47 Facts About Linvoy Primus

Linvoy Stephen Primus MBE was born on 14 September 1973 and is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Linvoy Primus went out on loan to former club Charlton and made 10 appearances and one further appearance for Portsmouth before retiring through injury in December 2009.

The Milton End stand at Fratton Park was renamed the 'Linvoy Primus Community Stand' because of his outstanding services to the club.

Linvoy Primus, who is married and has three children, is known for his Christian charity work.

Linvoy Primus was born the first child of Newton and Pauline Linvoy Primus in Forest Gate Hospital, Forest Gate, Greater London on 14 September 1973.

Linvoy Primus's Jamaican-born mother worked as an orderly at Whipps Cross Hospital in nearby Leytonstone.

Linvoy Primus' father, who was born in St Vincent and the Grenadines, worked for Thames Water as an engineer.

Linvoy Primus's parents are practising Christians who took Linvoy to church and Sunday school when he was young.

Linvoy Primus attributed his desire to become a footballer from watching Ricky Villa's winning goal for Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City in the 1981 FA Cup Final Replay.

Linvoy Primus played his first game of football two years later in a match between two Cub Scout groups and, because of his performance, he was offered a trial with the Newham District Schools under-11's by one of the Cub Scout leaders who was the manager of the Newham team.

Linvoy Primus was a striker or right winger at this time; in the team was future Portsmouth teammate Sol Campbell who played in midfield.

Charlton Athletic arranged a friendly match with Pretoria and Linvoy Primus was offered the chance to join the Charlton associate schoolboys which he took.

Linvoy Primus received an offer from West Ham United, who were in a higher division, but he rejected this because he felt his first team opportunities would be greater at Charlton.

Linvoy Primus was playing in various positions until the club's youth team coach, Colin Clarke, decided that he should play as a centre back, "I see you as a centre back, that way you can see everything you want in front of you".

Linvoy Primus had to study Leisure Management at a nearby college which he disliked.

Linvoy Primus began playing in the reserves under manager Alan Curbishley and, at the end of his apprenticeship, Linvoy Primus was offered a one-year professional contract by the new youth team coach John Cartwright.

The match took place at their substitute stadium Upton Park in November 1992 and Linvoy Primus was awarded man of the match for his performance.

Linvoy Primus played the next two matches against Leicester City and Brentford but was disappointed with his performances.

Linvoy Primus first rejected a trial with Crewe Alexandra before accepting one with Cardiff City.

Linvoy Primus went on to say that he was "weighed down by the burden of expectation" and heard someone say he was the "worst player we've ever had at Barnet".

Linvoy Primus was often nervous before matches and recited the Lord's Prayer as a way of coping with his anxiety.

Linvoy Primus would go on to score five goals in the season; more than any other season in his career.

Linvoy Primus's third season for the club was an unsettled one.

Nevertheless, Barnet narrowly avoided relegation to the Conference and Linvoy Primus was awarded the Player of the Season and given the captaincy after a season which saw him make 46 league appearances.

Linvoy Primus partnered Keith McPherson in defence but Reading started the season poorly with just one point from the first six games despite Linvoy Primus saying "I played well from the word go".

Linvoy Primus was promised an improved contract, however no such contract was given to him over the summer.

Linvoy Primus did not get his Portsmouth career off to a good start, scoring an own goal on his debut away at Sheffield United.

Portsmouth were still near the relegation zone after a poor run of form that saw Linvoy Primus being sent off for the first time in his career for a foul on Fulham's Louis Saha.

Linvoy Primus struggled to get a game under Rix but the appointment of Harry Redknapp in March 2002 gave him a new lease of life and he ended that season with two league goals in games against Bradford City and Barnsley.

Linvoy Primus scored once that season for Portsmouth in the League Cup against Peterborough United.

Linvoy Primus scored his first Premier League goal at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day 2004.

Linvoy Primus scored again on Boxing Day in 2006, when grabbing two headed goals against West Ham United.

Linvoy Primus was treated with surgery performed by Dr Richard Steadman who is known to have saved the careers of many footballers, including Alan Shearer and Ronaldo.

Finally Charlton agreed to the terms and Linvoy Primus move to the Valley on a three-month loan days before the transfer window closed.

Linvoy Primus was due to play in a crucial match against Derby County, however the match was postponed by Sky until after the expiration of his loan; Primus' loan had to be rearranged and a deal was agreed by both clubs for the loan to expire after the match against Derby.

Linvoy Primus received a standing ovation from the home crowd and was cheered each time he touched the ball.

Linvoy Primus signed a one-year extension to his contract with Portsmouth in July 2009.

Linvoy Primus agreed to take on an ambassadorial and advisory role to help guide emerging talent at Portsmouth, as well as a playing role.

On 8 December 2009, Linvoy Primus announced his retirement due to a knee injury.

Portsmouth's chief executive Peter Storrie confirmed that Linvoy Primus would retain his ambassadorial role.

At the age of 17, Linvoy Primus met future wife Trish through a mutual friend.

Linvoy Primus previously represented England at the youth level and played in the United States for California State University-Fullerton and Chelsea Women Primus and Trish married on 9 June 1999.

Trish's depression was lifted and Linvoy Primus converted to Christianity later that year.

Linvoy Primus was involved in supporting the Alpha course, which is run all over the world, and is designed to explain Christian beliefs and promote discussion.

Linvoy Primus appeared in a cinema advertisement for the movement, alongside the comedian Lennie Bennett.

On 16 April 2013, Linvoy Primus played for Portsmouth in a charity match raising money for the Portsmouth supporters trust.

Linvoy Primus was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to football and charity in Portsmouth.