The likeable Scouser's path to footballing fame has been a long and arduous one, right from the moment he embarked on his dreams of glory as a youngster at Everton.

He was on the books at Goodison from the age of 11 to 15, but moved on to Cardiff and then Plymouth after failing to make the grade.

After struggling to settle in the south west, he headed home to Birkenhead, began work with his dad's removal business and started playing Sunday League soccer – with professional football seemingly on the distant horizon.

Despite being knocked back, he never gave up and a step up, albeit to the comparative obscurity of the West Cheshire League with Cammell Laird, followed before he landed his big break. That was seven divisions up the footballing pyramid at the club he used to cheer on in equal passion along with Liverpool – Tranmere Rovers.

Ultimately, his dreams turned sour and despite being offered an extended trial in 2002/03 and regularly appearing for the reserves, he made just one senior appearance for Rovers – in an LDV Trophy tie at Bury. At the end of that season, he was shown the door by then manager Ray Mathias and Tranmere's loss proved very much Swansea's gain.

The 28-year-old's star has shone in a spectacular way in south Wales since his arrival in August 2003 – but that didn't stop him swapping a Championship crusade at the Liberty Stadium for a new footballing odyssey at Elland Road in the spring, to the bemusement of many.

After months of soul-searching and intense negotiations, the goalscoring Swans midfielder rejected an offer – said to be the most lucrative contract in the history of the club – in favour of signing a three-year-deal for United six days before the League One play-off final with Doncaster Rovers at Wembley.

James Hayter's decisive 47th-minute strike put paid to Leeds and Robinson's Championship aspirations in one fell swoop.

But while many would point to a gamble backfiring, Robinson – eagerly relishing the next chapter of his footballing adventure – is confident he'll come out smiling again and that his decision will be vindicated come next May.

On his rollercoaster rise to footballing stardom, Robinson said: "It would be a great story for most people. I did enjoy my time in non-league, I learned so much. I always had belief in my ability, but my mind wasn't right as a professional back in those early days and I never helped myself at times.

"It didn't work out at Tranmere, but I got a chance at Swansea and I'll always be grateful for that and now I find myself at Leeds."
He added: "It's been a busy summer. I had my stag do and got married in Las Vegas and have just got back from my honeymoon.

"I'll be moving up to Leeds on Thursday and my missus will follow about a month later. I've got a new job, been househunting and got married – they say they are three of the most stressful things you can do!"

Stressful and agonising would certainly be two of the words to describe Robinson's quandary at the end of last season – namely whether to extend his time in the Principality as part of Roberto Martinez's brave new world at Swansea or up sticks and become an integral part of the Gary McAllister revolution in West Yorkshire.

After much deliberating, with contract talks with Swansea starting way back in November, the Welsh outfit gave him a 10-day deadline in which to finally make his decision.

Robinson elected to up sticks, and he readily admits it was the "toughest decision" of his life.

Leeds first threw their hat into the ring to sign Robinson just prior to the January transfer window, when it became known the attack-minded midfielder hadn't put pen to paper on a new Swans deal.

But while former Whites boss Dennis Wise hit a dead end in his bid to land one of League One's prized playing assets at the start of the year, McAllister found the route to success.

Robinson said: "Dennis Wise was interested, to be fair, when we played Leeds about Christmas time. Dennis had a chat with my agent, so the interest was there. It never materialised at that time, but I think Leeds were always interested from that point, even when the new gaffer came in.

"I was happy at Swansea and I loved my time there. They've got great fans and Roberto has done a great job there. Gary came in and I had two offers on the table and I had to look at them from all angles and look at the direction both clubs were going in. I looked at the good and bad points and everything pointed in the direction of Leeds, it's a massive club.

"But it was definitely the toughest decision of my life.

"Swansea will always be a club close to my heart. I will always keep an eye on their results and look out for them. But I'm looking forward to the challenge of getting Leeds to the Championship."

He added: "Unfortunately, I missed the game at Leeds last season because of injury, but I remember a few of the boys saying they were a good team, although a bit on the physical side. Dennis Wise's sides are tough to break down. I played in the game at our place and managed to score a good free-kick, but you could see Leeds were a good side then."

And Robinson is hoping Leeds can now play their way to promotion.

He said: "We are in League One and we've got to forget about the Premiership and the Championship and get out of this league first.
There are physical teams in this league, but there are also teams who play good football who prosper.

"We won the league at Swansea by doing that and I know the gaffer at Leeds likes his teams to play football the right way, which suits me, and I wanted to be part of it. Leeds get the ball down and play under Gary and there's quality in the squad and we should be able to get out of this league.

"Leicester will be up there. They are another massive club with some good players and they'll be there or thereabouts. Southend are also a good League One team and they'll be up there as well, and Carlisle also had a great season last year and won't be far away."

And on exactly what United fans can expect, Robinson said: "I love to be on the ball and in one-on-one situations with defenders and take them on and get shots in on goal. I see my job as being in the final third, that's where I come alive and make things happen for the team.

"I've always seemed to score goals. At Swansea, I got about 60 in 200 games and scored about one in four.

"I did take the free-kicks at Swansea, but it's up to the gaffer whether I do it here. I do like to show my talents with free-kicks, but we'll have to see."