Robbie Willmott

Robbie Willmott (born 16 May 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a winger for Conference National side Cambridge United. Willmott returned to the Abbey Stadium in the summer of 2012 after spending a season-and-a-half with local rivals Luton Town.

Youth career
In the summer of 2006 head of Cambridge's youth development Jez George spotted Willmott playing for Buntingford under 16's against Cambridge City and offered him a weeks trail at Cambridge United. Willmott joined United as a scholar and went on to play for Cambridge Regional College in the Eastern Counties Football League to gain further experience in a competitive environment.

Cambridge United
Willmott a product of United's youth system made his senior debut for the club at the age of 17 on 15 September 2007. Willmott was brought on for the last ten minutes at the Abbey Stadium as Cambridge ran out 2-1 winners against Crawley Town. The winger signed his first professional contract with Cambridge United in December 2007 and went on to score his first senior goal for United in the FA Cup against Boston United at their York Street ground on 25 October 2008, his overall performance deserving of the man of the match award, an award that Cambridge United manager at the time Gary Brabin concurred with.

Willmott featured in Cambridge United's Conference play off final defeat to Torquay United at Wembley Stadium in May 2009. He started in the final and the second leg of the semi-final, a game in which he scored for United.

In January 2010, Willmott became an outlandish transfer target for fellow Conference club Histon but Cambridge United decided to turn their offer down.

Later that year, Willmott controversially attacked former Cambridge United players Danny Crow and Dan Gleeson for joining Conference rivals Luton Town during the summer, he said "But if they (Crow & Gleeson) don't want to play for the club and they don't want to do the graft to get the club into the Football League, then fine. We don't want players who aren't going to put 100% into the team."

Cambridge United sold Willmott to Luton Town in January 2011 for a transfer fee of £50,000. On his departure former Cambridge United manager Martin Ling said of Willmott "I feel it's a good move for Robbie, on a football front I'm disappointed to lose a player of his quality, He will be hard to replace from within but that's where it's got to be. Sometimes you have to manage difficult situations."

Luton Town
On signing Willmott, former Luton Town manager Richard Money said "There were a lot of clubs interested in him...I think it’s fair to say that most of the bigger clubs in our division were interested in him and one or two clubs as far up as the Championship. We tried to sign him two or three times and it’s always nice, with Monday still to come, to get the deal done with some comfort."

He made his debut for the Hatters on the 1 February 2011, coming on as a sub in Luton Town's 4-0 victory over Darlington at Kenilworth Road. and scored his first goal on his full debut at Newport County on the 18 February 2011.

In May 2011, Willmott played in his second Conference play off final, this time at the City of Manchester Stadium, and once again found himself on the losing side.

At the end of the 2010-11 season, Willmott was acclaimed as one of the season's star performers with his inclusion in the Conference team of the season, the only Luton Town player to be represented. As such, he was the subject of transfer speculation in August 2011 when Forest Green Rovers made two bids for him which Luton Town rejected out of hand.

After a disappointing 1-1 draw against AFC Telford In December 2011 Willmott, Luton Town's goal scorer, jumped to the defence of under-fire Luton Town manager Gary Brabin when he said "We’re all 100 per cent behind the gaffer. We’re all working hard in training, we’re all committed to the gaffer and we believe he is the man to take us up the league."

Cambridge United
Willmott was released by Luton Town at the end of the 2011-12 season and became a free agent. On 17 July 2012, he re-signed with Cambridge United on a two-year contract, less than two years after departing the U's.

International career
Willmott was first called up for England C duty in February 2011 but had to withdraw from the squad to face Belgium in the semi finals of the International Challenge trophy due to injury.

He was once again called up for England C in August 2011 in a squad for a friendly with India U23. However, the game was cancelled shortly afterwards.

He finally made his England C debut in a friendly against Gibraltar on the 15 November 2011, starting the match before being replaced at half time in a 3-1 defeat.

Style of play
Willmott is comfortable playing on either wing and has been known to play centrally as a second striker or an attacking midfielder. His pace and ability to dribble make him a formidable opponent when he is on top of his game.