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Linvoy Primus
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==Football career== ===Early career=== In Primus' early teenage years he played for his local [[Sunday league football]] club, Pretoria, based in [[Canning Town]] after being introduced by a school friend. [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] arranged a [[friendly match]] with Pretoria and Primus was offered the chance to join the Charlton associate schoolboys which he took. For the last two years of his school life, Primus traveled to [[Royal Borough of Greenwich|Greenwich]] twice a week to train with the team; in addition to this he played matches on a Sunday against the schoolboy teams of clubs such as [[Maidstone United F.C. (1897)|Maidstone United]] and [[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]].<ref>{{cite book | last= Primus| pages = 19β22| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref><ref name="Southend Christians">{{cite web|url=http://www.southendchristianfellowship.org.uk/content.php?folder_id=77 |title=My Story > Linvoy Primus |publisher=Southend Christian Fellowship |access-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230200332/http://www.southendchristianfellowship.org.uk/content.php?folder_id=77 |archive-date=30 December 2009}}</ref> Primus initially struggled to cope; he cited the "dog eat dog" nature and the "ambitious and aggressive" parents as factors but nevertheless he decided to see it through later remarking that it was a "very strong character building experience".<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 23β24| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> ===Charlton Athletic=== After finishing his [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSEs]], where he achieved three A grades,<ref>{{cite book | last= Primus| page = 20| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Primus signed a two-year apprenticeship with Charlton. He also received an offer from [[West Ham United F.C.|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.<ref name="Southend Christians"/> Primus was playing in various positions until the club's youth team coach, [[Colin Clarke (Scottish footballer)|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".<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 24| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> [[Image:TheSirTrevorBrooking Stand.JPG|thumb|right|[[Boleyn Ground]], often known as Upton Park, the stadium where Primus made his Charlton debut|alt=A stand from a football stadium with laid out turf and two adjacent goals in the foreground. On the claret stands are the words written in sky blue capitals "Sir Trevor Brooking stand" on top of the larger words "West Ham United". There are men in orange jackets scattered around the stadium.]] Under the [[Youth Training Scheme]], Primus was earning Β£35 a week while training with the [[Youth system|youth]] and [[Reserve team|reserve]] teams as well as having cleaning duties. He had to study Leisure Management at a nearby college which he disliked. Primus, along with [[Jermaine Darlington]], was chosen to travel to Charlton's temporary stadium [[Selhurst Park]] to lay out the kits and the boots for the senior players. He admitted this may have earned him "[[Brownie points]]" with the youth management.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 25| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Primus began playing in the reserves under manager [[Alan Curbishley]] and, at the end of his apprenticeship, Primus was offered a one-year professional contract by the new youth team coach [[John Cartwright (footballer)|John Cartwright]]. Darlington was the only other apprentice who was offered a contract.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 27β28| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Due to injuries to first team centre backs [[Simon Webster (footballer)|Simon Webster]] and [[Darren Pitcher]], Primus made his professional debut against [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]. The match took place at their substitute stadium [[Boleyn Ground|Upton Park]] in November 1992 and Primus was awarded [[man of the match]] for his performance. Primus played the next two matches against [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] and [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] but was disappointed with his performances.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 31β33| chapter = Shown the door| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Primus made two further first team appearances in the [[1992β93 FA Premier League|1992β93 season]] but soon found himself lower in the pecking order after other players returned from injury and Primus got injured.<ref name="Soccerbase">{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=6478|title= Soccerbase β Linvoy Primus|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=8 January 2010}}</ref> He felt that he had to leave the club: "I really felt as though I wasn't wanted and that my days were numbered."<ref name="Primus 35">{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 35| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Despite this, he signed a one-year extension with the Greenwich-based club. However, he suffered another muscle injury, and with further competition for places in the form of [[Dean Chandler]] and [[Richard Rufus]], he failed to make a single appearance for Charlton in the [[1993β94 FA Premier League|1993β94 season]]. He was released at the end of it.