Paul Ellender
Encyclopedia
Paul Ellender is an English footballer who plays as a defender
. He played in the Football League
for Boston United
and Chester City
.
, Ellender joined Scunthorpe United
as a YTS trainee
, and went on to sign professional forms, but was released at the end of the 1993–94 season without having made a first-team appearance. He joined Northern Premier League
club Gainsborough Trinity
, where he became captain, and led the club out in their 1997–98 FA Cup first-round tie against Lincoln City
. After a 1–1 draw at Lincoln's ground, Sincil Bank
, Gainsborough went out 3–2 in the replay, also played at Lincoln.
Together with centre-back partner Chris Timons, Ellender joined Altrincham
in 1998, and helped the club win the Northern Premier League title and gain promotion
to the Conference
. He was sold to fellow Conference club Scarborough
in November 1999. In 2001 Ellender signed for Boston United
for £80,000, which was the club's record transfer fee. He went on to captain Boston to the Conference title and promotion to the Football League
in 2001–02, and remained with the club until 2008. He was loaned to Chester City
in February 2006 for the remainder of the season, but was recalled a month later because of injuries among Boston defenders.
After seven years with Boston, during which time he played 275 games in all competitions, and, according to the club's website, "endeared himself to the club’s supporters with a never-say-die attitude", he moved on to Alfreton Town
, but re-signed for Boston United on loan in March 2009. At the end of the season, neither Boston nor Alfreton offered him a contract, and he joined Retford United
for the 2009–10 season. He joined North Ferriby United
during the summer of 2010.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played in 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 Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
and Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
.
Career
Born in ScunthorpeScunthorpe
Scunthorpe is a town within North Lincolnshire, England. It is the administrative centre of the North Lincolnshire unitary authority, and had an estimated total resident population of 72,514 in 2010. A predominantly industrial town, Scunthorpe, the United Kingdom's largest steel processing centre,...
, Ellender joined Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
as a YTS trainee
Youth Training Scheme
The Youth Training Scheme was the former name in the United Kingdom of an on-the-job training course for school leavers aged 16 and 17, managed by the Manpower Services Commission...
, and went on to sign professional forms, but was released at the end of the 1993–94 season without having made a first-team appearance. He joined Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
club Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
, where he became captain, and led the club out in their 1997–98 FA Cup first-round tie against Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. After a 1–1 draw at Lincoln's ground, Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
, Gainsborough went out 3–2 in the replay, also played at Lincoln.
Together with centre-back partner Chris Timons, Ellender joined Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
in 1998, and helped the club win the Northern Premier League title and gain promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the 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...
. He was sold to fellow Conference club Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
in November 1999. In 2001 Ellender signed for Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
for £80,000, which was the club's record transfer fee. He went on to captain Boston to the Conference title and 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...
in 2001–02, and remained with the club until 2008. He was loaned to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in February 2006 for the remainder of the season, but was recalled a month later because of injuries among Boston defenders.
After seven years with Boston, during which time he played 275 games in all competitions, and, according to the club's website, "endeared himself to the club’s supporters with a never-say-die attitude", he moved on to Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
, but re-signed for Boston United on loan in March 2009. At the end of the season, neither Boston nor Alfreton offered him a contract, and he joined Retford United
Retford United F.C.
Retford United Football Club are an English football club based at Cannon Park in Retford, Nottinghamshire. They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.-History:...
for the 2009–10 season. He joined North Ferriby United
North Ferriby United A.F.C.
North Ferriby United Association Football Club is an English football club based in North Ferriby, near Kingston upon Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. They were formed in 1934. They reached the Northern Premier League Premier Division for the first time in 2005...
during the summer of 2010.