Colvin's three League appearances for the club go right back to the 1897/98 first division season when the Reds finished in ninth position. The small outside-right's debut came when he was selected for the away 2-1 defeat at Blackburn on 8 January 1898. Two months later he played twice more for the first team in consecutive games against Bury. The Cricket and Football Field wondered at the end of the 1897/98 season "will Robert Colvin, of Liverpool, ever rise to First league football form? He is young, can sprint and centre, but little men in the attacking line are severely handicapped, and he lacks in physique." Colvin finished his career back in Liverpool where he played for African Royal in the I Zingari league.