Hailing from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Robison arrived in Australia in 1912. He played in the 1914 Dockerty Cup Final and was the vice-captain of Northumberland and Durham in 1915. He was a standout goalkeeper in pre-war Victorian football, being selected for the “England” team in 1915 and performing well for his club.
Enlisting on 17 July 1915, he fought in France and was wounded in action on 25 October 1917. He returned to Australia on 10 March 1918. Despite the severity of his injury he resumed playing with the club in 1919. In 1920 he again played for “England” at the Fitzroy Cricket Ground where between “5,000 and 6,000 onlookers” saw the “international” match.
Robison subsequently “made a phenomenal rise to fame” and represented Victoria and Australia, including an A-international against against Canada in 1924.