Paul Wormley

Paul Wormley (born September 1961, in Leeds, England) is a former professional footballer. Paul started his serious playing career at Yorkshire Amateurs before playing for the Leeds United youth team. As well as starring at his schools of Gledhow County Primary school and Allerton Grange School Paul played for both Leeds City Boys and Yorkshire County Boys from Under 11 through to Under 16's, with the Yorkshire County side winning the Northern Counties Shield in 1976 and Paul being voted the Man of the Match on the day.

Courted by both Howard Kendall at Blackburn Rovers and Barnsley Paul finally signed a professional contract with Barnsley in 1979 under the former Leeds United and England star Alan Clarke.

Paul made his first team debut shortly after his 18th birthday^[1] and in the following seasons played alongside, the ex-England international star Norman Hunter as well as future international stars Mick McCarthy & David Speedie. Paul later moved to Huddersfield Town in 1980 before being enticed to play in Australia in 1981.

Coming to Australia at only 19, Paul starred for Launceston Juventus in 1981 winning the Tasmanian night series under ken Worden before moving to Townsville Kern United with coach Ken Worden in 1982. Here he won the league's top goal scorer award as well as the league and cup double titles. In 1983, Alan Vest brought Paul to West Adelaide Hellas in the NSL and then in 1984 Alan Vest brought Paul to Western Australia and Floreat Athena. Though the then Australian coach Frank Arok signed Paul for his club St George Cross in Sydney in late 1984 Paul returned to Western Australia where he played from 1985 until 1990.

In these Halcyon days for Floreat Athena they won the league championship and Western Australia cup three years running along with two night series championships and three top four cup titles. Paul was the leading goalscorer for the club for 5 of the 7 seasons he played. He also won the leading league scorer in 1988 and was given the D'Sorgna gold medal award in 1989.

Paul represented the Western Australian State team from 1984 to 1991 playing against Nottingham Forest, Millwall and tours in India and Asia.

In 1990 & 1991 Paul played in Hong Kong for Eastern and also represented Hong Kong against Aston Villa and Thailand in the Hong Kong Cup.

Returning to Western Australia Paul had short spells for Perth Italia, Fremantle United and finally settled at Inglewood United.

Coaching

Paul became the manager/coach of Inglewood United in 1996 and led them in that same year to their first and only league championship after a 35-year abstinence, and thus became the only coach to achieve a league title in his first year as a senior coach in Western Australia.

From 1998 until 2002 Paul also managed/coached the Western Australian State team, playing against such clubs as Red Star Belgrade and visiting national sides as Malaysia. Paul was presented with the Western Australia Coach of the year award in 2001. The start of Perth Glory in 2002 brought to a close the Western Australian State position and Paul retired from the game to concentrate on his business ventures.

Today

Paul now manages his own very successful Australia wide liquor import & wholesale business with its head office in Perth Western Australia called World Brands Australia as well being a director of the well respected 4 star Margaret River Resort in Margaret River.

References