Beesley: Paul

1995-1997 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Central Defender

Born: Liverpool: 21-07-1965

Debut v West Ham United (a) (substitute): 19-08-1995

6’1” 11st 5lb (1995)

He started with Non-League clubs Altrincham and Marine, joining Wigan Athletic in September 1984, where he played against United in the Sixth Round F.A. Cup tie in 1987. He broke both the Wigan record sale and the Leyton Orient record purchase price when he was sold for £175,000 on 20th October 1989. He scored six goals in one hundred and fifty-five League games for Wigan, of which two were from the bench, he also made six starts in the F.A. Cup, thirteen in the League Cup and eleven in other games. Orient made a handsome profit when he was transferred to Sheffield United on 10th July 1990 for £365,000, after he had scored one goal in thirty-two starts in the League, played one F.A. Cup tie without scoring and then scored once in two other games at Brisbane Road. He gave the Blades five years good service, scoring seven times in one hundred and sixty-eight League appearances, of which six were off the bench. He also scored once in eleven F.A. Cup ties, including two as a substitute, made twelve starts and had one game from the bench in the League Cup, without scoring, and scored once in two starts in other games. He joined Leeds on 2nd August 1995 for £250,000 as cover for central defence. He had a handful of games in central defence and also filled in on a couple of occasions at full-back, but was only ever a second choice in case of injuries or unavailability of other defenders. He became surplus to requirements and was sold to Manchester City on 7th February 1997 for £500,000. He was loaned to Port Vale on 26th December 1997 for a month and started five League games for them, and then to West Bromwich Albion from 11th March 1998 to 31st May 1998, making eight starts for them in the League, before being freed to Port Vale on 29th August 1998. He had only played thirteen games at Maine Road and three of those were as a substitute. He scored three goals in thirty-three starts and two games from the bench in the League and also started one F.A. Cup tie, while at Vale Park, and left for Blackpool on 19th May 1999. While at Bloomfield Road he started fifteen League games and played three from the bench, as well as starting one F.A. Cup tie and three other games. He then moved to Chester City on 4th July 2000, where he started thirty-one League games, scored once in four starts in the F.A. Cup and started four other games. He had a spell in August 2001 with Ballymena United but only played four League and one League Cup games, before he returned to England to join Stalybridge Celtic on 18th October 2001, where he finished his career with twenty-six starts in the League, one in the F.A. Cup and one in other games. He had minor coaching jobs with United Under-Eighteen team and earlier at Nottingham Forest and was kit manager with Notts County and Stockport County.