Robert Paul Lainton (born 12 October 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League club Wrexham.
He turned professional at Bolton Wanderers in March 2011 but never played a first team game for the club. He joined Bury in July 2013 and would go on to play 45 games for the club over the next four seasons, 22 of which came in their 2014–15 promotion campaign out of League Two; he was actually a free agent for the first half of the 2016–17 season in between being released and re-signed by Bury. He also played 14 games on loan at Burton Albion in the second half of the 2013–14 season, and played one game on an emergency loan at Cheltenham Town in April 2017. He signed with Port Vale in June 2017. After struggling with injury during his first season at the club, he was allowed to sign with Wrexham after a spell on loan at the Welsh club. He went on to be named as Wrexham's Player of the Season for the 2018–19 campaign.
Career
Bolton Wanderers
Lainton came through the Academy at Bolton Wanderers, and began the 2009–10 season as the club's first choice goalkeeper in the Premier Reserve League under coach Alan Cork. In March 2011, Lainton signed his first (two-year) professional contract with the club. Although a regular in the first team squad and on the bench, he never made a senior appearance for the "Trotters". Lainton was also listed on loan on two occasions, but no clubs were interested. Speaking in July 2012, manager Owen Coyle said that Lainton "had a terrible time with injuries last year". Following nine years at the Reebok Stadium, Lainton was released by manager Dougie Freedman in summer 2013.