PAUL ROBINSON: Life at The Den has been a rollercoaster... but when you fulfil your dreams and win at Wembley it makes it all worth it

PUBLISHED: 00:42 EST, 26 July 2013 | UPDATED: 02:11 EST, 26 July 2013

Paul Robinson is a one club man who has spent the last decade playing for Millwall. Now skipper the 31-year-old is looking forward to the season ahead under new boss Steve Lomas. Before the season kicks off next weekend, Robinson will celebrate his ten years at the club with a testimonial at The Den against Spanish side Rayo Vallecano. Before you read his Footballers' Football Column, watch his video below.

 

Paul Robinson: Tony Adams was my idol

I'm 31-years-old but I feel like a big kid pretty much every day. Football means different things to everyone who plays or watches the game, but to me it's a job that I love and am privileged to be doing.

After all, kicking a ball about with your mates is something I want to do morning, noon and night, and I am fortunate to be able to do just that.

That's not to say there aren't all sorts of pressures that come with it - performing in front of 15,000 every weekend isn't exactly stress-free - but sometimes you need to realise how lucky you are.

That was brought home to me last season when I had by far the worst season of my career due to a groin injury.

Making the tackle: Paul Robinson wins the ball from Fabrice Muamba

It just wouldn't clear up. I thought I'd be close to making a comeback then I'd break down again. I ended up going to a specialist in America to have an operation that was pretty much make-or-break.

Thankfully it seems to have sorted the problem but I realised that I'm not getting any younger.

I've already started taking my coaching badges, and I'm also thinking about a career in sports journalism - I'm enrolled to do a course at the University of Staffordshire next summer, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Ex-pros have a slightly different way of looking at the game; you only have to see how well Gary Neville has done to see that. One thing that you can't see is how much off-pitch issues affect players, though, and that's something that former footballers can empathise with.

I remember my wife had some real difficulties when she was pregnant with our second daughter, and I spent one Friday night in the hospital with her until 4am.

Eleven hours I was leading the lads out, having only told a couple of my team-mates what had been going on. I can't lie; it was tough.

But that's all to come once my playing days are over - and I still haven't given up hope of playing in the Premier League.

Steve Lomas has come in as the new manager at Millwall, and there's a real buzz around the place. Kenny Jackett was in charge for the last six years, and I owe him so much, but he'd decided it was time for a change both for him and the club.

Steve is very different to Kenny: he's only recently finished playing himself and he gets involved with the banter among the boys and is still pretty handy on the training pitch.

He's brought Mick Harford in as his assistant, and we're delighted he turned down a job at Newcastle to stay with us - that gave us a lift and shows the club is going places.

New man in charge: Steve Lomas is the man tasked with filling Kenny Jackett's shoes

Staying put: Mick Harford turned down the advances of Newcastle to stay at Millwall

I know a lot has been made about Steve's West Ham connections, but I think the fact he was willing to cross that divide shows a real strength of character.

If we start winning games then everyone will get behind him; that's how football works, and in the likes of Steve Morison and Nicky Bailey we are making the kind of signings that show we can make a push for the top half, and from there anyone has a chance.

Millwall in the Premier League? It could happen. I certainly don't see why not.

It would be a fairytale ending to my time at the club, too. It's my testimonial this weekend against a top Spanish side in Rayo Vallecano, and it's given me a chance to reflect on what has been a rollercoaster ride.

Playing even one professional game was a dream, and I remember getting taught a few lessons early on in my career.

Hard lesson: Robinson found playing against Yakubu a tough challenge

The harshest was delivered by Yakubu and Paul Merson when they were together at Portsmouth; Merson in particular was sensational, he never needed more than one touch. That showed me how far I had to go.

I'd like to think I've done alright, though. I was part of our amazing FA Cup run in 2004 and Dennis Wise, who was the manager then, allowed me to be part of the matchday squad even though I was injured. That was a magical time.

We lost our financial backers, though, and we looked like we were in real trouble. It seemed that we'd never get out of League One, and it was a bit of a struggle, to be honest.

But then came the highlight of my career, at Wembley in May 2010. As an Arsenal fan I was fortunate enough to go there a lot as a kid, but to lead my team out at the best stadium in world football for the League One Play-Off Final against Swindon was unreal.

Moving on: Kenny Jackett decided to leave Millwall at the end of the season after six years at the club

Part of the team: Dennis Wise lead Millwall to the FA Cup final in 2004 - Robinson missed the final through injury

I thought it couldn't get any better, but it did. After 39 minutes a loose ball fell to me about three yards out, and I couldn't miss.

The feeling as the ball hit the back of the net was unbelievable. I went mad, though I only managed to run five yards before my team-mates were all over me, each of us screaming at the top of our lungs. That's what football's all about, moments of pure release and ecstasy.

I still have nightmares over my mistake that allowed Charlie Austin to run through in the second-half (the ball bobbled and he missed, thankfully), but my goal turned out to be the winner, and I got to fulfil my childhood dream by walking up the Wembley steps to pick up a trophy.

It doesn't get any better than that. I don't think that day will ever be topped in my professional life, and if that's what I'm remembered for then I can't complain.

Highlight: Robinson celebrates with his team mates after scoring the opening goal in the 2010 League One play-off final

Going up: Robinson lead Millwall into the Championship

Football is changing, though. When I started out I had to clean Keith Stevens' boots. The thing is, not only was he a cracking player but he was also the manager!

He wanted them shined every day, and I had to make sure they were sparkling. It sounds silly now, but that level of discipline really helped me and made sure I kept my standards high.

I wonder if it's the same these days.

We make sure the Academy boys at Millwall are aware of their responsibilities, but I don't think that happens as much as it should elsewhere. It's important to make sure youngsters are grounded  - but the money that has flown into the game has changed the landscape beyond all recognition.

Staring out: Robinson is a one club man who has played for Milwall for ten years

Boot boy: Robinson cleaned the boots of player-manager Keith Stevens when he started at Millwall

I've been at one club my whole career but that doesn't happen much anymore - a trend I think is only going to continue.

I am very much looking forward to saying thank-you to the Millwall fans this weekend, though. It should be a great work-out against a side that finished eighth in La Liga last season - above the likes of Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao.

And I will also be raising money for a number of charities close to my heart, such as the Neil Harris Everyman campaign.

Really, this football lark has been an absolute blast - let's make this weekend and next season one to remember.

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Kevinc1957, sydney, 4 months ago

Mickey from Manchester, you are a wally.....!!!!!!!!!!!! Loyal fans, United beat them 3-0 in a cup final, and United fans were silent, the Lions were Rampant, shut up muppet....!!!!!

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Micky, Manchester, 4 months ago

Milwall. Mickey Mouse club and Mickey Mouse fans!

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Paul Smith, London, United Kingdom, 4 months ago

Oh please! if the likes of Birmingham, Cardiff and West Ham are "allowed" into the Premiership then surely any other club, regardless of their so called reputation should be there also. Don't forget that the two teams and their fans from Manchester have not always been so ¿pleasant¿.

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loz53, Manchester, United Kingdom, 4 months ago

4 teams you don`t want anywhere near the Premier League. Leeds Utd, Milwall, Rangers and Celtic. Personally I believe all are nothing but trouble and would be a blight on the competition.

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