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 38β39| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> ===Barnet=== Primus first rejected a trial with [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] before accepting one with [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]. Just three days before his trial with Cardiff was set to begin [[Ray Clemence]], the [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] manager, offered Primus a two-year contract with the club. It was later revealed that Clemence was told by his assistant, Terry Harvey, that he should sign him immediately: "Get in now and sign him, if he goes down to Cardiff and sees their stadium he will sign for them."<ref>{{cite book | last= Primus| page = 40| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Primus was determined to prove Charlton wrong and says he "grew from a boy to a man" at Barnet. This was also a time when depression was common for Primus, and he became addicted to [[Alcoholic beverage|alcohol]] and drugs such as [[MDMA|ecstasy]] and [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]].<ref name="Southend Christians"/><ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 53| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> In the second game of the [[1994β95 in English football|1994β95 season]] against [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]], Primus made his debut as a [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] coming on for the injured [[Mark Newson]]. His next appearance for Barnet, against [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]], was described as the "worst performance of [his] career" in his autobiography. He 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". He was often nervous before matches and recited the [[Lord's Prayer]] as a way of coping with his [[anxiety]].<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 43β45| chapter = From a boy to a man| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> At the end of the season, Primus was runner-up in the voting for the Player of the Season and was man of the match on several occasions.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 49| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Barnet had a poor start to the [[1995β96 in English football|next season]] and they were at the bottom of the table in mid-September. After beating [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]] 2β0, Barnet went on an 11-game winning streak which ended at [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] despite Primus scoring a goal.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 51| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> He would go on to score five goals in the season; more than any other season in his career.<ref name="Soccerbase"/> Once again, he was runner-up in the Player of the Season award, this time to the [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] [[Maik Taylor]].<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 52| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> His [[1996β97 in English football|third season]] for the club was an unsettled one. The club went through three different managers after the departure of Clemence: [[Terry Bullivant]] (twice), [[Terry Gibson]] and [[Alan Mullery]]. Nevertheless, Barnet narrowly avoided [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] to the [[Football Conference|Conference]] and Primus was awarded the Player of the Season and given the [[Captain (association football)|captaincy]] after a season which saw him make 46 league appearances. After Bullivant left for [[Reading F.C.|Reading]], however, Primus became unsettled and said "[I was] hankering after a move to join Terry [Bullivant] and Pards [Alan Pardew] at Reading".<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 54β56| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> ===Reading=== Primus was signed for Β£500,000 at the start of the [[1997β98 in English football|1997β98 season]] although he found himself being sued by the Stellar Sports Agency after the Β£8,000 fee was not paid because of difficulties with Primus' agent.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-uniteds-brazilian-deal-runs-aground-1253191.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-uniteds-brazilian-deal-runs-aground-1253191.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Football: United's Brazilian deal runs aground|newspaper=The Independent|date=29 July 1997 |access-date=16 February 2010|last=Nixon|first=Alan | location=London}}</ref> Joining him in Berkshire was Barnet teammate [[Lee Hodges (footballer, born 1973)|Lee Hodges]].<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 57β59| chapter = Tears of frustration| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Primus partnered [[Keith McPherson]] in defence but Reading started the season poorly with just one point from the first six games despite Primus saying "I played well from the word go".<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 60| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Due to an injury crisis, Reading lost their penultimate league match at [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] and were relegated from [[Football League First Division|Division One]]. This was Primus' first experience of relegation.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 66β69| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Earlier in the season Primus had scored his first and what turned out be only Reading goal in the home match against Forest.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Memory-Lane-Reading-3-Nottingham-Forest-3/story-12194512-detail/story.