Robbie Walsh (Scott Mean) 2002-2003

First Regular Appearance: 5.24 (#252) The Birthday Party  Sunday 10th March 2002

Last Regular Appearance: 6.20 (#280) They Think It's All Over  Sunday 23rd February 2003

Duration: EP: 252 - 280  |  SE: 5.24 – 6.20

Squad Number/Position: (#22 / #18) Midfielder (2002-2003)

Last Seen: Stays in Brighton when his loan deal is made permanent and after splitting from Tash.

 

 

Growing up local to Harchester United, the club was the central point of Robbie's development as a midfielder, from academy and youth team at Addison Road, onto the reserves at The Dragon's Lair. Robbie had to push himself hard to reach the final goal of a professional contract with Harchester; there were other players in the club's youth development with more natural ability and his talent was just about enough to see him through to the top flight. It was late in the 2001-02 season that Robbie began to receive his call-up to make his first appearances with the first team, with Patrick Doyle now in the manager's role.

Robbie is soon the centre of a competition battle between Harchester's two resident agents
Jeff Stein and Doyle's son Taylor, both determined to sign the new boy. Taylor is the successor to Jeff's irritation, but he doesn't have long to wait before snapping up Robbie for himself. As the team set off to face AC Milan in the UEFA Cup Final in Amsterdam, the coach crashes, injuring several and killing three of the team, including Danny Rawsthorne. As Taylor had betrayed Danny beforehand, he is driven out of the club leaving Robbie open to Jeff. Robbie isn't badly injured in the crash, so is a part of the weakened Harchester squad who still play the match, but lose 1-0.

Being on Jeff's books brought Robbie into contact with Jeff's daughter
Tash more, wife of his team mate Jamie who was still out injured from the crash and in hospital. Tash had just given birth to their daughter, and was struggling without her husband around. Robbie stepped in to help, which everyone thought was admirable, but before long Robbie had begun an affair with the lonely Tash. When Jamie comes home, a guilty Tash decides to end things with Robbie, but when Jamie has to leave for treatment in a clinic in LA leaving her alone again, Tash is heartbroken and resumes the affair. Setting up a photoshoot for Robbie, Tash allows Hope to be a part of the pictures, bringing them closer. Returning Hope after babysitting, Fletch finds Robbie in bed with Tash in her house - and gives Robbie a black eye. Jamie unexpectedly returns from LA and just misses Robbie and Tash at it himself, but it isn't long before he discovers the truth, not before mistaking Fletch as Tash's lover!

When it is revealed Jamie himself had an affair in LA with tennis player Shannon, Tash goes to live with Robbie. Robbie's career seems to have stalled at Harchester, first  with
Phil Wallis wanting to sell him and then with the arrival of Stuart Naysmith's son Ryan (under the guise of Ryan Greene). When Robbie is involved in a drunken punch up after an unauthroised day at the races with Fletch and Ryan, Patrick informs Robbie he is going on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion, with the view of making it permanent. Tash comes close to making the move with Robbie, but with Shannon now out of the picture, Tash realises she has never truly stopped loving Jamie and just wanted company with Robbie. Robbie realises this too, and reluctantly agrees to let Tash go, before transferring to Brighton where first team football was a guarantee.

 

Prior to being cast as Robbie Walsh, Scott Mean was named as on the bench for Harchester's 1st Round 2nd Leg UEFA Cup Tie against Shelbourne, and made it onto the pitch during the second half. Despite several HUFC team players originally introduced under their real names before becoming a character, this appearance was not meant to be Walsh, as it is later stated he makes his European debut in the Quarter Final against Celtic.