(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
“We’ve got something coming up in September called Pedal for Primus, and it’s just going to be cycling 160 miles over three days to different clubs on the south-coast, and then ending back up at Portsmouth. We did a similar one last year with all the clubs I’ve played for, so we’ve had lots of different things going on.”
The English centre-back saw himself left out of the side during the early Premier League campaign after Redknapp reverted to a 4-4-2 system, despite Primus picking up seven different Player of the Year awards in Pompey’s promotion season.
Redknapp’s new formation change came following the signing of Dejan Stefanovic to partner Arjan De Zeeuw at centre-back. This left Primus out of the previous 3-5-2 system.
After chopping and changing a number of managers, and after Redknapp infamously left to Portsmouth’s down-the-road rivals, Primus established himself back in the side under French manager Alain Perrin, who gave Primus the chance to prove his worth, and that he was more than capable of keeping Portsmouth in the Premier League.
Primus, who has made 209 appearances for Pompey to date through nearly
nine years at the club, scored his first Premier League goal against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day 2004, before scoring two more on Boxing Day 2006 against West Ham United.
With the return of Harry Redknapp to Fratton Park, Primus once again became a regular and did a splendid job helping Pompey steer away from relegation in 2005/06 before partnering Sol Campbell in defence the season after—a partnership that saw Primus gain in experience and hold his own next to the Portsmouth captain. It was up to this date where Primus was recognised for his solid performances.
Whether he was starting week-in week-out, or was dropped and brought back when someone was injured, Primus never moaned and got on with the job and always gave 110 percent. His work-rate was second to none, and saw him going in for everything and never giving up.
A similar attitude to many of the players during the relegation-fighting era in the Premier League for Pompey that has seen them stay up and establish themselves as a top-flight club.
Whether Primus got the credit he deserved from fans outside of Pompey is yet to be seen, but the Portsmouth fans certainly appreciate it, and the Pompey “legend” recognises the Fratton Faithful’s huge support for the player.
He said: “My relationship with the fans has helped not just on the football pitch, but with the charity that I started here. So that gives me a lot of satisfaction and joy to know that it’s not just football it’s a round thing. I appreciate how the fans are with me and I just want to keep giving them my all!”
Linvoy once again saw a large setback after a career threatening knee injury and missed 2007/08 season.
There were many worries that the solid centre-back wouldn’t return to play football, but with commitment, determination and the belief of help from God, he got through it and returned to full fitness thanks to the help of specialist surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman. A surgeon who has also worked wonders with the likes of Alan Shearer and many other Premier League players.
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