Born in Forest Gate, England, to Caribbean-born parents, Primus began his professional career at Charlton Athletic, where he made four league appearances.

[6] Primus attributed his desire to become a footballer from watching Ricky Villa's winning goal for Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City in the 1981 FA Cup Final Replay.

[7] 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.

He also received an offer from 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.

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.

[14] Due to injuries to first team centre backs Simon Webster and Darren Pitcher, Primus made his professional debut against Birmingham City.

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 1993–94 season.

Just three days before his trial with Cardiff was set to begin Ray Clemence, the Barnet manager, offered Primus a two-year contract with the club.

After beating Northampton Town 2–0, Barnet went on an 11-game winning streak which ended at Colchester United despite Primus scoring a goal.

[30] In the 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.

Fitness problems prevented Primus from getting much first team football at the start of the 1999–2000 season until a change of diet helped him regain stamina.

[33] After friendly matches with Dorchester Town and Exeter City, Primus signed a contract with Portsmouth although he was disappointed with the low wages in comparison to other players.

[36] Portsmouth were still near the relegation zone after a poor run of form that also saw Primus being sent off for the first time in his career for a foul on Fulham's Louis Saha.

[37][38] Gilmore's groin ruled him out of action for five months from November of that season,[37] during which Claridge was replaced by Graham Rix,[39] this was after Primus formed a partnership with Jamaican international Darren Moore.

[42] The next season started with the death of goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan and the departure of Primus' close friend Moore to West Bromwich Albion.

[44][45] Despite originally being told by Redknapp he was not of 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.

Harry Redknapp had ditched his 3–5–2 formation in favour of the more conventional 4–4–2 and partnered new record signing Dejan Stefanović 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.

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.

Pardew wanted the centre half for the whole of the 2008–09 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.

[57] Finally Charlton agreed to the terms and Primus move to the Valley on a three-month loan days before the transfer window closed.

After a near two-year absence, Primus made a comeback to the Portsmouth first team on 18 May 2009, the penultimate game of the 2008–09 season, as a late substitute appearance against Sunderland at Fratton Park.

[71] It received generally positive reviews: Christianity Magazine said the book was a "disarmingly honest account of Primus's triumphs and struggles on and off the pitch"[72] while FourFourTwo described it as "an antidote to the 'me-me-me' tales that weigh down the shelves".

[73] Rival football magazine When Saturday Comes was more critical, pointing out its "sometimes ungrammatical and often ponderous style" and going on to say "[the] book is also full of cliches".

[74] Trish suffered from depression and was introduced to Christianity by stable owners, Keith and Sam, who invited the Primus family to join them at church on a Sunday.

[76] "Having travelled to Africa and India to visit orphanages and hospitals, seeing abandoned, orphaned or disabled children living in such poverty makes you appreciate the things we take for granted, even merely having a roof over your head."

Primus, with Darren Moore, former footballer Mick Mellows, and former Portsmouth player Joel Ward[49][77] is involved with the Christian charity 'Faith and Football, and walked the Great Wall of China in summer 2005 to raise £100,000 for Prospect Children's School in Ibadan, Nigeria and a new medical centre, school and orphanage for a village in Goa.

Primus was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to football and charity in Portsmouth.