Robert Eagle Explained

Robbie Jonny Eagle
Fullname:Robert John Eagle
Birth Date:23 February 1987
Birth Place:Leiston, England
Currentclub:Lowestoft Town
Youthclubs1:Norwich City
Years1:2006–2009
Clubs1:Norwich City
Caps1:10
Goals1:1
Years2:2009–2010
Caps2:19
Goals2:1
Years3:2010–2012
Clubs3:Grimsby Town
Caps3:50
Goals3:9
Years4:2011–2012
Clubs4:Alfreton Town (loan)
Caps4:3
Goals4:0
Years5:2012–2016
Clubs5:Lowestoft Town
Caps5:189
Goals5:27
Years6:2016–2017
Clubs6:AFC Sudbury
Caps6:8
Goals6:2
Years7:2017–2018
Clubs7:Leiston
Caps7:21
Goals7:2
Years8:2018
Clubs8:Lowestoft Town (loan)
Caps8:11
Goals8:0
Years9:2018
Clubs9:Lowestoft Town
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Years10:2018–2022
Clubs10:Leiston
Caps10:71
Goals10:3
Years11:2022–
Clubs11:Lowestoft Town
Caps11:37
Goals11:0
Club-Update:20:58, 21 March 2024 (UTC)

Robert John Eagle (born 23 February 1987) is an English convicted sex offender and semi-professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Lowestoft Town.[1]

As a professional he has represented three clubs, starting his career with Norwich City before playing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Grimsby Town. He moved into semi-professional football in 2012 following a loan spell with Alfreton Town he later played for Lowestoft Town, A.F.C. Sudbury and Leiston.

Playing career

Norwich City

Eagle was a product of the Norwich City youth system and made his first team debut on 19 September 2006 when he started Norwich's League Cup tie with league one outfit Rotherham United in which he helped Norwich to a 4–2 victory. He went on to make 10 league appearances before the end of the 2006–07 season. On 3 April 2007, Robert signed a new one-year contract with the club.[2]

Eagle did not feature under manager Glenn Roeder in the 2007–08 season, but was awarded a new one-year contract in the summer of 2008. However, in April 2009 he was released by the club.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

In July 2009, Eagle joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle on trial, and played in a pre-season friendly against Highland League side Buckie Thistle. Eagle supplied the cross for Richie Foran to head the first goal in a 2–0 win for Caley. Eagle went on to play for Inverness during the 2009–2010 season. The song by Haircut 100, 'Love Plus One,' was sung regularly by the Inverness crowd as a way of showing their appreciation to Eagle, whose hair they were very fond of.

Grimsby Town

In July 2010, Eagle joined Football League One side Leyton Orient on trial, and then moved on to Grimsby Town.[3] After a successful trial period with The Mariners, he signed for the club on a two-year deal on 5 August 2010. He scored his first goal against Forest Green Rovers going on to score another to help Town to a 3–3 draw.[4] Eagle went on to bag himself some tremendous goals, including a strike from inside the centre circle in the 6–1 away win at Histon.[5]

Following the departure of manager Neil Woods on 23 February 2011,[6] Eagle began to fall out of contention at Grimsby Town following the appointment of joint managers Rob Scott and Paul Hurst on 23 March 2011.[7]

On 23 November 2011 he signed on loan with fellow Conference National side Alfreton Town.[8] Eagle had an impressive spell with Alfreton Town, with manager Nicky Law even hailing the impact Eagle, and fellow player Adam Quinn had during their loan spells.[9]

Non-League

Eagle was released from his contract at Grimsby Town in early January 2012 and moved to Lowestoft Town on a non-contract basis, playing in a match with Kirkley & Pakefield and scoring in the first minute.[10]

Robert signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side A.F.C. Sudbury on 19 May 2016.[11] A.F.C. Sudbury finished the 2016–17 season in 23rd position and were relegated.

Eagle was confirmed as signed for him home town club Leiston on 30 May 2017 on a two-year contract.[12] Robert made his Leiston debut on 12 August 2017 in an Isthmian League Premier Division home fixture against Dorking Wanderers, which the home side won 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Kyle Hammond.[13]

Eagle scored his first goal for Leiston on 23 September 2017 in an Isthmian League Premier Division home fixture against Metropolitan Police, coming on as an 88th minute substitute for Dominic Docherty, and scoring on the 95th minute with practically the last kick of the ball, to help the club to a convincing 3-0 victory.[14] It was confirmed on 6 February 2018, that Eagle had re-joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Lowestoft Town for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[15] Eagle made 11 appearances for Lowestoft Town.

