Paul_Harrison_(footballer,_born_1984)

Paul Harrison (footballer, born 1984)

Paul Harrison (footballer, born 1984)

English footballer

For other people with the same name, see Paul Harrison.

Paul Anthony Harrison (born 18 December 1984) is a former English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He most notably played for The New Saints, having spent 15 years with the club.

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He began his career at Liverpool, but did not play a game, and also had a loan to Leeds United and a transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers without playing for either Championship club. After playing five League Two games for Chester City and Hereford United in 2006, he had a season with Southport in the Conference.

Harrison joined The New Saints in 2007 and remained there for over a decade, making over 450 Cymru Premier appearances and winning a number of honours including ten winner's medals for the Welsh Premier League/ Cymru Premier.

Career

Liverpool, Leeds and Wolves

Born in Liverpool, Harrison attended Liverpool's youth academy. He signed a professional contract with the club in May 2004. He never made a first-team appearance, but when second-choice goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was injured, Harrison sat on the substitutes' bench as cover for Jerzy Dudek.[1] His first game on the bench was on 15 May 2004 in the Premier League season finale 1–1 home draw with Newcastle United, which qualified the team for the UEFA Champions League.[2] He was named on the first-team bench thirteen times.[3]

On 21 January 2005, Harrison moved to Championship club Leeds United on a one-month loan as part of the deal that saw fellow goalkeeper Scott Carson transfer permanently in the other direction.[1] Released by Liverpool that summer, Harrison played for Wolverhampton Wanderers's reserves against Blackburn Rovers, and earned a two-month contract with the Championship club on 4 November 2005.[4]

Chester, Hereford and Southport

When Harrison's Wolves contract expired, he joined Chester City of League Two until the end of the season on 24 February 2006;[5] two days earlier while on trial, he saved a penalty in a reserve draw with Tranmere Rovers.[6] He finally made his professional debut on 7 March in a 1–1 home draw with Torquay United during Chris Mackenzie's injury lay-off, with his performance being good enough for Chester to terminate the contract of fellow goalkeeper Stéphane Gillet.[7] He made four consecutive appearances over the month, concluding on 26 March in the Cross-border derby with Wrexham when he saved a penalty from Matt Crowell in a 2–1 away loss.[8] Mackenzie then returned to the Blues' goal, and Harrison played no further part.

After Harrison left Chester, he joined newly promoted League Two team Hereford United. In their first game of the season, a 2–0 win at Stockport County on 5 August, he came on for the last 19 minutes due to Wayne Brown's groin injury.[9] Six days later, he left Edgar Street on a free transfer to Conference National team Southport.[10]

The New Saints

In the summer of 2007, Harrison joined Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints.[11] He signed a new contract with TNS in May 2012.[12]

In June 2016, Harrison was inducted into the Welsh Premier League's Hall of Fame. At the time, his statistics read as 286 league appearances, 6 league titles, 4 Welsh Cups and 5 Welsh League Cups.[13]

In July 2017, Harrison became the Welsh Premier League player with the most European appearances when he surpassed former teammate Phil Baker's 31 in an extra-time win over Gibraltar's Europa.[14]

On 10 January 2020, Harrison made his 400th league appearance for TNS as they won 2–0 at Newtown.[15]

He retired from professional football at the end of the 2021–22 season.[16]

Personal life

When Harrison was four in 1989, his father Gary died aged 27 in the Hillsborough disaster, alongside his uncle Stephen.[17][18] In May 2009 for the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, he captained a Liverpool Legends team in a charity match against celebrities at Anfield.[19]

Honours

New Saints[20]

Individual

References

  1. [1]
    "Carson seals switch to Liverpool". BBC Sport. 21 January 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  2. [2]
    Wilson, Paul (16 May 2004). "Newcastle nerves hold for Europe". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Players - Paul Harrison". LFC History. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. [4]
    "Wolves sign goalkeeper Harrison". BBC Sport. 4 November 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  5. [5]
    "Chester sign Pilgrims man on loan". BBC Sport. 24 February 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  6. [6]
    "Impressed Chester chase signature of Harrison". Chester Live. 23 February 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. [7]
    "Chester pay off released keeper Gillet's contract". Cheshire Live. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  8. [8]
    "Wrexham 2-1 Chester". BBC Sport. 26 March 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  9. [9]
    "Bulls make dream start to league life". Worcester News. 7 August 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  10. [10]
    "Transfer deadline day". BBC Sport. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  11. [11]
    "TNS defeat is no disgrace". Cheshire Live. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  12. [12]
    "Fraughan makes Park Hall move permanent". The New Saints. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
  13. [13]
    Llwyd, Rhys (8 June 2016). "Hall of Fame: Paul Harrison". S4C. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  14. [14]
    White, Barrie (12 July 2007). "The New Saints goalkeeper Paul Harrison is Welsh Premier League's most successful European player". Powys County Times. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  15. [15]
    "We Chat With TNS FC Legend, Paul Harrison, After He Joins The JD Cymru Premier 400 Club". The New Saints F.C. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  16. [16]
    "Saints hero Harrison bows out in style". South Wales Echo. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  17. [17]
    "Hillsborough disaster: TNS goalkeeper Paul Harrison recalls the day he waited for his father who never came home". Shropshire Star. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  18. [18]
    Day, Elizabeth (16 May 2004). "Hillsborough victim's son lines up for Liverpool". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  19. [19]
    "Match marks Hillsborough tragedy". BBC News. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  20. [20]
    Paul Harrison at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  21. [21]
    "Cymru Premier: The New Saints win title with point against Penybont". BBC Sport. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  22. [22]
    "Welsh Cup final: Cefn Druids 0–2 The New Saints". BBC. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  23. [23]
    "Dream team 2012/13". welsh-premier.com. Retrieved 5 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
  24. [24]
    "Dream team 2013/14". welsh-premier.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
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