Paolo Vernazza
Encyclopedia
Paolo Vernazza is a retired English
footballer.
but struggled to break into the first team. He made his first-team debut in a League Cup
match against Birmingham City
on 14 October 1997 and his performances in Arsenal's reserves resulted in him gaining a place in the England
squad for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
. He had loan spells at Ipswich Town
and Portsmouth
, before leaving Arsenal for Watford
in December 2000. He played 11 times for Arsenal, scoring one goal, in a 2–1 win over Coventry City
on 16 September 2000.
Vernazza spent three-and-a-half years at Watford, making 96 league appearances, before moving to Rotherham United
in the summer of 2004 on a free.
Paolo's time at Rotherham was largely unsuccessful, resulting in him spending a loan spell at Barnet
before being released in May 2006.
Following a successful trial, Vernazza signed for Dagenham & Redbridge
on 14 December 2006. He was part of the squad that helped Dagenham gain promotion to the Football League
for the first time in the club's history, winning the Conference National
in the 2006–07
season.
He joined Weymouth
on 9 July 2007.
Vernazza appeared as a substitute for Crawley Town
in a pre-season game against former club Arsenal on 26 July 2008. However, on 6 August 2008 he signed for another Conference club, Woking
, following a successful trial.
On 4 September 2009, Vernazza signed for Grays Athletic
, before leaving in February 2010. He joined Hemel Hempstead Town
in March. In September 2010, he joined Bishop's Stortford
.
He retired from football in 2011.
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.
Career
Vernazza started his career at ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
but struggled to break into the first team. He made his first-team debut in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match against Birmingham City
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...
on 14 October 1997 and his performances in Arsenal's reserves resulted in him gaining a place in the England
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....
squad for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between April 3 and April 24, 1999. The 1999 championship was the 12th contested.- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Squads:...
. He had loan spells at Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, before leaving Arsenal for 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...
in December 2000. He played 11 times for Arsenal, scoring one goal, in a 2–1 win over 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 16 September 2000.
Vernazza spent three-and-a-half years at Watford, making 96 league appearances, before moving to Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
in the summer of 2004 on a free.
Paolo's time at Rotherham was largely unsuccessful, resulting in him spending a loan spell at 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....
before being released in May 2006.
Following a successful trial, Vernazza signed for Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
on 14 December 2006. He was part of the squad that helped Dagenham gain promotion to 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...
for the first time in the club's history, winning 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...
in the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season.
He joined Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
on 9 July 2007.
Vernazza appeared as a substitute for Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
in a pre-season game against former club Arsenal on 26 July 2008. However, on 6 August 2008 he signed for another Conference club, Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
, following a successful trial.
On 4 September 2009, Vernazza signed for Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
, before leaving in February 2010. He joined Hemel Hempstead Town
Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.
Hemel Hempstead Town are a football club based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division. They are known as the Tudors and play their games at Vauxhall Road...
in March. In September 2010, he joined Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford F.C.
Bishop's Stortford F.C. is an English football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at Woodside Park.-History:The club was established in 1874...
.
He retired from football in 2011.