Paul Ifill
Ifill playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2009
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Everton Ifill | ||
| Date of birth | 20 October 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Brighton, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Winger / Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
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Current team
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Tasman United | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Watford | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–1998 | Saltdean United | 25 | (5) |
| 1998–2005 | Millwall | 238 | (40) |
| 2005–2007 | Sheffield United | 42 | (9) |
| 2007–2009 | Crystal Palace | 61 | (9) |
| 2009–2014 | Wellington Phoenix | 106 | (33) |
| 2014–2015 | Team Wellington | 8 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Hawke's Bay United | 8 | (3) |
| 2016– | Tasman United | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 2004–2008 | Barbados | 10 | (6) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 April 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 February 2010 |
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Paul Everton Ifill (born 20 October 1979) is a footballer who plays for Tasman United of the New Zealand Football Championship. Born in Brighton, England, Ifill was in part of Watford's youth programme but was not offered a professional contract and moved to non-league Saltdean United. From there he was spotted by Millwall where he spent nearly seven years before being signed by Sheffield United in 2005. After two season with the Blades he transferred to Crystal Palace where he spent a further two seasons, before moving to New Zealand to play for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League, where he played from 2009 – 2014, until being forced into early retirement due to injury. Ifill has also made ten appearances for Barbados, scoring six goals. He now resides in the Wairarapa, as player/coach for Wairarapa United, alongside his two Paul Ifill Football Academies (P.I.F.A.) based in Masterton and Nelson.
After rejection from Watford's youth team as a 16-year-old, Ifill returned to his home town, Brighton. He enrolled on a physical education course at college and played non-League football in the same Saltdean United team as his father.
Jeff Burnidge and Mick Beard scouted Ifill following a tip from a former Millwall player, and Millwall signed him as a centre-forward.
After he suffered injury at a crucial time between contracts, manager Billy Bonds gave him just one month to prove himself. Ifill responded by scoring four goals the next Saturday and two more the following week.
Injuries led to Millwall switching him to midfield, but a recurring back-injury prevented him from sprinting, a basic requirement for a winger. Despite seeing a number of different specialists, he was out for three months, and seemed in danger of having to end his career. Fortunately, a Harley Street consultant diagnosed a pelvic flaw pressing on a nerve: the day after treatment he was able to sprint again. He was a member of the team that reached the 2004 FA Cup Final, where they lost to Manchester United 3–0.
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