Date / Year of birth: 1970*

Position: Striker

Season of first appearance: 1990/91

Season of last appearance: 1994/95

Also played for: Gillingham (0), Dartford, Gravesend & Northfleet, Corinthian, Fisher Athletic, Canterbury City and Varzim (Portugal)

Aggressive blonde striker who started his career as an apprentice at Gillingham. Paul first appeared for the Gills' youth team during 1986/87 and he scored seven goals for them that season, often playing alongside future Thanet United striker Karl Rolls. In the summer of 1987 Paul scored in a friendly against Thanet at Hartsdown Park and in October 1987 Gillingham loaned him to Dartford.

Paul scored five goals in eight appearances (four as sub) for the Darts before returning to Priestfield in December. Later that month he was sent on loan again, this time to Gravesend & Northfleet. Paul played for the Fleet in their 0-0 draw against Thanet at Hartsdown on 1.1.88 and scored four goals in 20 appearances (two as sub) before the end of 1987/88.

Paul was released by Gillingham in the summer of 1988 and joined Corinthian where one of his team-mates was future Margate goalkeeper Lee Turner. Paul was Corinthian's top scorer for 1989/90 and in May 1990 he signed for Margate.

Paul made his debut on the opening day of the 1990/91 season and when he scored in the 2-2 draw at Witney on 18.8.90 it was a taste of what was to come. On 25.8.90 he scored a great goal in a 2-2 draw with Burnham at Hartsdown, cutting inside from the left and beating three defenders before firing into the top corner from 20 yards. Paul celebrated with what became his trademark somersault. On 15.9.90 he scored twice as Margate drew 2-2 with Gravesend in an FA Cup tie at Hartsdown and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said that Paul was "outstanding" in the replay three days later. He scored once and set up another in a 4-1 win and the paper said he "led the home defence a merry dance". On 9.10.90 Paul was on target twice in a 3-1 home win over his old club Corinthian and on 20.10.90 he scored a brilliant solo goal in a 2-1 win over Bromley in an FA Trophy tie at Hartsdown, running from the halfway line before slotting home. The Thanet Times said that Paul was a "constant threat" during a 3-1 home win over Witney on 24.11.90. He scored one of the goals and the match report praised his "rare turn of speed". The same paper wrote that Paul "led the home strike force with a rare dash" during a 2-1 home defeat against Yate on 22.12.90 and said that he was "always a threat" and "a real terrier when in possession" during a 1-0 home win over Hythe on 29.12.90.

By the end of 1990 Paul had scored 14 goals and he started 1991 in fine style too. He scored in a 1-1 draw with Hastings at Hartsdown on New Years Day and his performance prompted high praise from the Isle of Thanet Gazette. The paper reported that Paul "yet again made his presence felt in the penalty area" and described him as being "surely one of the most determined centre-forwards in the league (who) invariably troubles the best of defences". From 23.2.91 to 10.3.91 inclusive Paul enjoyed a real purple patch, scoring in five consecutive matches. He started off by getting both goals in a 2-2 draw at Salisbury and then bagged a hat-trick in a 4-3 home win over Erith & Belvedere on 26.2.91. It was his first treble for the club. On 2.3.91 he scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Fareham at Hartsdown and then on 6.3.91 he got two in a 3-0 win at Canterbury. Paul rounded off his excellent run with a goal in a 2-2 home draw with Trowbridge on 10.3.91 that took his tally to ten in five games. Paul struggled for goals after his prolific spell ended and although the Thanet Times praised him for being a "bonny battler" during a 1-1 draw with Newport IOW on 6.4.91 that was one of a run of eight games without a goal for him. Paul's scoring drought finally ended on 27.4.91 when he found the net with a full-length diving header in a 3-2 win over Sudbury at Hartsdown. It was his 26th goal of the season which comfortably made him Margate's top scorer. No other player managed a double figure tally. Paul was ever-present during the campaign, making 54 appearances, and deservedly won the Supporters 'Player of the Year' award.

He was in good form during Margate's friendlies ahead of the 1991/92 season and scored three goals in all. On 17.8.91, the opening day of the new campaign, Paul got the Margate goal in a 2-1 home defeat against Burnham and played in the first four games of the season without scoring again. At the end of August 1991 he was sold to Fisher Athletic and the undisclosed fee that Margate received was rumoured to be £6,000 - a club record at the time if correct. Manager Tommy Taylor explained the transfer to the Thanet Extra, saying "Paul had a great season last year but had only scored once so far this term and I need a better average than that from a striker".

In November 1991 Paul played for Fisher in an amazing game against Dorchester, scoring an own goal and then getting Fisher's sixth goal in a 6-5 win but he generally struggled to make an impact for the London club. In March 1992 Fisher loaned Paul back to Margate and new manager Lee Smelt told the Isle of Thanet Gazette that he was "a good player with a big heart".

Paul made the first appearance of his loan spell when he came on as a substitute in a 0-0 draw at Dunstable on 7.3.92 and the Gazette said he was "certainly not match fit". Smelt told the paper "clearly he has some neat touches and I would like to think he has a future at Hartsdown Park but it is really down to him". Paul went on to make five further appearances (two of them as a sub) without scoring before the end of 1991/92 campaign. The last time he featured was on 5.5.92 when he came on as a substitute in a 3-1 home defeat against Ramsgate in the annual Isle of Thanet Gazette Cup match and Paul finished the season having scored once in ten appearances (three as sub).

He was released by Fisher in the summer of 1992 and rejoined Gravesend & Northfleet for the start of the 1992/93 campaign. Paul made three appearances for the Fleet without scoring before moving on to Canterbury in October 1992.

He scored 16 goals in 32 games for City during 1992/93, including a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Margate at Kingsmead on 26.12.92, and won the club's 'Supporters Player of the Year' award for the season.

In the summer of 1993 Paul joined Portuguese 2nd Division club Varzim on a two-year contract but he returned to England at the end of the 1993/94 campaign and rejoined Margate in July 1994.

The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "a tall and robust player with sharp finishing skills" and Paul scored three times in pre-season friendlies. On 20.8.94, the opening day of the 1994/95 campaign, he made his first competitive appearance in a 3-1 win over Bashley at Hartsdown Park and on 24.8.94 Paul scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Wealdstone at Yeading. After featuring in a 2-0 home defeat against Waterlooville on 27.8.94 he missed four matches through injury before returning for a 2-0 defeat against visitors Yeading in an FA Trophy tie on 17.9.94. Paul played once more, scoring in a 3-1 win over Tonbridge at Hartsdown on 20.9.94, but left Margate a few weeks later having scored twice in only five appearances. The Gazette said he had been "palpably unfit from the outset".

Paul dropped out of senior football after his departure from Hartsdown Park.