Harrison: Paul Anthony (Paul)

2005-2005 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details) (Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Liverpool: 18-12-1984

Debut: Nil

5’11” 11st 3lb (2007)

Harrison attended Liverpool’s youth academy but never made a first team appearance despite appearing on the bench on several occasions. He comes from a family of dedicated Liverpool supporters. His father Stephen and Uncle Gary died in the Hillsborough disaster when he was four years old. Their son and nephew's professional football career, starting at Liverpool, is perhaps a tribute to them. Harrison was a regular for the Reserve team but never made a first team appearance for the club despite being on the bench thirteen times. Harrison had a good local following at reserve level and gave a number of ‘man of the match’ performances for the team. The promising goalkeeper was due to be released in the summer of 2004, but his progress guaranteed him an extra year at Liverpool, however, he was eventually released after that period had passed. Paul Harrison joined Leeds as part of the deal that took Scott Carson to Liverpool on 21st January 2005. It was agreed that Harrison should be on loan for a month as cover for the lack of goalkeepers that Leeds suffered at that time. He duly fulfilled that commitment, and was on the bench as a substitute goalkeeper for the games at Stoke City, at Derby County and at home to Brighton, in his time on loan. He had a short spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers before signing for Chester City, where he had been on trial a few months earlier. In a three month spell he made four consecutive appearances in the League in March 2006, the highlight being saving a penalty in a local derby with Wrexham. However, Harrison was dropped to the bench when regular goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie returned to fitness and he did not play again. He joined Hereford United on non-contract terms as goalkeeping cover, and came on as a substitute against Stockport County. Soon afterwards he left after Hereford signed another goalkeeper. He had then found himself at Southport as understudy to Ryan Robinson, following the departure of long-serving Steve Dickinson. After loan keeper Robinson left, Harrison became the first team 'keeper at Southport. However, he was released by the club in May 2007, after making seventeen starts and two games from the bench. Harrison joined The New Saints in the Welsh League in July 2007 to answer an SOS call when the Saints had a goalkeeping crisis following Ged Doherty's injury prior to the 2007 Champions League games. He played and impressed in the Saints' friendly match against Gretna a few days after signing for the club. He has established himself as the club’s first choice goalkeeper, making a total of two hundred and thirteen starts and one substitute appearance in all games to the end of February in the 2011-12 season. These comprise one hundred and fifty-six in the Welsh Premier League, fourteen in the Welsh Cup, one in the Shropshire Senior Cup, seventeen in the League Cup, one in the FAW Premier Cup, sixteen in European competitions and eight starts and one substitute appearance in Friendlies.