Paul Wotton
Encyclopedia
Paul Anthony Wotton is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Yeovil Town
. He began his career as a defender
with Plymouth Argyle
, where he captained them to two Football League championships before being released in the summer of 2008. Praised for his determination and leadership, he is renowned for his set piece
delivery. He was inducted into the Argyle Hall of Fame in 2009.
, Devon
, and started his playing career with his hometown club. His first season for Plymouth Argyle was also his first as a professional, under Neil Warnock
in 1994–95. After Argyle were relegated from the Second Division at the end of the 1997–98 season following defeat at Burnley
he famously vowed that he would be part of the side that won promotion, and captained the side to the title with a record 102 points in 2001–02 whilst being named in the PFA Division Three team of the year. Two seasons later he again lifted some silverware, this time the Division Two championship. He was named the player of the season for Argyle for the following 2004–05 season, in which the team finished 17th. He appeared in the famous Jimmy Glass
game against Carlisle, in which the goalkeeper scored in the 94th minute to keep Carlisle United
in the Football League.
Wotton can be described as a solid and mature defender with a ferocious shot taking ability that results in him taking the majority of free-kicks and penalties. Playing at centre back during Argyle's Third and Second Division championship winning seasons, his slight lack of pace means that in the Championship he now tends to play a holding midfield role just in front of the defence. He was the top-scorer in 2004–05 with 12 league goals, an excellent return for a non-striker, and again in 2005–06 with 8 goals. Despite his claimed love of the club Wotton actually requested to be sold to Northampton Town at the start of the 2001–02 campaign. Northampton, however, refused to offer him a contract, thus he stayed with the Pilgrims.
In the summer of 2006 he was involved in an incident with young striker Chris Zebroski
, which required Wotton to have more than a hundred stitches in his head. Zebroski was sacked early in the 2006–07 season as a result of this, having been found guilty of gross misconduct. Zebroski said Wotton was bullying him for a while prior to the incident.
In the Championship match against Hull City
on 9 December 2006 he damaged his cruciate and medial ligaments to his left knee and missed the rest of the 2006–07 Championship season. He returned from injury in time for Paul Sturrock's return to the club as manager, and after making a handful of substitute appearances he returned to the side for his first start in 15 months in the 2–1 win at Bristol City on 15 March 2008. He later went on to score a penalty in his final ever game for Plymouth against Preston North End, shortly before being released.
His autobiography, My Journey: The First Ten Years was published in 2004.
.
In his first start he came up against former club Plymouth's arch rivals, Exeter City
, in the first round of a League Cup
match that Southampton comfortably won 3–1.
On 8 November 2010, he joined Oxford United until the end of December on an emergency loan. On 31 December 2010, Wotton joined Yeovil Town
on a one-month loan.
Updated to games played as of 26 December 2009.
Southampton
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
. He began his career as a defender
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....
with Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, where he captained them to two Football League championships before being released in the summer of 2008. Praised for his determination and leadership, he is renowned for his set piece
Set piece (football)
The term set piece or set play is used in association football and rugby to refer to a situation when the ball is returned to open play following a stoppage, particularly in a forward area of the pitch. Most often, the term is used to refer to free kicks and corners, but sometimes throw-ins. Many...
delivery. He was inducted into the Argyle Hall of Fame in 2009.
Plymouth Argyle
Wotton was born in PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and started his playing career with his hometown club. His first season for Plymouth Argyle was also his first as a professional, under Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
in 1994–95. After Argyle were relegated from the Second Division at the end of the 1997–98 season following defeat at Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
he famously vowed that he would be part of the side that won promotion, and captained the side to the title with a record 102 points in 2001–02 whilst being named in the PFA Division Three team of the year. Two seasons later he again lifted some silverware, this time the Division Two championship. He was named the player of the season for Argyle for the following 2004–05 season, in which the team finished 17th. He appeared in the famous Jimmy Glass
Jimmy Glass
James "Jimmy" Glass is a former football goalkeeper. Glass is remembered for scoring the last-minute goal which kept Carlisle United in the Football League in 1999...
game against Carlisle, in which the goalkeeper scored in the 94th minute to keep 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 the Football League.
