But a combination of injuries and bad luck meant he never got the chance to fulfil his potential. Now 34, and working as a postman, he looks back at the many highs and occasional lows of his short career and tells reporter JAMES HANLEY why he has never been happier.

WHEN Paul Robinson was taken on as a pro by Sheffield Wednesday in the early 1990s, there were just a couple of hurdles blocking his path to the first team. Unfortunately for Paul, one of them happened to be England's number one Chris Woods.

The other, Kevin Pressman, went on to make more than 400 appearances for the Owls and Paul's chance never came. He was released by Wednesday after three years with the club and rejected offers of trials with Celtic and Dundee United to sign for his home town club Scarborough.

He said: "Trevor Francis, the manager at the time, said he'd love to keep me but he knew that I needed to play and wasn't going to get that chance at Wednesday." But by then, the infectiously cheerful 34-year-old had already surpassed his wildest dreams.

"To have been able to train with the England goalkeeper day in day out was unbelievable. I learned so much from Chris and Kevin and they were both great with me.

"More than that though, to be able do something I loved as a job was absolutely fantastic."

A huge Manchester United fan, one of the highlights of Paul's career came in 1991 when he faced his boyhood idols at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup semi-final – and came up against a young Ryan Giggs.

He said: "Ryan was breaking through at that time and you could tell he was going to be something special. He just had that little bit extra."

But it was Wednesday who progressed and went on to play Millwall in the final, where Paul found himself on the losing side. The former Friarage and Raincliffe schools pupil began playing football at the age of nine for West Pier Juniors, and soon found his natural position.

"For my first game I played as a striker – I was soon shattered," he laughed. "So they put me in goal and I've been a keeper ever since."

He was spotted by scouts of both Sheffield clubs while making an appearance for a Scarborough and District side, but opted to sign for Wednesday after a school trip to Russia meant he could not attend a trial with rivals United.

His return home to join Scarborough in 1993 turned out to be a bittersweet experience. Paul, of Whin Bank, said: "Phil Chambers was in charge at the time and he'd been keeping tabs on my progress while I was at Sheffield.

"I got my chance in the first team and I felt I was doing well, but then I got a thigh strain. The new backpass rule had just came in, which made kicking extra important for a goalkeeper, so I couldn't carry on with it."

Chambers was sacked during his spell on the sidelines and Paul never got a look-in under new boss Steve Wicks. Disillusioned with his lack of playing time, Paul accepted his days as a professional were coming to an end and signed for Whitby Town.

He said: "I loved football and just wanted to play. And I loved my time at Whitby. It was a really friendly club."

But Paul's run of bad luck continued when he broke his wrist during a game, which put him out of action for another three months. From then on he stuck to playing in the local leagues, turning out for FC Aberdeen, Wards and Scalby.

For the last six seasons he has kept goal for Edgehill, with whom he lifted the Evening News Saturday League title last season.

As he attempted to carve out a career away from football, Paul worked at the former all:sports store in the Brunswick Centre but didn't enjoy being stuck indoors. Thirteen years ago he started work as a postman and has remained in the job ever since. "I love it," he said. "I love being outdoors. Once I get finished at the sorting office I'm off on my own and I like that. I am quite independent and I think that's because I left home at a young age to go to Sheffield, and moved straight into a man's world."

Paul has two children Dane, 10, and Zantia, eight, with his partner of 15 years, Maxine Brazier. In 2006 he took the kids to Hillsborough, and was surprised to learn the groundstaff still remembered him from his stint with the Owls.

"It was the first time I had been for years," he said. "They let us on the pitch which was brilliant. I had some good times at Wednesday and It's nice to know I must have made an impression."

Last year, out of the blue, Paul received a call from Mitch Cook asking him if he could play for Scarborough in the North Riding Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough.

He said: "Mitch said they were desperate because the goalkeeper had been involved in a road accident on the way to the game. "It was about an hour-and-a-half before kick-off but I jumped at the chance.

"We lost three-nil but it was still a great experience. To represent Scarborough again – 13 years on – was a real privilege."

He added: "Being an ex-player myself, I was very sad when Scarborough went out of business. "The town needs a football club and, although I like what they are doing, it's a shame Scarborough Athletic have to play in Bridlington, and I hope they can return to the town soon."

And despite just falling short of making it professional game, Paul does not show a single trace of bitterness. He said: "The three years I spent at Sheffield Wednesday were absolutely fantastic. My one regret is that I wasn't given more of a chance at Scarborough because I thought I could have done really well.

"Perhaps I should have tried out for the big Scottish clubs when I had the chance but I wanted to come home and I stand by my decisions. "I look back on it all very fondly. Football has been good to me and I have loved every minute of it."

QUESTION TIME

Starsign: Capricorn
Favourite film: The Usual Suspects
Favourite TV programme: Spooks/Waking The Dead
Favourite music: R&B
Favourite food: Italian
Favourite football team: Manchester United
Favourite part of Scarborough: The walk along the bridge to The Spa/Silpho Forest.
Favourite holiday destination: Fuerteventura
Ambition: To be happy and content in anything I do