Paul Brayson
Encyclopedia
Paul Brayson is an English
footballer who plays for Harrogate Town
as a striker.
, Brayson started his career with Newcastle United
before moving to Swansea City
on loan. He signed for Reading
in March 1998 for a fee
of £100,000. He joined Cardiff City
on loan in 2000.
He then moved Cardiff City
on a free transfer in 2000. He moved to Cheltenham Town
in July 2002. He was released at the end of 2003–04
season. He had a trial at York City
in July 2004, but manager Chris Brass
decided not to give him a contract.
He dropped out of The Football League
when he moved to Northwich Victoria
in August 2004. This allowed him to play part-time for Cheshire club while running a taxi business in his native Newcastle
. He joined Gateshead
on loan in March 2005. He was back at Northwich for the 2005–06
season, where he scored 32 goals in 51 appearances in Conference North
. He participated in a fine FA Cup
run with Northwich, before being knocked out by Premier League club Sunderland
. During that FA Cup run, Brayson won the FA Player of the Round twice, becoming the first player to do so. He was regarded as a fans favourite with the Northwich supporters. He was capped by the England C team in 2007, winning his only cap in a 3–0 win over Scotland C on 25 May 2007.
Brayson was signed by York City on 26 June 2007. He was believed to have turned down a loan move to Gateshead in January 2008. He made 22 appearances in the Conference National
for York, scoring four goals, prior to being released on 30 January 2008. He signed for Gateshead
on 31 January.
The end of the 2007–08
season saw Brayson offered a new contract by Gateshead
. At the same time Newcastle Blue Star
made him a lucrative offer to drop down two leagues and play for them. On 2 June 2008 Brayson was released by Gateshead having failed to agree to the new contract by a set deadline. Upon his release by Gateshead, Brayson accepted the contract on offer from Newcastle Blue Star
. He left to join Durham City
in June 2009 before signing for Blyth Spartans
in August 2009.
In his first season in the Conference North he finished the leagues top goal scorer with 28 goals.
In May 2010 he signed a new deal with Blyth Spartans
for season 2010/2011 and went on to win the golden boot.
In August 2010 he was named team captain for season 2010/2011 and ended the campaign as the clubs top goalscorer for a second successive season.
In May 2011 he joined Harrogate Town
Brayson also holds the distinction of being the shortest player (163 cm) in the history of Premier League
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
as a striker.
Career
Born in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Brayson started his career with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
before moving to Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on loan. He signed for Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in March 1998 for a fee
Fee
A fee is the price one pays as remuneration for services. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs, and markup.Traditionally, professionals in Great Britain received a fee in contradistinction to a payment, salary, or wage, and would often use guineas rather than pounds as units of account...
of £100,000. He joined Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on loan in 2000.
He then moved Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on a free transfer in 2000. He moved to Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
in July 2002. He was released at the end of 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season. He had a trial at York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in July 2004, but manager Chris Brass
Chris Brass
Christopher Paul "Chris" Brass is an English former footballer and manager. He is currently assistant manager at Scunthorpe United.-Career:...
decided not to give him a contract.
He dropped out of The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
when he moved to Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
in August 2004. This allowed him to play part-time for Cheshire club while running a taxi business in his native Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. He joined Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
on loan in March 2005. He was back at Northwich for the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season, where he scored 32 goals in 51 appearances in Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
. He participated in a fine FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
run with Northwich, before being knocked out by Premier League club Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. During that FA Cup run, Brayson won the FA Player of the Round twice, becoming the first player to do so. He was regarded as a fans favourite with the Northwich supporters. He was capped by the England C team in 2007, winning his only cap in a 3–0 win over Scotland C on 25 May 2007.
Brayson was signed by York City on 26 June 2007. He was believed to have turned down a loan move to Gateshead in January 2008. He made 22 appearances in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
for York, scoring four goals, prior to being released on 30 January 2008. He signed for Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
on 31 January.
The end of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season saw Brayson offered a new contract by Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
. At the same time Newcastle Blue Star
Newcastle Blue Star F.C.
Newcastle Blue Star F.C. was a football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was established in 1930 and joined the Wearside League in 1973. In 1978, it won the FA Vase. Having won promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the end of the 2008/09 season via the...
made him a lucrative offer to drop down two leagues and play for them. On 2 June 2008 Brayson was released by Gateshead having failed to agree to the new contract by a set deadline. Upon his release by Gateshead, Brayson accepted the contract on offer from Newcastle Blue Star
Newcastle Blue Star F.C.
Newcastle Blue Star F.C. was a football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was established in 1930 and joined the Wearside League in 1973. In 1978, it won the FA Vase. Having won promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the end of the 2008/09 season via the...
. He left to join Durham City
Durham City A.F.C.
Durham City A.F.C. are an English football club that currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They are based in the city of Durham in North East England.-History:...
in June 2009 before signing for Blyth Spartans
Blyth Spartans A.F.C.
Blyth Spartans A.F.C. are a professional football club who play in the Conference North, and are based in the town of Blyth, Northumberland, England. They are often the most Northerly team in whichever league or cup they are playing in. They are managed by former Spartans player Steve Cuggy.They...
in August 2009.
In his first season in the Conference North he finished the leagues top goal scorer with 28 goals.
In May 2010 he signed a new deal with Blyth Spartans
Blyth Spartans A.F.C.
Blyth Spartans A.F.C. are a professional football club who play in the Conference North, and are based in the town of Blyth, Northumberland, England. They are often the most Northerly team in whichever league or cup they are playing in. They are managed by former Spartans player Steve Cuggy.They...
for season 2010/2011 and went on to win the golden boot.
In August 2010 he was named team captain for season 2010/2011 and ended the campaign as the clubs top goalscorer for a second successive season.
In May 2011 he joined Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
Brayson also holds the distinction of being the shortest player (163 cm) in the history of Premier League