Paul Needham
Encyclopedia
Paul Needham is a former English
professional footballer who played as a full back. He made than 50 appearances in The Football League
for Chester
.
, Needham grew up in Chester
and attended Upton-by-Chester High School
in the city. He joined Chester
as an apprentice aged 16 after first appearing for their youth side 18 months earlier. He was a contemporary of Ian Rush
in Chester's youth ranks in the late 1970s, with Chester enjoying two runs to the last 32 of the FA Youth Cup
during this period.
Needham's professional debut followed as a substitute for Richie Gendall
in a 1–0 defeat at Oxford United
on November 15, 1980, with his first start made in the number two shirt in a 1–0 victory at Fulham
on March 17, 1981. Going into 1981–82
, Needham was one of just 14 professionals in the Chester side as the wage bill was cut. The side finished adrift at the foot of Division Three
and were relegated, although Needham enjoyed his first taste of regular football by making 27 league appearances and scoring his only goal for the club against Reading
. The following season saw him appear in 21 league games but he was released along with players including Mark Dean
, Paul Johnson, Greg Moffatt and Gary Simpson at the end of the season as the club again heavily reduced its wage bill.
Needham then joined non–league side Oswestry Town
. He did not play professionally again.
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...
professional footballer who played as a full back. He made than 50 appearances 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 Chester
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...
.
Playing career
Although born in BuxtonBuxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
, Needham grew up in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and attended Upton-by-Chester High School
Upton-by-Chester High School
Upton-by-Chester High School is a high school located in the United Kingdom. It is situated on St James's Avenue in Upton. The current headteacher is Mrs Jane Holland....
in the city. He joined Chester
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...
as an apprentice aged 16 after first appearing for their youth side 18 months earlier. He was a contemporary of Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
in Chester's youth ranks in the late 1970s, with Chester enjoying two runs to the last 32 of the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
during this period.
Needham's professional debut followed as a substitute for Richie Gendall
Richie Gendall
Richard "Richie" Gendall is a former Welsh professional footballer who played in The Football League for Chester City.A midfielder, Gendall was a contemporary of Ian Rush in the Chester youth squad in the late 1970s...
in a 1–0 defeat at Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
on November 15, 1980, with his first start made in the number two shirt in a 1–0 victory at Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on March 17, 1981. Going into 1981–82
1981-82 in English football
The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...
, Needham was one of just 14 professionals in the Chester side as the wage bill was cut. The side finished adrift at the foot of Division Three
Football 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...
and were relegated, although Needham enjoyed his first taste of regular football by making 27 league appearances and scoring his only goal for the club against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. The following season saw him appear in 21 league games but he was released along with players including Mark Dean
Mark Dean (footballer)
Mark Dean is an English former professional footballer who played in The Football League for Chester. He later played for hometown club Northwich Victoria in the Conference National.-Playing career:...
, Paul Johnson, Greg Moffatt and Gary Simpson at the end of the season as the club again heavily reduced its wage bill.
Needham then joined non–league side Oswestry Town
Oswestry Town F.C.
Oswestry Town F.C. was a football club, formerly playing in the League of Wales.The club was founded as Oswestry United in 1860, which meant they were one of the world's oldest football clubs. Matches were latterly played at Park Hall stadium, Oswestry, after a spell at Victoria Road...
. He did not play professionally again.