Paul Pettinger
Encyclopedia
Paul Allen Pettinger is a professional
football goalkeeper. He has represented England
at schoolboy and youth level. He currently plays for Sheffield F.C.
.
Pettinger played for Barnsley
schools before beginning his senior career as a trainee with Leeds United
, turning professional in October 1992. He won an FA Youth Cup
winners' medal with Leeds, playing in the side that beat Manchester United
in the final. He failed to make the Leeds first team and in December 1994 joined Torquay United
on loan. In February 1995 he joined Conference side Halifax Town
on loan, playing seven times before the end of the season. He also played six times on loan for Kettering Town
in the same season. In August 1995 he joined Rotherham United
on loan, but made just one appearance, as a substitute, before returning to Leeds.
In March 1996, Pettinger joined Gillingham
on a free transfer, but was released at the end of the season without making his debut. In August 1996 he joined Carlisle United
, but failed to appear in their league team. He did however, play in the Football League Trophy
final at Wembley. In August 1997 he joined Rotherham United
, but again struggled to make regular appearances. He finally forced his way into the team towards the end of the 2000-01 season, at one point playing a career best six football league games in a row, as Rotherham won promotion.
In July 2001 he joined Lincoln City
on a free transfer, but played just five times in two years. In March 2002 he joined Kettering Town
on loan and in December 2002 joined Telford United
on loan. He joined Gainsborough Trinity
in February 2003 and in May 2003 joined Kettering Town. He struggled with the travelling from his Barnsley home to Kettering and in February 2004 left to join Hucknall Town
. He helped Hucknall win the Northern Premier League
title before leaving in the 2004 close season to join Harrogate Town
.
He left Harrogate, having missed just one game the previous season, to join Stalybridge Celtic
in May 2005. He missed just one game the following season and remained a regular before moving on to Worksop Town
in February 2007 for an undisclosed small fee. He played in 11 games for Worksop that season.
He later joined Ilkeston Town
from where he moved to Frickley Athletic
in January 2008. He subsequently joined Belper Town
, moving to Matlock Town
in December 2008. In September 2010 he joined Sheffield F.C.
debuting in the 2-0 Northern Premier League Division One South
away defeat to Carlton Town
on 18 September 2010.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
football goalkeeper. He has represented England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at schoolboy and youth level. He currently plays for Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The club is most noted for the fact that they are the world's oldest club now playing Association football, founded in 1857...
.
Pettinger played for Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
schools before beginning his senior career as a trainee with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, turning professional in October 1992. He won an 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...
winners' medal with Leeds, playing in the side that beat 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...
in the final. He failed to make the Leeds first team and in December 1994 joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan. In February 1995 he joined Conference side Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
on loan, playing seven times before the end of the season. He also played six times on loan for Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
in the same season. In August 1995 he joined 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...
on loan, but made just one appearance, as a substitute, before returning to Leeds.
In March 1996, Pettinger joined Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on a free transfer, but was released at the end of the season without making his debut. In August 1996 he joined Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, but failed to appear in their league team. He did however, play in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
final at Wembley. In August 1997 he joined 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...
, but again struggled to make regular appearances. He finally forced his way into the team towards the end of the 2000-01 season, at one point playing a career best six football league games in a row, as Rotherham won promotion.
In July 2001 he joined 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....
on a free transfer, but played just five times in two years. In March 2002 he joined Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
on loan and in December 2002 joined Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
on loan. He joined 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...
in February 2003 and in May 2003 joined Kettering Town. He struggled with the travelling from his Barnsley home to Kettering and in February 2004 left to join Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
. He helped Hucknall win the 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...
title before leaving in the 2004 close season to join Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
.
He left Harrogate, having missed just one game the previous season, to join Stalybridge Celtic
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
in May 2005. He missed just one game the following season and remained a regular before moving on to Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
in February 2007 for an undisclosed small fee. He played in 11 games for Worksop that season.
He later joined Ilkeston Town
Ilkeston Town F.C.
Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
from where he moved to Frickley Athletic
Frickley Athletic F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C. are a football club based in South Elmsall, in West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1910 as Frickley Colliery F.C., and changed to their present name in 1974.-History:...
in January 2008. He subsequently joined Belper Town
Belper Town F.C.
-History:They were established in 1883 and joined the Midland League in 1961. After the 1981–82 season, Belper Town joined the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, winning the title in 1984–85...
, moving to Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
in December 2008. In September 2010 he joined Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The club is most noted for the fact that they are the world's oldest club now playing Association football, founded in 1857...
debuting in the 2-0 Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One South
Division One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
away defeat to Carlton Town
Carlton Town F.C.
Carlton Town F.C. are a football club based in Carlton near Nottingham, England.-History:They were established in 1903 as Sneinton F.C. after the district of Sneinton in which they were based. In 2002 they changed their name to Carlton Town, winning the Central Midlands League the following summer...
on 18 September 2010.