Roy Paul
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Roy Paul | ||
| Date of birth | 18 April 1920 | ||
| Place of birth | Ton Pentre, Glamorgan, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 21 May 2002 (aged 82) | ||
| Place of death | Wales | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ton Boys | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1939–1950 | Swansea Town | 159 | (11) |
| 1950–1957 | Manchester City | 270 | (9) |
| 1957–1960 | Worcester City | ||
| 1960 | Brecon Corinthians | ||
| 1960–1961 | Garw Athletic | ||
| National team | |||
| 1949–1956 | Wales | 33 | (1) |
| Teams managed | |||
| Worcester City | |||
| – | Brecon Corinthians | ||
| – | Garw Athletic | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Roy Paul (18 April 1920 – 21 May 2002) was a Welsh footballer who played as a half-back for Swansea Town and Manchester City. He also represented the Welsh national team over 30 times and is regarded as one of Wales' best ever players.
Brought up in the Rhondda Valley, Paul became a miner after leaving school, but an offer of a professional contract from Swansea gave him the opportunity to leave the colliery. His football career was then disrupted by Second World War, during which he was a physical training instructor. After the war, Paul made his League debut, and spent four years playing first team football for Swansea, winning the Third Division South championship in 1948–49. Transfer listed after an abortive move to Colombian club Millonarios, Paul joined Manchester City for £19,500 in June 1950.
At Manchester City Paul spent seven years as captain, leading the club to successive FA Cup finals in 1955 and 1956, losing the first and winning the second. In 1957 he became player-manager of Worcester City, and subsequently wound down his career in his native South Wales, becoming a lorry driver. He died in 2002 aged 82.
Paul was born on 18 April 1920 in Ton Pentre, Glamorgan, in the valleys of South Wales, and was one of 12 children. He attended Bronllwyn School in Gelli. Paul left school at 15, and like many boys from the Rhondda Valley he became a miner. While playing football for Ton Boys Club he was spotted by Swansea Town, for whom he signed first as an amateur, and then a month later as a professional. The Swansea captain was Bill Imrie, a former Scotland international. Paul named Imrie as a strong influence in his early career, particularly for instructing him in the fundamentals of good wing-half play. Paul played for Swansea's junior sides, but just as he was approaching the fringes of the first team, the league was suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World War.
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