WHILE PAUL Robinson can be assured of a heroes welcome from the travelling Tottenham fans tomorrow afternoon, another former Spurs stopper will go almost unnoticed as he takes to the Rovers bench.

Compared to Robinson’s four-year Spurs love affair, goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms admits his own White Hart Lane spell in the late 1980s was more of a nightmare as he struggled to get used to the ‘London way of life’.

It was only a move to Ewood Park in 1990 that really saw his career taking off again, resulting in a Premier League winner’s medal and cult-hero status, and he insists Robinson’s own move north could pay similar dividends.

He said: “Robbo’s situation is a bit different to mine.

"He really enjoyed his time at Tottenham although things did go sour for him towards the end of his time there.

“But I think he realised in the summer it was time for him to go, he needed a fresh challenge and a fresh start and he is really enjoying his time here as well.

“Although Blackburn have moved on as a club since I moved there from Spurs in 1990, it has still managed to retain that family club atmosphere about and that makes it easy for players to settle in at the club.

“I loved my six years playing for Blackburn and I loved the feel about it. It certainly moved my career forward even though I dropped down a league at the time and I believe it has suited Paul as well.”

Mimms himself had high hopes when Terry Venables took him to Tottenham from Everton in 1988, having picked up a runners-up medal and an FA Cup loser medal during his stint at Goodison Park.

His move south quickly turned sour though as he struggled to establish himself as a first team regular and, after just 37 appearances, he moved north to Blackburn to join the ‘Jack Walker’ revolution.

“I did not have a particularly good time at Tottenham,” he said. “I didn’t enjoy the way of life in London for starters.

“That reflected in my football, I am honest enough to admit that, as I certainly did not play my best football.

“The club was going through a lot of changes and, at the age of 23, it was hard enough to play my own game even without the changes going on at the club.”

The esteem Rovers’ current number one is held in by Tottenham fans was no left in no doubt upon his first return to White Hart Lane since his summer exit earlier this season, when the entire ground stood to applaud him onto the pitch.

And more of the same is expected in tomorrow’s crucial Ewood Park clash, with Mimms pointing to that as proof of Robinson’s credentials.

Mimms said: “He got an amazing reception the last time we played, and it certainly is not a reception I would ever expect to get from the Tottenham fans.

“That just showed how well Paul did for the club and how good a goalkeeper he actually is. I firmly believe he can enjoy that sort of reputation here as well.

“With regards his international hopes, if you look through the country there are not many better keepers around. So if he concentrates on his club form, I am sure the England coaches will notice.”