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130506225100/http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Memory-Lane-Reading-3-Nottingham-Forest-3/story-12194512-detail/story.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 6 May 2013 |title = Reading 3, Nottingham Forest 3 |publisher = thisisnottingham.co.uk |date = 28 February 2009 |access-date = 10 October 2012}}</ref> In the [[1998β99 in English football|next season]], Reading finished 10th and faced strong competition from new signing [[Elroy Kromheer]], but Primus became disillusioned at the financial situation he was in. He was on Β£1,500 a week and commented "[new signings were] on twice the wages I was being paid and I had seen the lifestyles they were enjoying".<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 72β73| chapter = It shouldn't be like this...| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Primus was promised an improved contract, however no such contract was given to him over the summer. By popular demand, manager [[Tommy Burns (footballer)|Tommy Burns]] was replaced by [[Alan Pardew]]. Fitness problems prevented Primus from getting much first team football at the start of the [[1999β2000 Football League|1999β2000 season]] until a change of diet helped him regain stamina. As the season progressed, the club offered Primus a new contract which he dismissed as "derisory" saying the club was "taking advantage of [his] good nature".<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 74β78| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> At the end of the season, Primus was free to leave under the [[Bosman ruling]] and received an offer from [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] which he accepted. [[Lennie Lawrence]], the manager who bidded for Primus was sacked soon afterwards, however, and the deal was cancelled to the dismay of Primus who said he felt as if "[his] whole world had collapsed". In the aftermath, Pardew put him in contact with [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] manager [[Tony Pulis]] and a trial was agreed.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 83β85| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> ===Portsmouth=== After friendly matches with [[Dorchester Town F.C.|Dorchester Town]] and [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]], Primus signed a contract with Portsmouth although he was disappointed with the low wages in comparison to other players.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 88β90| chapter = All change at Pompey| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> He did not get his Portsmouth career off to a good start, scoring an [[own goal]] on his debut away at [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]].<ref name="email convo"/> Pulis was sacked early on in the [[2000β01 Football League|2000β01 season]] after a poor start and was replaced by fans' favourite [[Steve Claridge]].<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 94β97| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Portsmouth were still near the relegation zone after a poor run of form that also saw Primus being [[Ejection (sports)|sent off]] for the first time in his career for a foul on [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]'s [[Louis Saha]].<ref name="p100">{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 100| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Old style with new class |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/Observer_Match_Report/0,,-31787,00.html |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 November 2000 |access-date=18 February 2010|last=Ridley|first=Ian | location=London}}</ref> [[Gilmore's groin]] ruled him out of action for five months from November of that season,<ref name="p100"/> during which Claridge was replaced by [[Graham Rix]],<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 102| chapter= It all took some believing...| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> this was after Primus formed a partnership with Jamaican international [[Darren Moore]].<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 94| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> After a defeat to [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] (which Primus described as the "lowest point of [his] career"),<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| page = 105| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> Portsmouth needed a victory over [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] to stay in Division One and they duly won 3β0 with Huddersfield being relegated after their final day defeat. After the conclusion of the season, Primus fell out with Rix as he was unsure about whether Rix thought he had a future at the club.<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 103β107| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> The [[2001β02 Football League|next season]] started with the death of goalkeeper [[Aaron Flahavan]] and the departure of Primus' close friend Moore to [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]].<ref>{{cite book| last= Primus| pages = 128β129| chapter= Whatever you want me to do...| title = Linvoy Primus: Transformed}}</ref> 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 A.F.C.|Bradford City]] and Barnsley.