Brian Robson

Lore & Background

In 1965, Robson was in Australia and didn't have sufficient funds to travel back home to Cardiff, Wales. Inspired by the story of Reg Spiers, an Olympic javelin thrower who had performed a similar feat, Robson had his friends seal him in a crate that measured 36 × 30 × 38 inches and send him by post back to London. Supplies in the crate included: a hammer, a suitcase, a pillow, a litre of water, a flashlight, a book of Beatles songs, and an empty bottle. Robson spent 92 hours in the crate before officials intercepted him in Los Angeles, USA. He was then deported to London. Robson's plan had been to be shipped directly to London on a 36-hour Qantas flight from Sydney, but the connecting flight was full, and so the crate was left upside down for 22 hours on the tarmac until it was shipped freight by Pan Am to Los Angeles before being transferred on to London. Because the areas where the crate had been stored were not properly heated and the crate had at times been kept upside down, Robson suffered greatly on his four-day journey, at times even slipping in and out of consciousness. It took him several days to recover in a hospital in Los Angeles. Robson settled down in his native Wales, retiring at the age of 60. In 2021, he wrote a book about his experience called The Crate Escape.

In Their Own Story

The 1983–84 European Cup Winners' Cup campaign showcased Robson's resilience and tactical brilliance. In the quarter-final second leg against Barcelona at Old Trafford, he scored twice in a 3–0 victory to overturn a 2–0 first-leg deficit, advancing 3–2 on aggregate. Despite suffering a hamstring injury that forced him to miss both legs of the semi-final defeat by Juventus, his influence remained potent; while in Turin for the second leg, United granted him permission to speak with Juve regarding a transfer. The move never materialized as neither Juventus nor any other club met United's £3 million asking price. His injury also cost him crucial late-season league games as United's title challenge slipped away, but his commitment was rewarded when he extended his contract in 1984 with a seven-year deal worth around £1 million.

Reader's Guide

Brian Robson is known for his 1965 journey in a crate from Australia to the USA. He was deported to London after being intercepted in Los Angeles. He later retired in Wales and wrote a book about his experience.

Did You Know?

• Robson was inspired by Olympic javelin thrower Reg Spiers.
• His crate measured 36 × 30 × 38 inches.
• He spent 92 hours in the crate.
• The crate was left upside down on the tarmac for 22 hours.
• He wrote a book called The Crate Escape in 2021.