.

Earle scored twice at Anfield in a 3-1 win against English powerhouse Liverpool, helping Wimbledon finish as high as sixth in the Premier League. He would often miss matches due to injuries and became inconsistent around this point as the ‘Dons’ struggled under Egil Olsen by the end of his career, eventually relegating the club in 2000. By this time, he could not be a regular for the first team, and he retired alongside the other members of his ‘Crazy Gang,’ ending an iconic career.

International Career

Despite being born in England, Robbie Earle waited for a significant period for his senior English call-up but never received it. He eventually decided to represent Jamaica at 32, as his parents were Jamaican. While his career with the ‘Reggae Boyz’ was short, it was still filled with iconic moments. He was critical in helping Jamaica qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Earle would also score their first-ever World Cup goal against Croatia in the 45th minute, which was a proud moment for the entire country. However, they would lose the match 3-1, but Earle finally helped his nation reach the global stage.

Jamaica would also secure an iconic 2-1 win over Japan, with Earle playing a critical leadership role for the team. In totality, Robbie Earle managed to make just eight appearances for Jamaica and scored once, but his career displayed outstanding professionalism, leaving a legacy for future Jamaican footballers to fulfill.

Playing style of Robbie Earle and Net Worth

Robbie Earle redefined the midfield role with his strong presence as a box-to-box midfielder with immense technical ability. He had excellent work ethic and was always on the end for scoring goals. He could also be deployed as an attacking midfielder, as he possessed great intelligence to make late runs in the box for loose balls being converted. At almost 6 feet tall, Earle was also a significant aerial threat, often scoring headers from set-pieces and helping his teams.

He read the game one step ahead of his fellow players and would always cover the most distance on the field. He was versatile and could play as a defensive midfielder if needed. Earle rose on big occasions, and his mentality separated him from many other players. He was a leader who would inspire his teammates with his game and had a no-nonsense style focused on immense hard work in training. He had great vision and strength and a decent pace to get on the end of through balls.

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Robbie Earle Honors

Robbie Earle’s career was filled with iconic moments and struggles. While he never played for a top team, he played a crucial role, cementing his status as a legend in the two clubs he represented. He won promotions to the top divisions and was often his team’s best player. Throughout the 1990s, Earle helped lay the foundation of old-school football and is still considered a cult hero.

He was often named the Player of the Year of his clubs and scored Jamaica’s first-ever World Cup goal. Earle was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1999 for his legacy and contributions to football. He will always be remembered as a player with a great work ethic and attitude.