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1752859.stm|title=Bradford 3β1 Portsmouth|work=BBC Sport|date=12 January 2002 |access-date=6 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1794007.stm |title=Portsmouth 4β4 Barnsley |work=BBC Sport |date=2 February 2002 |access-date=6 September 2009}}</ref> Despite originally being told by Redknapp he was not of [[Football League First Division|Division One]] standard, let alone suitable for the [[Premier League]], Primus proved his manager wrong by seizing his chance when other players missed out through injury and suspension. By the end of the [[2002β03 in English football|2002β03 season]] he had become a vital member of the side that won the Division One title, winning the Portsmouth fans' player of the season as well as the [[Professional Footballers' Association|PFA]] accolade for Division One.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|url=http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfourtwoview/archive/2009/12/09/how-a-christian-soldier-set-a-primus-example.aspx |title=How a Christian soldier set a Primus example |magazine=FourFourTwo |date=9 December 2009 |access-date=4 January 2010 |last=Morgan |first=Steve |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107204450/http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfourtwoview/archive/2009/12/09/how-a-christian-soldier-set-a-primus-example.aspx |archive-date= 7 January 2010 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-fans-awards/steven-gerrard-is-the-fans-favourite |title=Steven Gerrard is the fans' favourite |publisher=Give Me Football |date=5 May 2009 |access-date=4 January 2010 |last=Smith |first=Dave |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613202830/http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-fans-awards/steven-gerrard-is-the-fans-favourite |archive-date=13 June 2011 }}</ref> He scored once that season for Portsmouth in the League Cup against [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2239170.stm|title=Pompey 2β0 Peterborough|work=BBC Sport|date=10 September 2002 |access-date=4 November 2009}}</ref> Primus credits his renaissance to his conversion to Christianity after a friend of his wife's invited him to church.<ref name="Faith in football">{{cite news |title=Faith in Football |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/southampton/faith/linvoy.shtml |work=BBC News |date=1 September 2004 |access-date=29 August 2007}}</ref> [[Image:Sol-Campbell.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Sol Campbell was Primus' partner in defence for the majority of the [[2006β07 FA Premier League|2006β07 season]].]] Despite the previous season's heroics, Primus was not used regularly in the early part of Portsmouth's first Premier League season. Harry Redknapp had ditched his 3β5β2 formation in favour of the more conventional 4β4β2 and partnered new record signing [[Dejan StefanoviΔ]] with [[Arjan de Zeeuw]]. During December, Portsmouth were in a terrible run of form and Redknapp decided to bring one of his most reliable players back into his plans for the [[derby match]] with [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]. In spite of a 3β0 loss, Primus retained his starting place for the remainder of the season. The following season saw Primus remain a regular member of the Portsmouth team under first Redknapp and then both his successors, [[Velimir Zajec]] and [[Alain Perrin]]. He scored his first Premier League goal at Crystal Palace on [[Boxing Day]] 2004.<ref>{{cite news |title=Palace 0β1 Portsmouth: Primus winner |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=153690&cc=5739 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050127003653/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=153690&cc=5739 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 January 2005 |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |date=26 December 2004 |access-date=29 August 2007}}</ref> He scored again on Boxing Day in 2006, when grabbing two headed goals against [[West Ham United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6200181.stm |title=West Ham 1β2 Portsmouth |work=BBC Sport |date=26 December 2006 |access-date=6 September 2009 |first=Julian |last=Shea}}</ref> Although Primus was a regular member of Perrin's team at the end of the [[2004β05 FA Premier League|2004β05 season]] and captained the side on occasions during pre-season, he rarely featured until Perrin's sacking in November. The return of [[Harry Redknapp]], who had been won over by his performances and was now one of his biggest admirers, to Portsmouth lead to Primus' immediate return to the side, and he was ever present in the side that achieved Premiership survival in the last 10 games of the season. Primus remained a regular in the Portsmouth defence for the [[2006β07 FA Premier League|2006β07 season]], partnering England international [[Sol Campbell]] in the centre of defence,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sol Campbell Bio |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=8049&cc=5739 |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |access-date=25 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121081952/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=8049&cc=5739 |archive-date=21 January 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Linvoy ESPN Bio">{{cite news|title=Linvoy Primus Bio |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=5382&cc=5739 |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |access-date=25 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402035014/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=5382&cc=5739 |archive-date= 2 April 2009 }}</ref> and Redknapp hailed him as the unofficial Player of the Season; the official winner of the award was [[David James (footballer, born 1970)|David James]].