- Paul Futcher
Football manager infobox
playername = Paul Futcher
nickname = Futchenstein
height = height|ft=6
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1956|9|25
cityofbirth =Chester
countryofbirth =England
currentclub = Retired
position = Centre Back
years = 1972-731974-771978-791980-821982-831983-8919901991-94 1994-9519951995-971997-00
clubs = Chester Luton TownManchester City Oldham AthleticDerby CountyBarnsleyHalifax TownGrimsby TownDundalkDroylsdenGresley RoversSouthport
caps(goals) = 020 (0)131 (1)037 (0)098 (1)035 (0)230 (0)015 (0)132 (0)00? (?)
00? (?)00? (?)00? (?)
nationalyears = 1976-78
nationalteam = England Under-21s | nationalcaps(goals) = 011 (0)
manageryears = 19951995-971997-002001-022005
managerclubs = DarlingtonGresley Rovers (player)Southport (player)Stalybridge CelticAshton United |Paul Futcher (born
September 25 ,1956 inChester ,England ) is a former professional footballer who had a distinguished career as defender in the English football league, for England under 21s and as manager of several non-league clubs. Futcher is also the father of fellow footballerBen Futcher .Playing career
Futcher was the defensive half of twin brothers. His brother was centre-forward Ron. Paul was the most expensive defender in England when he became Manchester City's record signing for £350,000 on June 1 1978. [ [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=769 Paul Futcher] at Sporting-Heroes.net]
Paul began his career with hometown club Chester, who he made his debut for as a 16-year old against
Cambridge United in March 1973. This came just a fortnight after his older brother Graham had played his final game for the club and seven months before Ron made his debut for the Blues. Futcher quickly turned professional and had made 20Football League appearances when Luton Town snapped him up up for £100,000 in the summer of 1974. Ron joined him on the journey south, where Paul was to play more than 140 games and won ten England under 21 caps. On July 1 1979 he leftMaine Road for a fee of £150,000 and joined Second DivisionOldham Athletic .Futcher had twice been chosen for the England squad and each time a road accident had put paid to him fulfilling the invitation. [ [http://www.grimsby-townfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0,,10417~335279,00.html Official Grimsby Town site] Paul Futcher profile]
Grimsby Town
Paul was signed from
Halifax Town reserves, aged 34, byAlan Buckley for £10,000 as a short term replacement forAndy Tillson . He went on to be a fans favourite for 5 seasons, winning the Supporters Player of the Year twice in that time. Then his sonBen Futcher joined the club for there League Two play-off final season of 2005–06 before he left for Peterborough United.Dundalk
Futcher played in
UEFA Cup Qualifying Round against Malmo.Huddersfield New College
Paul is currently coaching both male and female academy sides at
Huddersfield New College who has started the careers of players such as Zoe Barrett andBirmingham City strikerCameron Jerome .Management
Gresley Rovers
Paul lead Rovers to the Dr. Martens Premier Division championship in 1997, unfortunately there was no promotion to Conference due to ground not being up to standard.
Southport
The highlight of his two-and-a-half year stint with Southport was the club’s
FA Trophy final outing in 1998, where at 41; Futcher became the oldest player to appear in a competitiveWembley final.The Sandgrounders narrowly lost to
Cheltenham Town , and the remainder of the former Manchester City man’s Haig Avenue tenure was blemished by successful relegation scraps.Ashton United
Paul was unable to save the Robins from relegation to the
UniBond League . He subsequently failed to motivate the squad (using nearly 50 players in 10 months) and left in December 2005.Honours
As a player
Grimsby Town
*Third Division third place: 1990–91
*Grimsby Town Supporters Player of the Year: 1992, 1993As a player manager
"'Gresley Rovers
*Dr. Martens Premier Division winner: 1996–97"'Southport
*FA Trophy runner-up: 1997–98References
External links
*soccerbase|id=2701|name=Paul Futcher
*soccerbase (manager)|id=1008|name=Paul Futcher
* [http://www.gresleyrovers.com/players/details.php?ID=299 Gresley Rovers career details]
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