Paul Blades
Encyclopedia
Paul Andrew Blades is an English former professional footballer
. He was a defender who played for Derby County
, Norwich City
, Wolves
and Rotherham United
.
in 1984 but also two successive promotions that took him to the top flight in 1987. He formed a formidable centre back partnership with Mark Wright
which supported a midfield containing Trevor Hebberd
and Ted McMinn
as well as the high scoring centre forward Dean Saunders
as the Rams finished fifth in the league in 1988–89 season
and only missed out on a UEFA Cup
place because of the ban on English clubs in European competitions that was the sequel to the Heysel disaster of 1985.http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=38433
After three seasons at the highest level, he finally left the Baseball Ground
for in July 1990. He had played for them 166 times in the league and scored once, his only goal coming in the successful 1988–89 campaign.
At the time of his transfer to Norwich
in the summer of 1990, he was the club's record signing at £700,000, and went on to make 62 appearances for the Canaries over two seasons. In his final season he helped Norwich reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup
, where defeat to second flight Sunderland
prevented them from reaching the final
for the first time in their history.
He joined Wolves
in August 1992 for £325,000. He made 117 appearances for the Midlanders in total during a three-season spell. His final season saw the club qualify for the play-offs, but they lost to Bolton
.
Blades was sold after this failure to win promotion to third flight for £110,000, making him their record signing at the time. However, his second season saw the club relegated and he was released, whereupon he joined Conference
side Hednesford Town
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He was a defender who played for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, 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...
, Wolves
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...
and 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...
.
Career
Blades began his career as a trainee at , making his league debut as a 17 year-old on 18 September 1982 in a 2–1 defeat at . He remained with the club throughout the 1980s, enduring relegation to the Third DivisionFootball League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1984 but also two successive promotions that took him to the top flight in 1987. He formed a formidable centre back partnership with Mark Wright
Mark Wright
Mark Wright may refer to:*Mark Wright , English footballer and manager*Mark Wright , English footballer...
which supported a midfield containing Trevor Hebberd
Trevor Hebberd
Trevor Neal Hebberd is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder.-Southampton:He signed for Southampton on leaving school in 1974 and made his first team debut two years later in a 2–2 draw against Hull City at Boothferry Park in the Second Division. He managed 12 league appearances...
and Ted McMinn
Ted McMinn
Kevin Clifton "Ted" McMinn is a Scottish former association footballer who played as a winger. His nickname is The Tin Man.-Early years:...
as well as the high scoring centre forward Dean Saunders
Dean Saunders
Dean Nicholas Saunders is a former Wales international footballer who played as a striker in a professional career which lasted from 1982 until 2001. He is the manager of Doncaster Rovers....
as the Rams finished fifth in the league in 1988–89 season
1988-89 in English football
The 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital...
and only missed out on a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
place because of the ban on English clubs in European competitions that was the sequel to the Heysel disaster of 1985.http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=38433
After three seasons at the highest level, he finally left the Baseball Ground
Baseball Ground
The Baseball Ground was a stadium in Derby, England. It was first used for baseball as the home of Derby County Baseball Club from 1890 until 1898 and then for football as the home of Derby County from 1895 until 1997. It was commonly referred to as the "BBG".As the name suggests, the stadium was...
for in July 1990. He had played for them 166 times in the league and scored once, his only goal coming in the successful 1988–89 campaign.
At the time of his transfer to Norwich
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...
in the summer of 1990, he was the club's record signing at £700,000, and went on to make 62 appearances for the Canaries over two seasons. In his final season he helped Norwich reach the semi-finals of 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...
, where defeat to second flight 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...
prevented them from reaching the final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
for the first time in their history.
He joined Wolves
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 August 1992 for £325,000. He made 117 appearances for the Midlanders in total during a three-season spell. His final season saw the club qualify for the play-offs, but they lost to Bolton
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Blades was sold after this failure to win promotion to third flight for £110,000, making him their record signing at the time. However, his second season saw the club relegated and he was released, whereupon he joined Conference
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...
side Hednesford Town
Hednesford Town F.C.
Hednesford Town Football Club are an association football team based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They play at Keys Park.-History:...
.