Paul Wimbleton
Encyclopedia
Paul Philip Wimbleton is a former English
professional footballer.
Born in Havant
, Wimbleton was an England schoolboy international in his youth, making 10 appearances and scoring 5 goals. He began his career at Portsmouth
making his debut during the 1981–82 season. At the start of the following season he sustained a serious knee injury. He attempted to return to action for the club but his injury had not fully healed and he was forced to undergo surgery. He needed a long recuperation period in order to overcome the injury and this led to his release by the club in 1984.
In July 1986 he signed for Cardiff City
manager Frank Burrows
, who had been Portsmouth manager for a short time when Wimbleton began to break into the first team. He was ever-present in his first year at the club, making 46 league appearances and playing a total of 59 competitive games. He finished as top scorer with eleven goals in all competitions before helping the side gain promotion, also winning the Welsh Cup
. Wimbleton was voted PFA Team Player of the Year and Cardiff Player of the Year. He spent one more year at Cardiff before moving to Bristol City
in 1989. He spent one year at Bristol, helping them to league promotion, and went on to have similar one year spells at Shrewsbury Town
, which included a short loan spell at Maidstone United
, Exeter City
in 1991 and Swansea City
in 1992 before moving to Barry Town
.
As a Barry Town player he won the Welsh Cup
for a second time before travelling to South Africa
to play for Cape Town Spurs in the South African first Division. The following season 1995–1996 he went to play in the Hong Kong first Division for Sing Tao
, helping them to win the Viceroy Cup. He was transferred to Kui Tan at the end of the 1995–1996 season. In the 1995–1996 season Wimbleton played for Cork City. In the summer of the 1997–1998 season, Wimbleton played for Foshan
in the Chinese first Division. At the end of the 1997–1998 season Wimbleton moved again, this time playing for Merthyr Tydfil
. The following season he played for the Delaware Wizards
and Hampton Roads Mariners in the 'A' League in the United States where he made 19 appearances. In 1998 Wimbleton started his own soccer coaching business,Three Lions Soccer Academy, in New Jersey
, United States.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer.
Born in Havant
Havant
Havant is a town in south east Hampshire on the South coast of England, between Portsmouth and Chichester. It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area. The town has rapidly grown since the end of the Second World War.It has good railway connections to London,...
, Wimbleton was an England schoolboy international in his youth, making 10 appearances and scoring 5 goals. He began his career at Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
making his debut during the 1981–82 season. At the start of the following season he sustained a serious knee injury. He attempted to return to action for the club but his injury had not fully healed and he was forced to undergo surgery. He needed a long recuperation period in order to overcome the injury and this led to his release by the club in 1984.
In July 1986 he signed for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
manager Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows is a Scottish soccer manager, and former player.-Biography:Frank Burrows began his football career at Scottish club Raith Rovers. In 1965 he moved south to England and joined Scunthorpe United. Impressive performances as a defender for Scunthorpe led to him being signed by Swindon...
, who had been Portsmouth manager for a short time when Wimbleton began to break into the first team. He was ever-present in his first year at the club, making 46 league appearances and playing a total of 59 competitive games. He finished as top scorer with eleven goals in all competitions before helping the side gain promotion, also winning the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
. Wimbleton was voted PFA Team Player of the Year and Cardiff Player of the Year. He spent one more year at Cardiff before moving to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in 1989. He spent one year at Bristol, helping them to league promotion, and went on to have similar one year spells at Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, which included a short loan spell at Maidstone United
Maidstone United F.C.
Maidstone United Football Club is an English football team from Maidstone, Kent.The current club is a continuation of the old Maidstone United, which was a member of the Football League between 1989 and 1992. The club was forced out of the league by financial ruin but the youth squad formed the...
, Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in 1991 and Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in 1992 before moving to Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
.
As a Barry Town player he won the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
for a second time before travelling to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to play for Cape Town Spurs in the South African first Division. The following season 1995–1996 he went to play in the Hong Kong first Division for Sing Tao
Sing Tao
Sing Tao may refer to:* Sing Tao Daily, a newspaper published in Hong Kong* Sing Tao News Corporation, a company in Hong Kong, has published Sing Tao Daily.* Sing Tao , a defunct Hong Kong football club sponsored by Sing Tao News Corporation....
, helping them to win the Viceroy Cup. He was transferred to Kui Tan at the end of the 1995–1996 season. In the 1995–1996 season Wimbleton played for Cork City. In the summer of the 1997–1998 season, Wimbleton played for Foshan
Foshan
Foshan is a city in central Guangdong province in southern China. The prefectural area under the city's jurisdiction over an area of about 3,840 km² and a population of 5.4 million of which 1.1 million reside in the city proper ....
in the Chinese first Division. At the end of the 1997–1998 season Wimbleton moved again, this time playing for Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil F.C.
Merthyr Tydfil Football Club was a Welsh football club based at the Penydarren Park ground in Merthyr Tydfil. In 2010 the club was liquidated and reformed under the name Merthyr Town, which was accepted into Division One of the Western League.-History:...
. The following season he played for the Delaware Wizards
Delaware Wizards
The Delaware Wizards were soccer club based in Wilmington and New Castle, Delaware. The team played their first game in 1993 and their last in 2000...
and Hampton Roads Mariners in the 'A' League in the United States where he made 19 appearances. In 1998 Wimbleton started his own soccer coaching business,Three Lions Soccer Academy, in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States.