Paul Robinson (forward)

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Personal information
Paul Robinson
Full name	Paul Robinson
Date of birth	November 20, 1978 (1978-11-20) (age 29)
Place of birth	Sunderland, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Forward
Youth clubs
1994-1996	Darlington
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1996-1998 1998-2000 2000-2003 2000 2001 2002 2002 2002-2003 2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005 2005-2006 2006-2007	Darlington Newcastle United Wimbledon → Burnley (loan) → Dundee United (loan) → Grimsby Town (loan) → Grimsby Town (loan) → Carlisle United (loan) Blackpool Hartlepool United York City Whitley Bay Torquay United Horden Colliery Welfare Total	027 0(3) 011 0(0) 004 0(0) 003 0(0) 006 0(0) 005 0(0) 012 0(1) 005 0(1) 007 0(1) 031 0(7) 026 0(4) 00? 0(?) 021 0(3) 007 0(2) 165 (22)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:24, 15 May 2007 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Paul Robinson (born 20 November 1978) is an English former professional footballer, whose most recent club was Horden Colliery Welfare in the Northern League Division One. Robinson is a much-travelled player, having featured for no fewer than a dozen teams in his career. Due to his frequent moving, he has only passed thirty league appearances for one club, during his time with Hartlepool United.

Robinson was born in Sunderland and began his career as a trainee with Darlington, making his debut, as a late substitute for Robbie Blake in a 4-1 win away to Runcorn in the FA Cup first round on November 16, 1996. His league debut came a week later, this time as a second-half substitute for Glen Naylor in a 3-2 defeat away to Scunthorpe United. He played once more that season and was a regular substitute the following campaign.

In March 1998, Robinson moved to Premier League side Newcastle United, along with teammate James Coppinger as part of a £500,000 deal^[1]. He made his Magpies debut on August 7, 1999, as a late substitute for Nolberto Solano in a 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa and made his first start in the 3-3 draw at home to Wimbledon later that month.

His start in the next game was controversial. Boyhood Sunderland fan Robinson was selected by manager Ruud Gullit ahead of £22million strikeforce Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson in the infamous 2-1 home derby defeat against Sunderland. Robinson set up Newcastle's goal, but refused to celebrate it due to his allegiance to Sunderland. Gullit lost his job the following day.

After Bobby Robson took over as manager, Robinson played just 11 more times (all as a substitute), but did score his first senior goal for the team in a 2-2 UEFA Cup tie against CSKA Sofia.

In July 2000 he moved down to the Championship with Wimbledon for £1.5m^[2]. Robinson made just four league appearances in his three years with the Dons, spending most of his time on loan at a number of clubs^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]. He moved to Blackpool on a free transfer in March 2003, but in July that year moved to Hartlepool United, where he scored seven league goals the following season.

In June 2004 he moved to York City^[7], but was released after just one season. In July 2005 he was poised to sign for Ross County^[8]. However, he rejected a contract with the Dingwall side and the following month had an unsuccessful trial with Aberdeen, after which he was said to be considering quitting football after becoming disillusioned with the game^[9].

In August 2005, he returned to the North East of the England, signing for non-league side Whitley Bay^[10] before returning to the football league with Torquay United in November 2005^[11]. He was a regular squad member for the rest of the season, but was released after Torquay had secured survival on the final day of the season and joined Horden Colliery Welfare.

On January 8, 2007, Robinson was declared bankrupt at Sunderland County Court, and announced his intention to switch from playing to become a full-time coach.^[12]