Paul Wilkinson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Wilkinson is a retired English
football striker currently working as the reserve team manager for Cardiff City
.
before moving to Everton
in March 1985. During the 1986–87 season he made 32 appearances and scored 12 goals for Everton, as they won the Football League First Division
championship. After a short spell at Nottingham Forest he went on to play over 150 league games for both Watford
and Middlesbrough
.
He played more than 200 times for Middlesbrough between 1991 and 1996, his most successful season being his first
, in which he scored 24 goals - the last coming in the final minutes of the last league game of the season at Wolverhampton Wanderers
, in which he scored a last minute winner to secure Middlesbrough's automatic promotion to the new FA Premier League
. He was also the scorer of the club's first Premier League goal, scoring a 63rd minute consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat at Coventry City
on the opening day of the season.
Middlesbrough spent just one season back among the elite, and by the time they won promotion again two years later, Wilkinson was no longer a regular player.
During the early stages of his career he also played for the England U21
team. In 1997 he helped Barnsley
reach the Premier League, scoring one of the goals in the game against Bradford City at Oakwell that sealed their automatic promotion.
After retiring from playing he moved into coaching by taking over as the reserve team manager at Leeds United
before moving on to the same role at Grimsby Town and then Cardiff City
in October 2003, being brought in by manager Lennie Lawrence
.
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...
football striker currently working as the reserve team manager for 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...
.
Career
He started his career with Grimsby TownGrimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
before moving to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in March 1985. During the 1986–87 season he made 32 appearances and scored 12 goals for Everton, as they won the 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....
championship. After a short spell at Nottingham Forest he went on to play over 150 league games for both 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...
and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
He played more than 200 times for Middlesbrough between 1991 and 1996, his most successful season being his first
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
, in which he scored 24 goals - the last coming in the final minutes of the last league game of the season at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, in which he scored a last minute winner to secure Middlesbrough's automatic promotion to the new FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. He was also the scorer of the club's first Premier League goal, scoring a 63rd minute consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat at 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...
on the opening day of the season.
Middlesbrough spent just one season back among the elite, and by the time they won promotion again two years later, Wilkinson was no longer a regular player.
During the early stages of his career he also played for the England U21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
team. In 1997 he helped Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
reach the Premier League, scoring one of the goals in the game against Bradford City at Oakwell that sealed their automatic promotion.
After retiring from playing he moved into coaching by taking over as the reserve team manager at Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
before moving on to the same role at Grimsby Town and then 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...
in October 2003, being brought in by manager Lennie Lawrence
Lennie Lawrence
Robin Michael Lawrence, commonly known as Lennie Lawrence, is a British football manager who is assistant manager of Crystal Palace. He has managed a number of English clubs and one Welsh club in a coaching career spanning over 30 years...
.