<ref name="Linvoy ESPN Bio"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Johnson named your Pompey Player of the Season|url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonlatest/Johnson-named-your-Pompey-Player.5293772.jp |newspaper=Portsmouth News|access-date=25 December 2009|date=22 May 2009|last=Allen|first=Neil}}</ref> He failed to make an appearance in 2007β08 due to a career threatening knee injury. He 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 (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]]. After the operation, Primus commented "The difference between success and failure is what you do afterwards in your rehabilitation, not necessarily the actual operation."<ref>{{cite news |title=Fine line between playing on and retiring for Linvoy |url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/behind-the-scenes/Fine-line-between-playing-on.3615674.jp |newspaper=Portsmouth News |date=22 December 2007 |access-date=25 December 2009}}</ref> Despite his injury, he still managed to earn a new one-year deal at Portsmouth in May 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=New deal for loyal Linvoy |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23483060-new-deal-for-loyal-linvoy.do |newspaper=London Evening Standard |date=8 May 2008 |access-date=25 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606143725/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23483060-new-deal-for-loyal-linvoy.do |archive-date= 6 June 2011 }}</ref> ===Charlton Athletic loan and Portsmouth return=== In August 2008, Primus returned to [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] on a loan deal, however the deal almost collapsed as negotiations broke down between Portsmouth manager [[Harry Redknapp]] and Charlton manager Alan Pardew. Pardew wanted the centre half for the whole of the [[2008β09 in English football|2008β09 season]], but Redknapp was only happy to loan him out until Christmas of 2008 to gain match fitness, and it appeared the deal would be called off by Portsmouth.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pompey call off Primus loan |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4055882,00.html |work=Sky Sports |date=27 August 2008 |access-date=27 August 2008}}</ref> Finally Charlton agreed to the terms and Primus move to the Valley on a three-month loan days before the transfer window closed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Primus moves to Charlton on loan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/7580640.stm |work=BBC News |date=28 August 2008 |access-date=28 August 2008}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Charlton in a 5β2 home defeat to Sheffield United. The result ultimately led to the sacking of manager Alan Pardew.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7727279.stm|title=Charlton 2β5 Sheff Utd |work=BBC Sport |date=22 November 2008|access-date=6 September 2009}}</ref> He played 10 matches for the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] (new name for Division One) club before returning to Portsmouth for the rest of the 2008β09 season.<ref name="Soccerbase"/> He was due to play in a crucial match against [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], however the match was postponed by [[British Sky Broadcasting|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/newsarchive.aspx?articleid=49494|title=Primus loan issue resolved|publisher=Kent Online |date=9 October 2008|access-date=27 February 2010}}</ref> {{Quote box | width=30% | align=right | quote= "He has been a great servant to the club and is loved by everyone here and in the city."|source= Peter Storrie, on Primus' retirement.<ref name="Guardian Primus retires"/> }} After a near two-year absence, Primus made a comeback to the Portsmouth first team on 18 May 2009, the penultimate game of the 2008β09 season, as a late substitute appearance against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] at Fratton Park. He received a standing ovation from the home crowd and was cheered each time he touched the ball.<ref>{{cite news |title=Portsmouth v Sunderland as it happened (2152/2154) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8056449.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2009 |access-date=19 May 2009 | first=Jonathan | last=Stevenson}}</ref> Primus signed a one-year extension to his contract with Portsmouth in July 2009. Primus also agreed to take on an ambassadorial and advisory role to help guide emerging talent at Portsmouth, as well as a playing role.<ref>{{cite news |title=Primus extends stay at Portsmouth|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/8132817.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=3 July 2009 |access-date=25 December 2009}}</ref> On 8 December 2009, Primus announced his retirement due to a knee injury. Portsmouth's chief executive [[Peter Storrie]] confirmed that Primus would retain his ambassadorial role.<ref name="Guardian Primus retires">{{cite news |title=Portsmouth's Linvoy Primus retires from football|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/08/linvoy-primus-portsmouth-retirement |newspaper=The Guardian |date=8 December 2009 |access-date=4 January 2010 | location=London}}</ref> Following his [[Testimonial match|testimonial]] on 31 July 2010, Portsmouth announced that the Milton End Stand at [[Fratton Park]] would be renamed the 'Linvoy Primus Community Stand' because of his outstanding services to the club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Emotional farewell for Linvoy|url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Emotional-farewell-for-Linvoy.6451491.jp|newspaper=Portsmouth News |date=2 August 2010|access-date=16 September 2010|last=Cross|first=Jordan}}</ref>
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