Tributes paid after the death of former Liverpool and Manchester City striker Michael Robinson

News of his death was announced on Tuesday, more than a year after he announced he was suffering from malignant melanoma.

Though born in Leicester, Robinson honed his footballing skills in Blackpool after his family moved north to run a boarding house when Robinson was aged four.

He attended Thames Primary and Palatine High School and soon began to catch the eye, playing in Blackpool youth football and for Blackpool Schools before joining Preston North End aged 16.

Speaking to author Simon Hughes for his book ‘Red Machine: Liverpool FC In The ’80s: The Players’ Stories’, Robinson had happy memories of his his time on the Fylde coast.

He said: “For a shy boy like me, it was quite an experience growing up in what was really a small hotel. I became sociable.

“I lived my childhood on the beach. For a kid, living in Blackpool was like being in a giant playground.

“It was fantastic: slot machines, roller coasters. It was nice to grow up in a place where everybody was reasonably happy because they were on their holidays.

“People of a working-class background went on an annual pilgrimage to the seaside: the Scots, Welsh, Brummies and Geordies were everywhere.

“I remember thinking I didn’t want to live anywhere else. The rest of the country seemed normal, whereas Blackpool was exciting for a young boy.”

Robinson, who also featured for Brighton, QPR and Osasuna, went on to develop a formidable career as a broadcaster in Spain after his retirement from playing.

The tributes started pouring in for Robinson, with Liverpool’s former Spanish internationals Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia taking to Twitter to pass on their condolences.

Alonso wrote: “You’ll never walk alone Michael!! Rest in peace.”

Garcia wrote: “R.I.P Michael Robinson. The Liverpool legend that got in all the Spanish homes with his fantastic commentaries every Weekend !! #YNWA.”

Liverpool said on Twitter: “We’re deeply saddened by the passing of former player Michael Robinson, aged 61.

“The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Michael’s family and friends at this sad time.”Rest in peace, Michael.”

Spanish giants Barcelona said on the social networking site: “We at FC Barcelona wish to express our deepest condolences for the passing of Michael Robinson, a person who loved football and who knew how to explain it with knowledge and ingenuity.

“He was the winner of the 2018 Vazquez Montalban International Journalism Award. Rest In Peace.”

Another of Robinson’s former clubs, Manchester City, tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Michael Robinson. “Everyone at Manchester City sends their love and thoughts to Michael’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.”

The Royal Spanish Football Federation said in a statement: “The RFEF wishes to join the pain of the football world over the death of Michael Robinson. All of us who form this institution wish to express our condolences to their family and friends. Rest in peace.”