Paul Canoville
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Kenneth Canoville | ||
| Date of birth | 4 March 1962 | ||
| Place of birth | Southall, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1979–1981 | Hillingdon Borough | ||
| 1981–1986 | Chelsea | 79 | (11) |
| 1986–1987 | Reading | 16 | (4) |
| 1988–19?? | Enfield | ||
| 19??–19?? | Maidenhead United | ||
| 19??–19?? | Burnham | ||
| 1992–1993 | Northwood | 10 | (0) |
| 19??–19?? | Egham Town | ||
| Total | 105+ | (15+) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Paul Kenneth Canoville (born 4 March 1962) is an English former professional footballer.
He was signed by Chelsea from Hillingdon Borough in 1981, and went on to win the Second Division title with the club in 1983–84. However, he was more notable as the first black player to play for Chelsea, and for the negative reception he received from the racist elements of Chelsea supporters. He was sold to Reading for £60,000 in August 1986, before retiring due to a serious knee injury the following year. He later had spells with non-league clubs Enfield, Maidenhead United, Northwood, and Egham Town. After retiring he beat crack cocaine addiction and cancer, and penned an award-winning autobiography in 2008.
Paul Kenneth Canoville was born to Udine Patricia "Patsy" Lake on 4 March 1962 at 10 Albert Road, Southall. His mother emigrated to England from Anguilla and his father had come from the Commonwealth of Dominica. His mother raised him and his sister June alone, as his father had no interest in raising a family. As a teenager he played truant from school and was sent to three months in borstal after he became involved in petty crime. When his mother moved in with her boyfriend in Slough in 1979 Canovile slept rough and in hostels, and at one hostel was falsely accused of rape.
Canoville started out playing semi-professionally for Southern League side Hillingdon Borough, and slept in an abandoned car as he had nowhere to stay. At Borough he was moved from centre-half to the wings, where his pace was a greater asset. After two successful seasons with the club he had trials with Southampton and Chelsea.
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