Wotton can be described as a solid and mature defender with a ferocious shot taking ability that results in him taking the majority of free-kicks and penalties. Playing at centre back during Argyle's Third and Second Division championship winning seasons, his slight lack of pace means that in the Championship he now tends to play a holding midfield role just in front of the defence. He was the top-scorer in 2004–05 with 12 league goals, an excellent return for a non-striker, and again in 2005–06 with 8 goals. Despite his claimed love of the club Wotton actually requested to be sold to Northampton Town at the start of the 2001–02 campaign. Northampton, however, refused to offer him a contract, thus he stayed with the Pilgrims.
In the summer of 2006 he was involved in an incident with young striker Chris Zebroski
Chris Zebroski
Christopher Matthew "Chris" Zebroski is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Football League Two side Bristol Rovers.-Club career:...
, which required Wotton to have more than a hundred stitches in his head. Zebroski was sacked early in the 2006–07 season as a result of this, having been found guilty of gross misconduct. Zebroski said Wotton was bullying him for a while prior to the incident.
In the Championship match against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on 9 December 2006 he damaged his cruciate and medial ligaments to his left knee and missed the rest of the 2006–07 Championship season. He returned from injury in time for Paul Sturrock's return to the club as manager, and after making a handful of substitute appearances he returned to the side for his first start in 15 months in the 2–1 win at Bristol City on 15 March 2008. He later went on to score a penalty in his final ever game for Plymouth against Preston North End, shortly before being released.
His autobiography, My Journey: The First Ten Years was published in 2004.
Southampton
In June 2008, Wotton was released by Plymouth. On 18 June he joined SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
In his first start he came up against former club Plymouth's arch rivals, 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 the first round of a 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...
match that Southampton comfortably won 3–1.
On 8 November 2010, he joined Oxford United until the end of December on an emergency loan. On 31 December 2010, Wotton joined Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
on a one-month loan.
Yeovil Town
On 1 January 2011, Wotton made his debut for Yeovil away in a 0–0 draw to his old side Plymouth, who he played for 13 years clocking up nearly 400 appearances, and he received a standing ovation from the Argyle fans when his name was called out on the PA system. He played the full 90 minutes. On 28 January 2011, Wotton's contract with Southampton was terminated "by mutual consent", and he signed for Yeovil on an 18-month contract. He scored his first Yeovil goal in the 2–1 win away to Brentford; a characteristic free kick from 25 yards out. He was made captain for the 2011/12 season and scored a penalty in the 3-1 win against Oldham in Yeovil's first home game of the season.Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
|||||||||||
| 1994–95 1994-95 in English football -Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1995–96 1995-96 in English football - Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title.... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1996–97 1996-97 in English football The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :... |
9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
| 1997–98 1997-98 in English football The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title... |
34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
| 1998–99 1998-99 in English football -Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker... |
36 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| 1999–00 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2000–01 2000-01 in English football The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons... |
42 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 4 | |
| 2001–02 2001-02 in English football The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the... |
46 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 6 | |
| 2002–03 2002-03 in English football The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable... |
43 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 11 | |
| 2003–04 2003-04 in English football The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game.... |
38 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 9 | |
| 2004–05 2004-05 in English football The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League... |
40 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 13 | |
| 2005–06 2005-06 in English football The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether... |
45 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 9 | |
| 2006–07 2006-07 in English football The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five... |
22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 | |
| 2007–08 2007-08 in English football The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool... |
8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| Total | 394 | 54 | 23 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 438 | 61 | |
| Southampton Southampton F.C. Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club... |
|||||||||||
| 2008–09 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Total | 44 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 438 | 54 | 25 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 491 | 61 | |
Updated to games played as of 26 December 2009.
Honours
Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe 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...
champions: 2001–022001-02 in English footballThe 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the... - Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions: 2003–042003-04 in English footballThe 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game.... - Player of the Year: 2002–032002-03 in English footballThe 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
, 2004–052004-05 in English footballThe 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League... - PFA Third Division Team of the YearPFA Team of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
: 2001–022001-02 in English footballThe 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the... - Plymouth Argyle hall of fame 2009
Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe 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...
: 20102010 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2010 Football League Trophy Final was the 27th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 28 March 2010. The match was contested between Carlisle United and...
External links
- Paul Wotton player profile at saintsfc.co.uk
- Paul Wotton player profile at pafc.co.uk