An inside right, Robson joined hometown First Division club Newcastle United in 1925, but failed to make an appearance for the first team before departing in 1928.
Robson signed for First Division club West Ham United in 1928. He made his debut for the Hammers on the final day of the 1927–28 season in a 3–1 defeat to former club Newcastle United. Robson had to wait until 15 December 1928 for his next appearance, but he made his presence count with West Ham's third goal in a 3–3 draw with Sunderland. That month, Robson also fired in five goals for the reserve team in a 13–2 drubbing of Fulham. On 18 May 1929, Robson scored a hat-trick against Dutch club Ajax in a 6–0 win at the Het Houten Stadion. Robson failed to make a breakthrough into the first team at Upton Park, his best seasonal appearance tally being 11 in the 1929–30 season. He departed West Ham in February 1931, having made 18 appearances and scored two goals.
Brentford
Robson moved from East to West London to sign for Third Division South club Brentford in February 1931. He was a regular in the team throughout his time at Griffin Park, averaging a goal in every four league games, with managerHarry Curtis offering the view that Robson was his best ever signing. Robson contributed to the Bees' elevation to the First Division for the first time in the club's history, helping the club to the Third Division South title in 1933 and scoring 10 goals in 27 games to send the club to the top flight as Second Division champions in 1935. That same year, he also won the London Challenge Cup with the reserve team. Once in the First Division, the signings of Dai Richards and Dave McCulloch pushed Robson out of the starting line-up and he made just 18 appearances during the first half of the 1935–36 season, before departing in the Bees December 1935. Robson made 131 appearances and scored 34 goals during his time at Brentford.
Heart of Midlothian
Robson moved to Scotland to join Scottish First Division club Heart of Midlothian in December 1935 and effectively replaced one of the men who displaced him at Brentford, Dave McCulloch. He made his debut in a 3–0 victory over Dundee on 2 January 1936. Along with Freddie Warren, Robson was the team's leading appearance-maker in the 1936–37 season, making 41 appearances and scoring four goals as Hearts finished fifth. He made 32 appearances and scored one goal during the 1937–38 season, a campaign in which Hearts finished as runners-up to Celtic in the First Division. He also appeared against former club Brentford in the Empire Exhibition Trophy. After the break-out of the Second World War in 1939 and the suspension of competitive football, Robson continued to appear for the club in the wartime Southern League. He made his final appearance for Hearts in a 4–1 Southern League win over Dumbarton on 9 November 1940. Robson made 163 appearances and scored seven goals during his five years at Tynecastle. He won a host of minor honours while with the club, including the Wilson Cup, the East of Scotland Shield, the Stirling Charity Cup and the Rosebery Charity Cup.
Scouting career
After retiring as a player, Robson returned to former club West Ham United as a scout. He left Upton Park for the final time in 1971.
Personal life
Prior to becoming a professional footballer, Robson worked as a lorry driver.
