Paul Furlong
Encyclopedia
Paul Furlong is an English professional footballer, currently playing for St Albans City
in a player/coach role.
side Enfield
in 1986, remaining there until July 1991 when he signed for Football League First Division
side Coventry City
. He was brought to Highfield Road
by the club's player-manager and former England
defender Terry Butcher
, and when Butcher was sacked in January he remained in favour under new manager Don Howe. Furlong only managed four goals from 37 league games all season, however, and after the season ended he was transferred to Watford
.
Furlong was much more successful at Watford in Division One (the new name for the original Second Division after the creation of the Premier League), and was voted Watford Player of the Season in 1993. Although he failed to inspire Watford to a promotion challenge, he established himself as one of the finest strikers in the division at this time, alongside the likes of Steve Bull
and Stan Collymore
. At the end of the 1993–94 season, he became Chelsea's
record signing in a £2.3million deal, and that season he helped them reach the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
semi-finals (losing to Real Zaragoza
by a single goal) as well as finish 11th in the Premier League. However, the arrival of Ruud Gullit
and Mark Hughes
during the 1995 close season reduced his first team opportunities, and following the arrival of Gianluca Vialli
a year later he opted to become Birmingham City's
record signing in a £1.5million deal. Although it meant dropping down a division, Furlong knew he would have more chances of first team action in the Midlands, and was part of an ambitious side managed by Trevor Francis
and containing fellow big names including Steve Bruce
, Mike Newell
and Gary Ablett. He remained at St Andrew's for six years, scoring 50 goals in 130 Division One games, and having loan spells at Queen's Park Rangers (twice) and Sheffield United
. He finally left the Blues in the summer of 2002, the year they reached the Premier League after 16 years outside the top flight, and signed a contract with Queen's Park Rangers in Division Two.
Furlong continued to do well at Loftus Road
, helping them win promotion in 2004, and by the time he left in 2007, he had played 162 league games and scored 54 goals.
On leaving QPR, the 38-year-old Furlong signed for Luton Town
who had just been relegated from the Football League Championship
. He scored eight goals in 32 games but was unable to prevent the financially troubled side from suffering a second successive relegation.
He then signed for League One
side Southend United
, but made just 3 appearances during the first half of the season and was loaned out to Barnet
in January 2009. After two goals in January the loan spell was extended until the end of the season. His goal in Barnet's 1–0 win against AFC Bournemouth was his 200th senior goal, and he marked the occasion by laying down his shirt and saluting it. He was released by Southend at the end of the 2008–09 season, and joined Barnet on a one year deal after an excellent pre-season This was subsequently extended until the end of the 2009–10 season. On 2 June 2010, Furlong was released by Barnet.
A few weeks later, he joined Conference National
club Kettering Town as player-coach
.
On 10 August, Furlong was confirmed as player/coach at Southern Premier League side St Albans City. He scored on his debut for St Albans in a Southern League Premier Division
game against Cirencester Town
.
When at Enfield
he was given 6 caps by the England semi-pro team, scoring once.
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
in a player/coach role.
Career
He began his career at non-League level with ConferenceFootball Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
side Enfield
Enfield F.C.
Enfield F.C. is a football club, formed in June 2007 after Enfield F.C. ceased to exist....
in 1986, remaining there until July 1991 when he signed for Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. He was brought to Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
by the club's player-manager and former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
defender Terry Butcher
Terry Butcher
Terence Ian "Terry" Butcher is an English football manager and former player. He was a highly successful football player and made his name as an uncompromising defender with Ipswich Town and Rangers in the 1980s. He was also a captain of England and won 77 caps in a ten-year international career...
, and when Butcher was sacked in January he remained in favour under new manager Don Howe. Furlong only managed four goals from 37 league games all season, however, and after the season ended he was transferred to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
.
Furlong was much more successful at Watford in Division One (the new name for the original Second Division after the creation of the Premier League), and was voted Watford Player of the Season in 1993. Although he failed to inspire Watford to a promotion challenge, he established himself as one of the finest strikers in the division at this time, alongside the likes of Steve Bull
Steve Bull
Stephen George "Steve" Bull, MBE, is an English former footballer who is best remembered for his 13-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers...
and Stan Collymore
Stan Collymore
Stanley Victor "Stan" Collymore is an English football pundit and former footballer, who played from 1990 until 2001. He held the British transfer record when he moved from Nottingham Forest to Liverpool for £8.5 million in 1995 and was capped three times at senior level by the England...
. At the end of the 1993–94 season, he became Chelsea's
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
record signing in a £2.3million deal, and that season he helped them reach the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
semi-finals (losing to Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
by a single goal) as well as finish 11th in the Premier League. However, the arrival of Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit
OON is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the captain of the Netherlands national team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the...
and Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
during the 1995 close season reduced his first team opportunities, and following the arrival of Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli is an Italian football manager and former player. Since retiring, he has gone into management and punditry and is a commentator for Sky Sport Italia....
a year later he opted to become Birmingham City's
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
record signing in a £1.5million deal. Although it meant dropping down a division, Furlong knew he would have more chances of first team action in the Midlands, and was part of an ambitious side managed by Trevor Francis
Trevor Francis
Trevor John Francis , is a former footballer who won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest and played for England 52 times. He was England's first £1 million player...
and containing fellow big names including Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
, Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
and Gary Ablett. He remained at St Andrew's for six years, scoring 50 goals in 130 Division One games, and having loan spells at Queen's Park Rangers (twice) and Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. He finally left the Blues in the summer of 2002, the year they reached the Premier League after 16 years outside the top flight, and signed a contract with Queen's Park Rangers in Division Two.
Furlong continued to do well at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
, helping them win promotion in 2004, and by the time he left in 2007, he had played 162 league games and scored 54 goals.
On leaving QPR, the 38-year-old Furlong signed for Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
who had just been relegated from the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. He scored eight goals in 32 games but was unable to prevent the financially troubled side from suffering a second successive relegation.
He then signed for League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, but made just 3 appearances during the first half of the season and was loaned out to Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
in January 2009. After two goals in January the loan spell was extended until the end of the season. His goal in Barnet's 1–0 win against AFC Bournemouth was his 200th senior goal, and he marked the occasion by laying down his shirt and saluting it. He was released by Southend at the end of the 2008–09 season, and joined Barnet on a one year deal after an excellent pre-season This was subsequently extended until the end of the 2009–10 season. On 2 June 2010, Furlong was released by Barnet.
A few weeks later, he joined 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...
club Kettering Town as player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
.
On 10 August, Furlong was confirmed as player/coach at Southern Premier League side St Albans City. He scored on his debut for St Albans in a Southern League Premier Division
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
game against Cirencester Town
Cirencester Town F.C.
Cirencester Town is an English football club based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at the Corinium Stadium...
.
When at Enfield
Enfield F.C.
Enfield F.C. is a football club, formed in June 2007 after Enfield F.C. ceased to exist....
he was given 6 caps by the England semi-pro team, scoring once.