Robbie Blake Bio Send To Friend  

He was an integral member of the side that missed out to Plymouth Argyle in the 1995-96 play-off final at Wembley.

The following season his performances had attracted the attention of scouts from a number of clubs from higher divisions. And just before the transfer deadline day he was snapped up by Bradford City, for £300,000, after bagging 23 goals in 64 starts for the Quakers.

A skillful and wily link-forward he has been favourably compared to Peter Beardsley.

Blake carried on where he left off by playing a vital role in the Bantams' promotion campaign of 1998-99, featuring in 41 games and scoring 17 goals in a prolific partnership with Lee Mills.

But Blake struggled in the Premiership, and when failing to break into the side early in the 2000-01 season he was loaned to Nottingham Forest towards the end of August, where he played 12 games in a three-month spell.

On his return to Valley Parade, he featured on a regular basis in a side that slid back into the First Division.

But Bradford's financial troubles post-relegation were beginning to hit home and in January 2002 he signed for Burnley in a £1m move.

Blake's performances for the Clarets were top drawer, and led to him being named the club's skipper.

By the time the 2004-05 season came around, the forward was itching for another crack at the Premiership. And when table-topping Wigan Athletic placed three bids he pleaded with the club to allow him to move on.

There was another twist when Birmingham made a bid, and Blake earned an immediate return to the top flight when joined the St Andrew's club when the transfer window re-opened in January 2005. He cost Blues £1.25m.

Blake scored 51 goals in 137 appearances for Burnley.

He spent just one season at Birmingham, starting only two matches, and was sold to Leeds United for £800,000. And after two years with Leeds he was reunited with his friends at Burnley who paid £250,000 to bring him back to the club.

Now a veteran, Blake gets another crack at the Premier League after helping Burnley back into top flight. He is a true Clarets crowd favourite having played almost 250 matches for them as the 2009-10 season began.