Paul Thirlwell
Encyclopedia
Paul Thirlwell is an English
footballer who has played for four English clubs. He plays for Carlisle United
in Football League One
and is the club captain.
Thirlwell, who is a midfielder, is a former England Under 21
footballer who has often been compared to former Sunderland
and Everton
star Paul Bracewell
.
in August 1997 and his first league game for Sunderland was against Tranmere Rovers
on 22 August 1998. His first goal for the club from Tyne and Wear came against Luton Town
on 19 September 2000 when Sunderland won 3–0 in the English League Cup
. Thirlwell was on loan to Swindon Town
from September 1999 to November 1999 and in those months he played 12 league games for the club from Wiltshire
.
With Sunderland
flying high in the Premiership
, Thirlwell often found himself on the fringes of the first team, unable to break into the side ahead of established stars such as Don Hutchison
and Stefan Schwarz
. However, following the clubs relegation from the top flight in 2003, Thirlwell went on to establish himself in the heart of Sunderland's midfield, making 33 league and cup appearances for the first team. Thirlwell even had a stint as captain after skipper Jason McAteer
picked up an injury.
Despite a regular starting place during the first half of the season, injuries meant that Thirlwell missed a large chunk of the latter half of the campaign. Thirlwell also suffered a fractured skull during a reserve team match in April 2004, bring a premature end to Thirlwell's Sunderland career.
With Thirlwell's contract up for renewal at the end of the season, manager Mick McCarthy
decided not to retain him, and Thirlwell signed for Sheffield United
on a free transfer in July 2004. His first appearance for this club came against Reading
on 14 August 2004 and in a league game against Wolverhampton Wanderers
on 27 November 2004 he scored his first goal for the club from South Yorkshire
. Despite featuring 30 times for the club, Thirlwell played only one season for Sheffield United and on 5 August 2005 he signed for Derby County
.
He made his debut for Derby on 6 August 2005 in a league game against Brighton & Hove Albion
.
On 8 September 2006 Thirlwell joined Carlisle United
on a 3-month loan from Derby County. after a lack of first team opportunities at Pride Park
and his début for the Brunton Park
team was on 9 September 2006 in a 1–1 draw against Northampton Town
as a 54th minute sub
. On 4 January 2007, Thirlwell re-joined Carlisle United on a permanent 2½ year deal for an undisclosed fee. On 20 July 2007, Thirwell was named as Carlisle's new captain after the departure of Kevin Gray
, manager Neil McDonald described Thirwell as the "prime candidate".
On 16 January 2009 Thirlwell scored his first league goal for Carlisle to equalise 2–2 against a second placed MK Dons team, Carlisle went on to win the match 3–2 through debutante Joe Anyinsah's goal.
On 2 May 2009, Thirlwell scored the winning goal against Milwall in Carlisle's final game of the season, a game Carlisle had to win to avoid relegation to League Two. The match ended Carlisle 2–0 Milwall.
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...
footballer who has played for four English clubs. He plays for 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....
in Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and is the club captain.
Thirlwell, who is a midfielder, is a former England Under 21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
footballer who has often been compared to former 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...
and Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
star Paul Bracewell
Paul Bracewell
Paul Bracewell , in Heswall, Merseyside), but was brought up in Newport, Shropshire, is an English former international footballer who played as a midfielder, although his career was hampered by injuries as the years went by.-Career:...
.
Biography
Paul Thirlwell began his career in SunderlandSunderland 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...
in August 1997 and his first league game for Sunderland was against Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
on 22 August 1998. His first goal for the club from Tyne and Wear came against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
on 19 September 2000 when Sunderland won 3–0 in the English League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. Thirlwell was on loan to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
from September 1999 to November 1999 and in those months he played 12 league games for the club from Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
With 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...
flying high in the Premiership
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...
, Thirlwell often found himself on the fringes of the first team, unable to break into the side ahead of established stars such as Don Hutchison
Don Hutchison
Donald Hutchison is a Scottish ex-footballer who generally played in midfield but sometimes as a forward. He was a much travelled player with spells at both Liverpool and Everton as well as Sheffield United, Sunderland and West Ham United twice...
and Stefan Schwarz
Stefan Schwarz
Hans-Jürgen Stefan Schwarz is a Swedish former footballer.Born to a German father, he played as a midfielder and a left-back. He started playing football at youth level in Kulladals FF and began his career at his hometown club Malmö FF...
. However, following the clubs relegation from the top flight in 2003, Thirlwell went on to establish himself in the heart of Sunderland's midfield, making 33 league and cup appearances for the first team. Thirlwell even had a stint as captain after skipper Jason McAteer
Jason McAteer
Jason Wynne McAteer is a retired Irish footballer, who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level. He announced his retirement from professional football on 12 June 2007,...
picked up an injury.
Despite a regular starting place during the first half of the season, injuries meant that Thirlwell missed a large chunk of the latter half of the campaign. Thirlwell also suffered a fractured skull during a reserve team match in April 2004, bring a premature end to Thirlwell's Sunderland career.
With Thirlwell's contract up for renewal at the end of the season, manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
decided not to retain him, and Thirlwell signed for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on a free transfer in July 2004. His first appearance for this club came 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...
on 14 August 2004 and in a league game against Wolverhampton Wanderers
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...
on 27 November 2004 he scored his first goal for the club from South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
. Despite featuring 30 times for the club, Thirlwell played only one season for Sheffield United and on 5 August 2005 he signed 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...
.
He made his debut for Derby on 6 August 2005 in a league game against Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
.
On 8 September 2006 Thirlwell 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....
on a 3-month loan from Derby County. after a lack of first team opportunities at Pride Park
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
and his début for the Brunton Park
Brunton Park
Brunton Park is a football stadium and the home of Carlisle United F.C. It is situated in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria and has a certified capacity for the 2011/2012 season of 18,202. The ground opened in 1909...
team was on 9 September 2006 in a 1–1 draw against Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
as a 54th minute sub
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
. On 4 January 2007, Thirlwell re-joined Carlisle United on a permanent 2½ year deal for an undisclosed fee. On 20 July 2007, Thirwell was named as Carlisle's new captain after the departure of Kevin Gray
Kevin Gray
Kevin John Gray is an English footballer, playing as a defender for Workington.-Football career:He started his career at Mansfield Town signing as a trainee in July 1990 and had a successful four year period at Mansfiled...
, manager Neil McDonald described Thirwell as the "prime candidate".
On 16 January 2009 Thirlwell scored his first league goal for Carlisle to equalise 2–2 against a second placed MK Dons team, Carlisle went on to win the match 3–2 through debutante Joe Anyinsah's goal.
On 2 May 2009, Thirlwell scored the winning goal against Milwall in Carlisle's final game of the season, a game Carlisle had to win to avoid relegation to League Two. The match ended Carlisle 2–0 Milwall.
Career as player
| Club | Club connection | Club matches | League matches | Club goals | League goals | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
Contract | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 08/1997 – 09/1999 |
| Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
Loan | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 09/1999 – 11/1999 |
| 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... |
Contract | 88 | 75 | 1 | 0 | 11/1999 – 07/2004 |
| Sheffield United Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... |
Contract | 36 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 07/2004 – 08/2005 |
| 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... |
Contract | 23 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 08/2005 – 09/2006 |
| 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.... |
Loan | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 09/2006 – 12/2006 |
| 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... |
Contract | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12/2006 – 01/2007 |
| 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.... |
Contract | 129 | 115 | 6 | 6 | 01/2007 – |