Paul Cheesley

Paul Martyn Cheesley (b. 20 October 1953 in Bristol) is a former professional footballer.

Cheesley, a striker, began his career with Norwich City, for whom he made his debut as a substitute on 17 November 1971 against Chelsea in a League Cup tie at Carrow Road. His league debut did not come until 2 December 1972 in a 2-0 home defeat against Manchester United.

Cheesley went on to make 24 appearances for Norwich, scoring just one goal on 15 December 1973 in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Carrow Road.

He moved to Bristol City at the end of December 1973 for a fee of £30,000. Initially, Cheesley didn't find life easy at his new club [http://www.theincider.com/backissues/6/features/cheese.php] . It was during City's promotion season of 1975/6 that he formed a strike partnership with Tom Ritchie which produced 33 goals; Cheesley scored 15 of them [http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144913&contentPK=18472549] . THe first game back in the First Division was away to Arsenal at Highbury. City won the game by a goal to nil and Cheesley scored the goal with a header from a Clive Whitehead cross from the right. In the next game against Stoke City Cheesley challenged for a cross into the area with the Stoke goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Cheesley landed with an extended leg and sustained an injury to his knee [http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144913&contentPK=18472549] . Despite an attempted comeback he was forced to retire from league football with just one more appearance to his name [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2800402.ece] . He did however have spells with non-league clubs [http://forums.bristolcityst.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=193&mode=threaded] , most notably, Yeovil Town [http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/history/yeovil-town-story40.asp] .

He is currently a pub landlord in Bristol The Knowle Hotel, Leighton Road. [http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144913&contentPK=18472549] .

References

*"Canary Citizens" by Mike Davage, John Eastwood, Kevin Platt, published by Jarrold Publishing, (2001), ISBN 0-7117-2020-7