Robinson: Paul William (Paul)

1997-2004 (Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Beverley: 15-10-1979

Debut v Chelsea (h): 25-10-1998

6’4” 14st 0lb (2004)

#69 in 100 Greatest LUFC Players Ever

Robinson was born at the Beverley Westwood hospital and attended Beverley Grammar School. A product of the Leeds Academy, signing professional forms in May 1997, Robinson was part of the class of '97 team that won the FA Youth Cup, but due to the continuing brilliance of Nigel Martyn, for seasons he was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch as his teammates went on to become first team regulars. He did get an oppurtunity to show his tremendous talent at senior level when Nigel Martyn was sidelined with a rib injury and, ten days after his nineteenth birthday, he had to face a rampant Chelsea attack that scored for fun. Robinson fulfilled his potential with a superb display and kept a clean-sheet. He also held Bradford City goal-less the following week and made a clear statement by clocking up one hundred and eighty-three minutes unbeaten before Derby County put a penalty past him in his third game before Martyn returned. With Mark Beeney retiring through injury Robinson became Martyn’s deputy and later in that season he was he was called on as substitute when Martyn was injured at Old Trafford and despite conceding an early goal, proceeded to pull off a string of fine and in the next game held West Ham United scoreless before Martyn returned. A regular with the England Under-Eighteen squad he was called up to the Under Twenty-one team and with the full England training squad because of his fine displays. He had to be content to watch the 1999-2000 campaign from the substitutes’ bench as Martyn was ever-present and Robinson was the unused substitute in all the games as Leeds qualified for the ECL in third place in the EPL. In United’s charge for European glory they were at first beset by injury and Nigel Martyn was no exception. He was injured in the Elland Road game with Charlton Athletic and Robinson came on as substitute. It was the start of twenty-three consecutive games before Martyn was again fit for duty. Robinson certainly made the most of his oppurtunity and once more showed unbelievable brilliance against some of the best teams in England and Europe. Barcelona in particular could not believe some of the saves he pulled off as they over-ran United at Elland Road but had to settle for a draw with a goal four minutes into overtime. It was back to the bench after Nigel Martyn was fit and he had just one more game that season as Leeds and Lazio both rested several players in a dead-rubber in the ECL. 2001-02 was a repeat of 1999-2000 with Martyn now established in the England squad and Robinson showing patience and learning as he and Martyn trained together. For Leeds United the 2002/03 season was a major disappointment. For twenty-three-year-old goalkeeper Paul Robinson however, it was a major success and a season which saw him firmly establish himself as a regular first team player, as well as receive a call-up from Sven Goran Eriksson to make his international debut against Portugal at Villa Park, he did not get on the pitch, however, having to be content to play his role as an unused substitute to David James. He had to wait until February 2003 before coming on as a half-time substitute at Upton Park against Australia. Martyn had been in the 2002 England World Cup team and opted not to make the pre-season trip with the club to Australia and the Far-East. It cost him dearly as new Manager Terry Venables stuck with Robinson for the opening games of the season and with the Leeds team suffering from injuries to star players. It was often Robinson who stood alone between United and a heavy defeat as he was inspirational in goal. Leeds’ season had little highs but the 1-0 victory over rivals Manchester United would stick out in the memory of all Leeds fans and Robinson more than played his part, proving inspirational between the posts and preventing Premier League top goal scorer Ruud Van Nistelrooy from adding to his tally. He was ever-present, making fifty appearances for Leeds and collecting two international caps along the way, it was an important season for the young international. It was no surprise then that there was much transfer speculation about the youngster with sides such as Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa all closely following his progress. A deal with Aston Villa was on the cards during the summer of 2003, which would have seen Robinson reunited with old Manager David O’Leary for an estimated fee of around £3.25 million. Robinson however failed to agree personal terms and vowed not to become another player involved in the Leeds exodus. He then stated "I am very happy at Leeds and I am happy to stay at the club." United were on the slide both on the pitch and financially, but Robinson still performed wonders behind the worst defence in the EPL as he did his bit to keep United out of the relegation zone. However, in the January 2004 transfer window, he came very close to signing for Tottenham Hotspur, only for the deal to fall through at the last minute, but went on to be almost ever-present once more and even scored with a header in a League Cup-tie against Swindon Town. With Nigel Martyn too good to figure permanently in the Reserves he had been snapped up by Everton early in the season and Robinson’s only cover was the young and inexperienced Scott Carson. He only missed the fixture at Old Trafford, as punishment for being sent off at Middlesbrough and the final match of the season at Chelsea when he was already on his way to Tottenham, as after Leeds were relegated at the end of the season, his departure became inevitable and Spurs announced in May that they would sign him for £2m. His first season in the white of Spurs proved to be hugely successful. He made forty-four apperances between the sticks for Manager Martin Jol and kept fourteen clean sheets. He also made a huge breakthrough into the England set-up. Thanks to his strong performances for Tottenham, he became a regular for Sven-Goran Eriksson, making seven appearances as England qualified for the 2006 World Cup. This fine form continued into the 2005/06 campaign as Robinson became number one keeper for both England and Tottenham Hotspur. The only disappointment in an otherwise superb season came during the World Cup where Robinson, like the rest of the England side, underperformed. Further international trouble came during a Euro 2008 qualifier in Croatia when a Gary Neville backpass bounced awkwardly just in front of Robinson's foot and headed into the net. Robinson was blamed for the error, but it didn't stop him performing brilliantly for his club, and even scored from just outside his area in a League match against Watford. In 2008 he was a member of the Tottenham squad that came back from a goal down to win in extra time against Chelsea in a gripping Carling Cup Final and so claim his first senior medal. After gaining eleven England Under-Twenty-one caps he has already picked up over forty in full Internationals and despite being temporarily omitted from the England team and also Tottenham’s in a form slump, he soon reclaimed both spots and looked certain to continue for years to come. He joined Blackburn Rovers on 25th July 2008, for a fee of £3.5 million on a five-year deal, making him Paul Ince’s first signing at the club. On July 29th 2008, it was confirmed during an interview that he would be wearing the Blackburn No.1 jersey left behind by the departure of Brad Friedel. The next day he made his Blackburn Rovers debut in a 2-1 victory against Northwich Victoria. In his time at White Hart Lane he played one hundred and thirty-seven League games and scored one goal. He also started twelve F.A. Cup ties, ten Football League Cup games and sixteen European Cup games. At Ewood Park he showed the kind of form that earned him the England goalkeeping jersey and his performances improved as well as his consistency. In the final ten games of the season he produced his best performances in two years and earned the man-of the-match award against Wigan Athletic. He helped Blackburn earn thirty-seven points by keeping nine clean sheets in his thirty-five League appearances. With Ryan Nelson being on the injured list Robinson became team Captain. He had also earned forty-one full caps for England. Robinson was dropped from the England team after his mistake had given Russia the winner and his place was taken by former Leeds keeper Scott Carson, who eventually gave way to David James. Robinson was called back into the England squad in 2009 for 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhsatan and Andorra when David James was injured. He was selected as substitute for Robert Green of West Ham United for the Kazakhstan game. He was not included in the 30-man England squad for the 2010 World Cup, Joe Hart, David James and Robert Green, being preferred. His club Manager, Sam Allardyce commented, "It is completely the wrong decision, if you look at his form for Rovers, there has not been a better goalkeeper, who has been so consistent". Robinson ended the EPL season with thirteen clean sheets. It was the best of all the English Goalkeepers. At the end of the 2009-10 season he had made seventy starts in the League, three in the F.A. Cup and seven in the League Cup.