He was first-choice goalkeeper for the next two years before injury intervened, then regained his place in 1909–10 before blood poisoning effectively put an end to his career and nearly cost him his leg.
[9] He played local football for Langley St Michaels and West Smethwick,[10] and spent the 1899–1900 season with Soho Villa of the Birmingham Junior League.
"[13] During that season, he signed amateur forms with Football League First Division club West Bromwich Albion, but made no appearances for the senior side.
[1] Robinson was ever-present through the 1901–02 relegation season and into October 1902,[14] when a bad cold kept him at home, allowing Dorrington to make his club and Football League debut as a late replacement in a 2–2 draw away to Burslem Port Vale.
"[15][16] A 6–1 defeat away to fellow promotion hopefuls Woolwich Arsenal saw Robinson dropped in favour of Dorrington for the last four matches of the season,[17] and three wins were enough to secure runners-up spot.
[19][20][21] It was not for another three years, with Robinson away representing the Football League XI against their Irish counterparts, that Dorrington next appeared for the first team, by which the club had renamed itself Birmingham; they lost 2–0 to Sheffield United.
[23][24] Dorrington finally replaced Robinson as first-choice goalkeeper in November 1907, "it being thought advisable, owing to the latter suffering from nervous strain, to engage him in less strenuous football."
[30] He also enhanced his reputation as a saver of penalties with three in two matches in September 1908, one in a draw with Fulham when the taker scuffed his kick,[31] and two in the Lord Mayor's Charity Cup against Aston Villa two days later.
[42] During the drawn cup-tie against Oldham Athletic in January 1911, Dorrington suffered a cut knee, which became inflamed; he neglected to have it treated because he wanted to play in the replay.
[45] He finally retook the field for Birmingham's reserves on 3 April,[46] and in the absence of Horace Bailey from the last match of the Second Division season, "proved that he [had] lost none of his skill as a custodian.
"[55] West Midlands football historian Tony Matthews described him as "a grand servant to Blues, totally fearless, with a jovial temperament that did wonders for morale, even in difficult times.
"[10] After retiring as a player, Dorrington went into the pub trade, first with the Green Dragon in Kinver,[56] from where he organised a football team to play in the Kidderminster League.