Paul Steven Wanless (born 14 December 1973) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Oxford United, Lincoln City and Cambridge United.[3]

Paul Wanless
Personal information
Full name Paul Steven Wanless[1]
Date of birth (1973-12-14) 14 December 1973 (age 50)
Place of birth Banbury, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Oxford United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1995 Oxford United 32 (0)
1995–1996 Lincoln City 8
1996 Woking (loan) 0
1996–2003 Cambridge United 285 (50)
2003–2005 Oxford United 65 (10)
2005–2007 Forest Green Rovers 38 (10)
2007–2009 Llanelli[2] 7 (0)
2010– Oxford City 0 (0)
Managerial career
2007 Forest Green Rovers (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Wanless was born in Banbury. He began his career as a trainee at Oxford United, coming through the ranks to make a handful of first team appearances before moving to Lincoln City in 1995 on a free transfer. His chances with Lincoln were limited and he spent some time out on loan at non-league side Woking.[3]

Wanless then left Lincoln and moved to Cambridge United, where he made nearly 350 appearances in all competitions over a seven-year period[3] and became club captain. A return to his first club, Oxford United, in 2003 saw him make more than 60 appearances in his last spell in the Football League.[3]

In 2005 Wanless then moved to Conference National side Forest Green Rovers where he was a pivotal part of Rovers' successful relegation battle, finishing the season as top scorer despite playing in midfield. As a result, he was voted supporters' player of the year.

Wanless joined Southern Football League Premier Division side Oxford City as a player coach in June 2010.[4]

Managerial career

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Wanless had a short spell as caretaker manager of Forest Green in 2007 when Gary Owers left the club, during which he took control of two matches, both drawn. After spending a season as assistant to the new manager, Jim Harvey, he left Forest Green in May 2007 and moved to the Welsh Premier League as player-coach at Llanelli.[5] He was then made assistant manager, and coached the side in the Uefa Champions League in a qualifying match against the Latvian champions, FK Ventspils, but left the club after two years when manager Andy Legg appointed Steve Jenkins as his assistant.[6]

Honours

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Cambridge United

References

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  1. ^ "Paul Wanless 1995/96". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  2. ^ "Welsh Premier career details for Paul Wanless". Welsh Premier League. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d "Paul Wanless". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Paul Wanless agrees Oxford City deal". BBC Sport. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  5. ^ Phillips, Terry (17 June 2007). "Reds head to Lithuania for InterToto Cup". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  6. ^ "Ex Welsh Cap Jenkins Named Legg's Assistant". Welsh Premier League. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  7. ^ Fletcher, Paul (24 March 2002). "Blackpool lift LDV Vans Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
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