Robert returned to Leiston on 14 November 2018 in a player-coach capacity, having played the previous night in a Suffolk Premier Cup fixture against Haverhill Rovers, where he scored the 4th goal in a 6-1 win.[16] On 16 June 2019, Leiston confirmed that Eagle, along with Byron Lawrence had signed contracts for the 2018–19 season.[17]

On 10 June 2022, Eagle signed for relegated former side Lowestoft Town, who will contest the 2022–23 season in the Isthmian League North Division.[18]

Personal life

Robert has a brother who has played non league football for Leiston.

In February 2020 he was convicted of sexual assault in a Norwich nightclub and was ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work and put on the sex offender registry for 5 years.[19]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leiston2017–18[20] [21] [22] Isthmian League Premier Division1723020222
Lowestoft Town (loan)1100000110
Leiston2018–19[23] [24] Southern League Premier Division Central40201070
Lowestoft Town00100010
Leiston1610040201
2019–202321031273
2020–21805110141
2021–222404050330
Lowestoft Town2022–23Isthmian League North Division00000000
Career total1035161001511357

Honours

Grimsby Town

Winner, 2011–12

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/lowestoft-town/appearances/robert-eagle/446717
  2. Web site: Eagle signs new deal at Norwich . 3 April 2007 . . 3 April 2007.
  3. Web site: Grimsby Town News Latest News Latest News Town Book Place In Final. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120310071401/http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10417~2106962,00.html. 2012-03-10.
  4. Web site: Grimsby Town News Latest News Latest News The Eagle Has Landed. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100806210035/http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10417~2112293,00.html. 2010-08-06.
  5. Web site: Histon 1-6 Grimsby Town . 3 January 2011 . . 3 January 2011.
  6. Web site: Grimsby Town part with manager Neil Woods . 23 February 2011 . . 23 February 2011.
  7. Web site: Grimsby Town appoint Rob Scott and Paul Hurst . 23 March 2011 . . 23 March 2011.
  8. Web site: Alfreton Town sign Rob Eagle from Grimsby Town . 23 November 2011 . . 23 November 2011.
  9. Web site: Alfreton boss Nicky Law hails Adam Quinn & Rob Eagle . 1 December 2011 . . 1 December 2011.
  10. Web site: Player News around the Meadow . 14 January 2012 . Lowestoft Town F.C. . 14 January 2012.
  11. Web site: AFC Sudbury bring in Lowestoft Town midfielder Robert Eagle and Concord Rangers' Sam Bantick . 19 May 2016 . Green'Un24 . 19 May 2016.
  12. Web site: Experienced midfielder joins the Blues . 30 May 2017 . Leiston F.C. . 30 May 2017.
  13. Web site: Leiston 1-0 Dorking Wanderers . 12 August 2017 . Leiston F.C. . 12 August 2017.
  14. Web site: Leiston 3-0 Metropolitan Police . 23 September 2017 . Leiston F.C. . 23 September 2017.
  15. Web site: Eagle Returns To Trawlerboys . 6 February 2018 . Pitchero . 6 February 2018.
  16. Web site: Robert Eagle returns to Victory Road . 14 November 2018 . Leiston F.C. . 14 November 2018.
  17. Web site: Byron Lawrence and Robert Eagle sign new contracts while Nigel Ling joins as Goalkeeping Coach . 16 June 2019 . Leiston F.C. . 16 June 2019.
  18. Web site: EAGLE SEALS RETURN TO LOWESTOFT . 10 June 2022 . Lowestoft Town F.C. . 10 June 2022.
  19. News: Former Grimsby Town player Rob Eagle ordered to complete unpaid work following sexual assault conviction . Findlater . James . 25 February 2020 . Grimsby Telegraph . 25 February 2020.
  20. News: Robert Eagle . Football Web Pages . 28 May 2020.
  21. News: Robert Eagle . Leiston F.C. . 28 May 2020.
  22. News: Robert Eagle . Football Web Pages . 28 May 2020.
  23. Web site: Player profiles: Robert Eagle . Aylesbury United F.C. . 28 May 2020.
  24. News: Robert Eagle . Football Web Pages . 28 May 2020.