Robert Elliot (born 30 April 1986) is a professional footballer who is currently a technical director and goalkeeper for Gateshead. Elliot also played for the Republic of Ireland national team. Elliot began his career with Erith Town, before joining Charlton Athletic's academy side. Whilst at Charlton, he was sent out on loan to Bishop's Stortford and Notts County, and also spent two loan spells at Accrington Stanley, where he was nicknamed "The Dilsh". He would then go on to be Charlton's first choice goalkeeper for a number of seasons, until he joined Newcastle United on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2011. Signed mainly as a back-up to Tim Krul, he featured for the club sporadically, but became first choice in the 2015–16 season after Krul suffered a season-ending injury. Through the origins of his father's family, Elliot became eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland national football team, and was first called up in 2013, making his debut the following year. Elliot retired from the first team in 2017. In June 2020 Elliot was released by Newcastle United after nine years. In January 2021, Elliot signed for Watford until the end of the 2020–21 season. In June 2021, Elliot signed a new 2-year contract with Watford. Club career Charlton Athletic Born in Greenwich, London, Elliot began his career with non-League side Erith Town before moving to Charlton Athletic, the team he had supported as a child, when he was 17. After becoming a professional player with the Addicks in 2004, he was sent out on loan twice during the 2004–05 season; first to Bishop's Stortford and then Notts County, where he made his Football League debut. The following season, Elliot spent most of the season on loan at the Conference National club Accrington Stanley, replacing fellow Charlton goalkeeper Darren Randolph who had been on loan at Stanley earlier in the year. He was part of the Accrington Stanley team which won promotion to the Football League as runaway champions, saving a vital penalty from Woking's Justin Richards in the match which guaranteed them promotion. He joined Stanley again on loan during the 2006–07 season, but failed to displace Ian Dunbavin as the club's first choice goalkeeper. He was voted the best keeper of the past decade for Accrington Stanley in 2010 by numerous key figures for the club, including manager John Coleman. Back at Charlton, Elliot was considered