Robert Linn (born 10 October 1985) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a winger for Midlands League club Dundee North End. Linn started his career with Dundee before signing for Peterhead. He then moved to Greenock Morton, from whom he joined East Fife, initially on loan. After spending a year in the Juniors with Ballingry Rovers, Linn signed for Arbroath in June 2013, and would spend a decade with the club which would include a rise from 9th in the Scottish League Two to coming 2nd in the Scottish Championship.

Career

Linn began his career with Dundee, making his debut as a substitute for Fabián Caballero in a 1–0 win against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Premier League on 18 October 2003, with his first goal coming on 3 December 2003, the winning goal in extra-time in a 1–0 win against Hearts in the Scottish League Cup. On 22 September 2004, Linn left Dundee after having his contract terminated by mutual consent with the club growing increasingly frustrated with Linn's behaviour and attitude problems. He had previously been banished from the first team squad for two months due to repeatedly missing training, however, this banishement failed to serve its purpose and Linn's off-field antics continued, eventually leading to termination of his contract and consigning Linn to a career in the lower leagues.

Linn then signed for Peterhead of the Scottish Third Division in October 2004. In Peterhead's match against Stranraer on 15 September 2006, he scored four goals in a 5–2 victory, and went on to win the Scottish Football League Player of the Month award for September.

On 6 January 2007, Linn signed for Greenock Morton on a two-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut from the bench, at home to Alloa Athletic on 13 January 2007.

In October 2007, having not featured regularly for Morton in the early matches of the season, Linn was loaned to East Fife for the remainder of the season, although it was then discovered that the rules only allowed the loan to last for three months. He scored on his debut as a substitute in a 4–0 win against Albion Rovers. Linn signed permanently for East Fife on 2 January 2008.

Ahead of the 2012–13 season, Linn dropped down to the Junior Leagues signing for Ballingry Rovers.

In June 2013, Arbroath manager Paul Sheerin signed Linn on a one-year contract and he was rewarded for his early season form with a new two-year deal halfway through the 2013–14 season. Linn was named SPFL Player of the Year and PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year in Scottish League One for the 2018–2019 season after scoring 23 goals, helping Arbroath clinch the League One title. After a decade-long stint with the Lichties which included a close fight for the 2021–22 Scottish Championship title, Linn announced he would leave following the end of his contract in June 2023, and would be named by Arbroath as a "once in a lifetime iconic legend" for the club.

Lochee United

On 25 June 2023, Linn joined Midlands League club Lochee United on a two-year deal.

Personal life

Linn works as a refuse collector.

In 2004, Linn was sacked by his club, Dundee F.C., due to repeated off-field behavioural and attitude problems. Dundee F.C. manager, Jim Duffy stated, "I know we are short in terms of squad numbers, but if a player makes it clear he doesn't want to be part of the club then it is best we let him go"

Rumours about Linn's off-field activities circulated throughout his career, with many clubs put-off the idea of signing the Arbroath F.C. legend due to his perceived unreliability and fondness for socialising.

In 2022, Linn was discovered to have made a bogus compensation claim in an attempt to dishonestly profit from a traffic incident. After a minor car crash, Linn claimed to have suffered from whiplash and soft tissue injuries to his neck with the pain and restrictions having lasted for a month. In his claim, his occupation as a binman was recorded, but in every document produced Linn omitted to mention that he was also a footballer and had continued to play without restriction. He was forced to drop his claim after a specialist investigations team found extensive social media footage and press reporting of the 36-year-old playing for the then Scottish League One leaders, Arbroath. If he had continued with his deception, it would have forced Linn to perjure himself in a courtroom. Steven Smart, Partner at Horwich Farrelly, added: "In the English and Welsh courts, such behaviour is called fundamental dishonesty and the claim would have been dismissed at an early stage.

Career statistics

As of 5 May 2023

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dundee2003–04Scottish Premier League130102100161
2004–05Scottish Premier League0000000000
Total130102100161
Peterhead2004–05Scottish Third Division276100000286
2005–06Scottish Second Division36122121504514
2006–07Scottish Second Division20101021102411
Total83284142609731
Greenock Morton2006–07Scottish Second Division162000000162
2007–08Scottish First Division3000004171
Total192000041233
East Fife (loan)2007–08Scottish Third Division103300000133
East Fife2007–08Scottish Third Division183000000183
2008–09Scottish Second Division346310010387
2009–10Scottish Second Division336101110367
2010–11Scottish Second Division35132011314115
2011–12Scottish Second Division3572141314410
Total1553582638217742
Arbroath2013–14Scottish League One366101011397
2014–15Scottish League Two36135010304513
2015–16Scottish League Two33113210103813
2016–17Scottish League Two365214020446
2017–18Scottish League One306203031387
2018–19Scottish League One32211021313823
2019–20Scottish Championship236314120328
2020–21Scottish Championship191105000251
2021–22Scottish Championship231205010311
2022–23Scottish Championship333225220427
Total3017322631418337286
Career total5811413894310366698166

Honours

Greenock Morton

East Fife

Arbroath

Individual

External links

  • at Soccerbase