Paul Bernard (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Bernard is a former professional association football player who played as a midfielder
for Oldham
, Aberdeen
, Barnsley
, Plymouth Argyle
, St Johnstone
and Drogheda United.
He was born in Edinburgh but moved to Manchester
as a small child in the mid 1970s, and grew up as a Hearts
supporter.
Bernard started his career with Oldham Athletic, and is remembered for scoring the equaliser in the famous 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday in only his second game for the club during the 1990-91 season
when the Latics sealed the Second Division title and returned to the First Division after a 68-year exile. He was soon a regular player in the Boundary Park
midfield, helping them achieve survival in the First Division in 1991-92
and the new FA Premier League
in 1992-93
. He helped them reach the FA Cup
semi-finals in the 1993-94
campaign, and when the Latics took the lead over Manchester United
with an extra time goal by Neil Pointon
, it looked as though Bernard and his team mates were on their way to the club's first ever FA Cup final. However, a late equaliser by United's Mark Hughes
forced a replay, which the Latics lost 4-1 at Maine Road
. They were relegated on the final day of the season after only managing a 1-1 draw with Norwich City
.
He played a total of 112 league games for the Latics, scoring 18 goals.http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=38373
He was then transferred to Aberdeen for £1M
on 27 September 1995, and he remains the only player that a Scottish club outside the Old Firm
has spent £1 million on.
Soon after joining Aberdeen, Bernard helped them to win the Scottish League Cup
, but his career suffered after this point due to injuries and loss of form. As such Bernard has been associated with the misguided spending of Aberdeen in the 1990s, when relatively large amounts were spent without much success. Bernard was released by Aberdeen in 2001 after six seasons, 99 league games and six goals.
His playing career finished in 2006 after a year long spell in Ireland with Drogheda United.
He was capped twice by the Scottish national team at senior level, with both of his appearances coming in 1995, following 16 under 21 and two "B" caps earlier in the decade
.
FAI Cup
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Oldham
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
, 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...
, Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, St Johnstone
St Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
and Drogheda United.
He was born in Edinburgh but moved to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
as a small child in the mid 1970s, and grew up as a Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
supporter.
Bernard started his career with Oldham Athletic, and is remembered for scoring the equaliser in the famous 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday in only his second game for the club during the 1990-91 season
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
when the Latics sealed the Second Division title and returned to the First Division after a 68-year exile. He was soon a regular player in the Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
midfield, helping them achieve survival in the First Division in 1991-92
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...
and 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...
in 1992-93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
. He helped them reach the 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...
semi-finals in the 1993-94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
campaign, and when the Latics took the lead over Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
with an extra time goal by Neil Pointon
Neil Pointon
Neil Geoffrey Pointon, born November 28, 1964 in Church Warsop, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, is a former professional football player...
, it looked as though Bernard and his team mates were on their way to the club's first ever FA Cup final. However, a late equaliser by United's 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....
forced a replay, which the Latics lost 4-1 at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
. They were relegated on the final day of the season after only managing a 1-1 draw with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
He played a total of 112 league games for the Latics, scoring 18 goals.http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=38373
He was then transferred to Aberdeen for £1M
Million
One million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...
on 27 September 1995, and he remains the only player that a Scottish club outside the Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
has spent £1 million on.
Soon after joining Aberdeen, Bernard helped them to win the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup 1995-96
The 1995–96 Scottish League Cup was the 50th staging of the Scotland's second most prestigious football knockout competition, also known for sponsorship reasons as the Coca-Cola Cup....
, but his career suffered after this point due to injuries and loss of form. As such Bernard has been associated with the misguided spending of Aberdeen in the 1990s, when relatively large amounts were spent without much success. Bernard was released by Aberdeen in 2001 after six seasons, 99 league games and six goals.
His playing career finished in 2006 after a year long spell in Ireland with Drogheda United.
He was capped twice by the Scottish national team at senior level, with both of his appearances coming in 1995, following 16 under 21 and two "B" caps earlier in the decade
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
.
Honours
Scottish League CupScottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
-
- Winner (1): 1995Scottish League Cup 1995-96The 1995–96 Scottish League Cup was the 50th staging of the Scotland's second most prestigious football knockout competition, also known for sponsorship reasons as the Coca-Cola Cup....
(AberdeenAberdeen F.C.Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
)
- Winner (1): 1995
FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
-
- Winner (1): 2005 (Drogheda United)