Education
Redrobe played rugby league for Lancashire Schoolboys, and received contract offers in that sport, but chose to play association football instead.
Redrobe played rugby league for Lancashire Schoolboys, and received contract offers in that sport, but chose to play association football instead.
His style was bustling and often physical, although he was not a particularly big man, with a height of about 6 ft 1 in (185 m). He exhibited excellent ball control. A former England youth international, he started his career at Bolton Wanderers making four appearances and scoring one goal in two-and-a-half seasons.
He had a trial at Colchester United before joining Southport in 1966.
Called "Big Eric" or "Big Red" by Southport fans, Redrobe was a regular in the side during its three seasons in the Third Division before relegation. After another three seasons in the Fourth Division, he was sold for a fee of £6,000 to Hereford United, newly elected to the Football League, in October 1972.
He scored nine goals as the Bulls were promoted at their first attempt. He dropped into non-league football to play for Bath City before a brief return to Hereford in 1977.
He later became a bailiff.
In 2007 he was chosen as the Southport fans" all-time favourite player as part of the Professional Football players" Association centenary celebrations.
In his first season, he scored the winning goal in Southport"s last away game, then, needing to win their last home game to secure promotion from the Fourth Division, he set up the only goal of the game for George Andrews. He remained at Edgar Street until the end of Hereford"s successful 1975-1976 season when they won the Third Division.
