Leigh Granville Palin (born 12 September 1965) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Bradford City, Burnley, Hull City, Rochdale, Shrewsbury Town and Stoke City.[1] His father, Granville, was also a professional footballer.[3]

Leigh Palin
Personal information
Full name Leigh Granville Palin[1]
Date of birth (1965-09-12) 12 September 1965 (age 59)[1]
Place of birth Worcester, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1985 Aston Villa 0 (0)
1984–1985Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2 (0)
1985–1986 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
1985–1986 South China (HK) 16 (9)
1986–1989 Bradford City 71 (10)
1989–1990 Stoke City 19 (3)
1990–1992 Hull City 57 (7)
1992Rochdale (loan) 3 (0)
1992 Burnley 1 (0)
1992–1993 Partick Thistle 5 (0)
1993 Tadcaster Albion
Total 158 (20)
International career
1985 England U19 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in Worcester, he started his career with Aston Villa. He never played a league game for Aston Villa, and following a short loan spell with Shrewsbury Town, he moved to Nottingham Forest, where he also failed to reach the first team. After a short stint in Hong Kong where he played for South China A.A., scoring 9 goals in 16 appearances, he moved to Bradford City, where his career took off and in three season with the "Bantams" Palin played 94 matches, scoring thirteen goals and also played in the Second Division play-off against Middlesbrough in the 1987–88 season.

He then joined Mick Mills at Stoke City in 1989–90 but Stoke were having a terrible season and were well on their way to relegation and Mills was sacked in November 1989 and in came Alan Ball.[1] Ball made a large number of changes to the squad in an attempt to avoid the drop and in March Palin was allowed to leave for Hull City.[1] He spent three years at Hull and had a brief loan spell with Rochdale followed by a short spell at Burnley, before he moved to Scottish football with Partick Thistle. He dropped into non-league football with Tadcaster Albion.

Career statistics

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Source:[4]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 1983–84 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 1984–85 Second Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Nottingham Forest 1985–86 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bradford City 1986–87 Second Division 21 3 3 0 1 0 2 0 27 3
1987–88 Second Division 20 3 1 0 4 0 4 0 29 3
1988–89 Second Division 30 4 2 0 4 1 2 2 38 7
Total 71 10 6 0 9 1 8 2 94 13
Stoke City 1989–90 Second Division 19 3 0 0 2 0 2 0 23 3
Hull City 1989–90 Second Division 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
1990–91 Second Division 35 5 1 0 3 0 1 0 40 5
1991–92 Second Division 13 1 2 0 1 0 2 1 18 2
Total 57 7 3 0 4 0 3 1 67 8
Rochdale (loan) 1991–92 Fourth Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Burnley 1992–93 Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career Total 153 20 9 0 15 1 13 3 190 24
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs, Football League Trophy and Full Members' Cup.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. ^ "Tributes paid to former Walsall and Wolves defender Granville Palin". Express and Star. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  4. ^ Leigh Palin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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  • Leigh Palin at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database