Paul Robinson (defender born 1978)

:"For the Millwall defender, see Paul Robinson (footballer born 1982). For other people named Paul Robinson, see Paul Robinson."Football player infobox
playername = Paul Robinson


fullname = Paul Peter Robinson
nickname = Robbo, Chipmunk
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|12|14|df=y
height = height|ft=5|in=9
cityofbirth = Watford
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = West Bromwich Albion
clubnumber = 3
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1996–2003
2003–
clubs = Watford
West Bromwich Albion
caps(goals) = 219 (8)
183 (4)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 003 (0)
pcupdate = 23:52, 13 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Paul Peter Robinson (born 14 December 1978 in Watford) is a combative English football player. He currently plays for West Bromwich Albion, having started his career with Watford. He is a left-sided defender who can also play at centre back.

Career

Watford

Robinson, a product of Watford's youth system, made his debut as a second minute substitute in a 1–1 draw against Watford's arch-rivals Luton Town on 29 October 1996, aged just 17. He had previously captained the First XI team of St. Michael's Catholic High School into the English Schools' Football National Final at Tranmere Rovers. [cite news
title=Robbo: Hornets baptism shaped my career
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1157331,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2007-11-02
accessdate=2007-11-02] He went on to make 12 more appearances that season. 1997–98, Watford's Division Two Championship winning season, saw Robinson in and out of the side. He often played when the side reverted back to 4-4-2 (as opposed to their usual 3-5-2). In 1998–99, with the club playing 4-4-2, Robinson became a regular half-way through the season and featured in the club's run to the play-offs.

In a match against Port Vale on the 29 April 1999, Robinson made a poor tackle on Vale player, Stewart Talbot, breaking Talbot's leg. The injury kept Talbot out of the game for 10 months and resulted in legal action from the player. Robinson had become known for his ill-discipline and overly aggressive playing style.fact|date=May 2008 Out of 252 Watford appearances he was booked 63 times and sent off three times. One of these sendings off came in the 1998–99 play-off semi-final against Birmingham City, which saw him miss the second leg. He did feature, however, in the club's 2–0 play-off victory against Bolton Wanderers.

Robinson made 32 appearances for Watford in their Premiership season, and stayed with the club when they returned to Division One. In 2001–02, under new manager Gianluca Vialli, Robinson adopted a more disciplined attitude, which continued under the reign of Ray Lewington.fact|date=May 2008

West Bromwich Albion

In October 2003 Robinson was sold to West Bromwich Albion for an initial £250,000 fee, which later rose to £375,000 due to Robinson making the requisite number of appearances as well as Albion being promoted to the Premiership. [cite news
date=2003-10-14
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/3177568.stm
title=Robinson joins West Brom
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-25] He made his debut in a 1–0 win against Norwich City on 18 October 2003. [cite news
date=2003-10-18
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10366~22520,00.html
title=WBA vs Norwich City
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
accessdate=2008-01-22]

Robinson was touted as a potential England left back by Bryan Robson and others. His first goal for West Brom was an injury-time headed equaliser at Villa Park in April 2005, [cite news
date=2005-04-10
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4403621.stm
title= Aston Villa 1-1 West Brom
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-25] which earned him the club's Goal of the Season award. [cite news
title=Wallwork wins Player-of-the-Year award
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~665902,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2005-05-18
accessdate=2008-06-17] The draw was one of several key results that enabled Albion's "Great Escape" from relegation.

In June 2006 Watford attempted to re-sign the player from West Brom for £1.4m.fact|date=May 2008 However this was rejected by manager Bryan Robson and chairman Jeremy Peace, with Robinson considered vital if the team is to realise its ambition of a quick return to the Premier League. Robinson ultimately committed his future to Albion by signing a new three-year contract in July 2006. [cite news
date=2006-07-18
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/5192776.stm
title= Robinson extends West Brom stay
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-25]

On October 28, 2006, Robinson fractured Birmingham City captain Damien Johnson's jaw in two places in a collision during a local derby. The incident drew criticism from Birmingham manager Steve Bruce, who believed Robinson's use of the elbow to be a deliberate act. [cite news
date=2006-10-29
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6096876.stm
title=Birmingham skipper fractures jaw
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-25] Robinson was shown a straight red card by referee Nigel Miller.

Robinson was the subject of a £1.5 Million bid from Premiership team Wigan Athletic in August 2007 as a replacement for Leighton Baines, who had been sold to Everton. The move fell through however, when he failed a medical at the JJB Stadium. [cite news
date=2006-08-01
url=http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8708_2635453,00.html
title= Robbo's Latics Move on Hold
publisher=Football365.com
accessdate=2007-08-06] In early November he was named in the Championship Team of the Week following Albion's 3–0 win at his former club Watford. [cite web
url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/a4/ad/0,,10794~109988,00.pdf
title=Coca-Cola Championship Team Of The Week (05/11/2007)
publisher=The Football League
format=pdf
date=2007-11-05
accessdate=2007-11-05] He made the Team of the Week once again following Albion's 4–3 home win against Colchester United on 29 March 2008. [cite web
url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/cc/e4/0,,10794~124108,00.pdf
title=Coca-Cola Championship Team Of The Week (31/03/2008)
publisher=The Football League
format=pdf
date=2008-03-31
accessdate=2008-04-16] Robinson was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year, alongside team mates Jonathan Greening and Kevin Phillips, [cite news
title=Ronaldo named player of the year
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7370319.stm
publisher=BBC Sport
date=2008-04-27
accessdate=2008-05-15] after helping Albion win promotion to the Premiership as league champions.

Personal life

Robinson has two sons: Luke was born in 2001 or 2002 and Jamie was born in 2005 or 2006. [cite news
title=Robbo: I'm Daddy Cool!
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1379465,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2008-08-30
accessdate=2008-08-31]

References

External links

* [http://www.wba.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10366~8129,00.html Paul Robinson player profile] at wba.co.uk
*soccerbase|id=9857|name=Paul Robinson

Persondata
NAME = Paul Robinson
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 14 December 1978
PLACE OF BIRTH = Watford, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =