Members News: Paul Hall Is 51 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’ To Our Ex Sky Blue Forward!
Paul Hall in the Sky Blue
Birthday Greetings are due to our member, former Sky Blue wide player, Paul Hall. A Mancunian, Paul was born on 3rd July 1972 and is celebrating his 51st birthday .
Paul started out as a Torquay United apprentice, turning pro. in July 1990 though he had already made his league debut the previous season. He helped the Gulls to promotion via the play-offs and made a total of 93 league appearances before a £70k transfer to Portsmouth in March 1993 where he spent five happy seasons.
Eligible to play for Jamaica because of family connections, whilst at Fratton Park, after some impressive displays, Paul got a call up to the national squad for the 1998 World Cup and had a good campaign. In close season 1998, after over 200 appearances and over 40 goals with Pompey, Paul joined City for £300k. However, he ended up making only 13 appearances for the Sky Blues, mostly as a sub, scoring once (v. SouthendUnited in the League Cup) before moving to Walsall in March 2000 after a loan period.
Paul in the Sky Blue
Paul also spent loan spells at Bury, Sheffield United and WBA whilst at Highfield Road. Paul’s long subsequent career has involved a bit of travelling – he has appeared for Rushden & Diamonds, Tranmere Rovers, Chesterfield, Walsall (again), Wrexham on loan and then Conference South outfit Newport County in 2008.
He then joined Midland Football Alliance outfit Stratford Town later the same year before two years later temporarily hanging up his playing boots and moving into coaching initially with Mansfield Town in 2010. A short playing spell with Spalding United filled in time until appointed as assistant manager back at English Conference side Mansfield Town from November 2010 to June 2011. More recently, Paul has helped coach another Conference side Tamworth and, since 2015 has been the senior Professional Development coach at Q.P.R. In a Football League playing career from 1990-2008 Paul amassed nearly 750 games and 125 goals.
Paul Hall (Jamaica)
As a full cap for Jamaica Paul has scored an impressive 14 goals (including his last game) in his 48 appearances for the ‘Reggae Boyz‘ between 1997-2003. Paul has also occasionally assisted the Sky Blues Legends XI in their charity fixtures.In June 2021 Paul accepted a new position with his national team. Now he has taken up a new role as assistant manager to the Jamaica national team, starting with this month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, though he will also keep his current role in charge of Queen’s Park Rangers U23s.
We would love to see him back at CCFPA events when his footballing commitments allow. In the meantime have a great birthday today Paul!
