Having previously made more than 50 Premiership appearances for Middlesbrough after coming through their excellent youth academy, the defender also had loan spells at West Ham, Sheffield Wednesday before signing for Rotherham in 2004 who were then under the stewardship of current Rovers Boss Ronnie Moore. 

Robbie spent just seven months at Millmoor before moving to Hull on a free transfer where he made 12 appearances in their promotion season during which they pipped Tranmere to 2^nd spot in the League.

Hull loaned Stockdale out to Darlington towards the end of the 2005-06 season before he was snapped up as Ronnie Moore's first signing as Rovers Manager in June 2006.

After signing Stockdale, Moore described him as being an "attacking full back", which is something Rovers had missed since the departure of Ryan Taylor to Wigan Athletic.