- Paul Blades
Infobox Football biography
playername = Paul Blades
fullname = Paul Andrew Blades
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1965|01|05
cityofbirth =Peterborough
countryofbirth =England
height = height|ft=6|in=0
position = Defender
years = 1982–1990
1990–1992
1992–1995
1995–1997
1997–1998
clubs = fc|Derby County
fc|Norwich City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
fc|Rotherham United
Hednesford Town
caps(goals) = 166 (1)
047 (0)
107 (2)
043 (2)
00? (?)Paul Andrew Blades (b.
5 January 1965 inPeterborough ) is an English former professional footballer. He was a defender who played for Derby County, Norwich City, Wolves and Rotherham United.Career
Blades began his career as a trainee at fc|Derby County , making his league debut as a 17 year-old on
18 September 1982 in a 2-1 defeat at afc|Leeds United. He remained with the club throughout the 1980s, enduring relegation to Division Three but also two successive promotions that took him to the top flight. After three seasons at the highest level, he finally left theBaseball Ground for fc|Norwich City.At the time of his transfer to Norwich in the summer of 1990, he was the club's record signing at £700,000, and went on to make 62 appearances for the Canaries over two seasons. In his final season he helped Norwich reach the semi-finals of the
FA Cup , where defeat to second flight Sunderland prevented them from reaching the final for the first time in their history.He joined Second Division Wolves in August 1992 for £325,000. He made 117 appearances for the Midlanders in total during a three-season spell. His final season saw the club qualify for the play-offs, but they lost to Bolton.
Blades was sold after this failure to win promotion to third flight fc|Rotherham United for £110,000, making him their record signing at the time. However, his second season saw the club relegated and he was released, whereupon he joined Conference side Hednesford Town.
References
*"Canary Citizens" by Mark Davage, John Eastwood, Kevin Platt, published by Jarrold Publishing, (2001), ISBN 0-7117-2020-7
External links
*Soccerbase|722|Paul Blades
* [http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/blades.htm Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk]
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