The Non-League Football Paper

SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR THE HAWKS

Veteran Robinson adds experience

- By John Lyons

IT’S not rocket science to understand why Havant & Waterloovi­lle manager Lee Bradbury was so eager to sign veteran centre-back Paul Robinson this summer.

After back-to-back promotions that have taken the Hawks from the Isthmian League to the National League via National League South, they are preparing for a whole new challenge.

The Hampshire outfit will be a part-time club in a division dominated by full-time teams and will have to adapt quickly among Non-League’s elite.

It will take leadership, experience, character and guts – and Robinson has got those characteri­stics in abundance.

He has pretty much seen it and done it all in a 17-year profession­al career in which he has never been scared to spill blood for the cause. The bulk of that time was spent with Millwall and you don’t succeed with the Lions if you are a shrinking violet.

From 2001 to 2015, the 6ft 1ins centre-back notched up 362 appearance­s for the southeast London club and earned the demanding fans’ approval for his wholeheart­ed, 100 per cent displays.

Eagerness

The crowning moment was scoring the only goal of the League One play-off final against Swindon at Wembley in May 2010.

He then spent a season with Portsmouth, initially on loan, before joining AFC Wimbledon. His first season with the Dons ended with another Wembley success as they beat Plymouth 2-0 to earn promotion to League One in 2016.

Robinson played more than 100 games for the Dons before his release at the end of the season and, although now 36, has still got plenty to offer.

Bradbury’s eagerness ultimately paid dividends as the planets aligned and Robinson signed up.

“I left Wimbledon at the end of the season and I’m at the stage in my career and life when there were a couple of important things,” explained Petersfiel­d-based Robinson. “Location was a big thing, having a settled family life. That was always going to be an important considerat­ion.

“I also wanted to carry on playing and start the next part of my career. Lee phoned me up within the first week of the season finishing and asked me my plans. I got a nice feeling from that, but I said I wanted to see what my options were.

“Then I got the opportunit­y to join Kenny (Jackett – manager) at Portsmouth and do some coaching there this season. It meant I had the opportunit­y to join Havant in their first season in the National League and start the coaching side as well. The whole package was what convinced me to go for it.”

Robinson is aware of the challenge facing the Hawks amongst Non-League’s big guns, but is optimistic they will be able to mix it with the cream.

“I think staying in the league will make it a good season,” he said. “That would be the minimum target, but, to be honest, I don’t think there are any limits. It’s an ambitious club and set of players and we’re aiming to build on

the momentum of the last couple of years. “I feel the manager has made some good signings, Alfie Pavey (from Dartford) and Nicke Kabamba (Portsmouth) are two powerful forwards. Some people would probably take fifth bottom if we were offered it now, but we should just try to finish as high as we can.”

And Robinson is hoping his knowledge and know-how will help rub off on his teammates at Westleigh Park.

“I’ve got experience of playing at a higher level, but there are some good players here that have achieved things,” he said. “I’m hoping to import as much as I can and be a good influence. Most importantl­y, I want to put in some good performanc­es on the pitch.”

As for those younger teammates looking for words of wisdom from an old pro, Robinson has plenty of memories to draw from. “Scoring the winner for Millwall at Wembley, captaining the club I grew up with and where I spent 16 years of my life was pretty special,” he said. “I was really proud, and walking up those steps and picking up the trophy was a dream – it was unbelievab­le. “Millwall is a special club to me and I try to get back as much as I can. I’m still very close with the manager (Neil Harris) and I always keep an eye on them. They had an unbelievab­le season in the Championsh­ip last season and ‘Chopper’ has done really well.

“Achieving promotion with Wimbledon was special, too. Going back to Wembley at 34 when you don’t know how many years you have got left was really enjoyable.”

The experience­d Jackett was Millwall manager when Robinson netted his Wembley winner, and now they are teaming up again at Portsmouth.

Priority

“Kenny has been a very successful manager and this is a great opportunit­y for me,” said Robinson. “It’s a couple of days a week, though I’ll probably try to go in as much as I can. To start with, I’ll be working with the defenders, individual­ly first and then with the back four as a whole. “I will be helping out in the academy as well, coaching one of the sides in the evening. The first team will be the priority and the academy will be good for my coaching developmen­t.” Robinson has got his UEFA B coaching licence and plans to complete his A licence this season. It’s about planning for the future, though he’s not keen on hanging up his boots just yet. He added: “I have taken my fair share of knocks over the years and my body isn’t quite as supple as it used to be, but I still feel good. I have always looked after myself and tried to get the best out of my career. “I’d like to play as long as I can, though I’ll have to see what opportunit­ies come up – I’ll keep an open mind. “I got a really good feel about Havant when I first arrived. There’s a really good group of lads and I liked the people at the club and what they want to achieve. “I was apprehensi­ve about dropping out of the Football League, but the National League is a good league now with clubs like Barnet, Leyton Orient and Salford. It was too good an opportunit­y to turn down.”

“THE CLUB ARE AND PLAYERS WE AMBITIOUS – WANT TO BUILD ON THE LAST TWO SEASONS" Paul Robinson – Havant

 ?? PICTURE: Action Images ?? ON THE UP: Paul Robinson celebrates promotion to the Championsh­ip with Millwall and with boss Kenny Jackett, inset NEW BOSS: Lee Bradbury
PICTURE: Action Images ON THE UP: Paul Robinson celebrates promotion to the Championsh­ip with Millwall and with boss Kenny Jackett, inset NEW BOSS: Lee Bradbury

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