Paul Peter Robinson (born 14 December 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-sided defender. Also capable of playing at centre-back, he represented five clubs in the Premier League and Football League between 1996 and 2018. He was capped three times for the England under-21 team in 1999.
Robinson began his professional career at Division Two side Watford in 1996, and made 252 appearances for the club, before moving to Division One side West Bromwich Albion in October 2003. He made 238 appearances for West Brom, before joining Premier League side Bolton Wanderers in July 2009, initially on loan, and then on a permanent transfer at the start of the 2010–11 season. Having made 87 appearances for Bolton, he went on loan to Championship side Leeds United in March 2012, where he made ten appearances. He was released by Bolton at the end of the 2011–12 season, and joined his final club, Birmingham City, on a free transfer in September 2012.
Early and personal life
Robinson was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, and attended St. Michael's Catholic High School in Garston. He captained their football team to the English Schools' Football Association Under-16s Cup Final at Prenton Park, the home of Tranmere Rovers, in 1995.
Robinson is married to Caroline. , they have three sons, Luke, Jamie and Archie.
Career
Watford
Robinson began his football career in the youth system of his hometown town club, Watford. He made his first-team debut as a second-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw against Luton Town on 29 October 1996, aged 17. He went on to make 12 more appearances that season. In Watford's Division Two Championship-winning season of 1997–98, Robinson was in and out of the side. He often played when the side reverted to the 4–4–2 formation from 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 29 April 1999, Robinson made a poor tackle on Vale player Stewart Talbot, breaking both bones in Talbot's lower leg. The injury kept Talbot out of the game for 10 months and resulted in a "six-figure" out-of-court settlement. 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 future employers Bolton Wanderers.
Robinson made 32 appearances for Watford in their 1999–2000 FA Premier League season, and stayed with the club when they were relegated to Division One, making a further 124 league appearances for Watford in the second tier over the next four seasons and taking his totals to nine goals from 252 appearances in all competitions.
West Bromwich Albion
In October 2003 Robinson was sold to West Bromwich Albion for an initial £250,000 fee, potentially rising to £375,000 depending on appearances and Albion being promoted to the Premiership. He made his West Brom debut in a 1–0 win against Norwich City on 18 October.
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, which earned him the club's Goal of the Season award. 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 £1.4 million; however, this bid was rejected by manager Robson and chairman Jeremy Peace, as Robinson was considered vital if the team was to realise its ambition of a quick return to the Premier League. Robinson signed a new three-year contract with the club in July 2006.
On 28 October 2006, Birmingham City captain Damien Johnson's jaw was broken in two places in a collision with Robinson during a local derby, for which he received a straight red card. The incident drew criticism from Birmingham manager Steve Bruce, who believed Robinson's use of the elbow to be a deliberate act.