Paul Dillon (footballer)

Last updated

Paul Dillon
Personal information
Full name Paul Dillon
Date of birth (1978-10-22) 22 October 1978 (age 44)
Place of birth Limerick, Ireland
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1996–2001 Rotherham United 75 (2)
2002 Alfreton Town ? (?)
2004–2006 Maltby Main ? (?)
International career
Republic of Ireland U21
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Dillon (born 22 October 1978) is an Irish retired soccer-player who played over 100 first-team games in The Soccer-League and other competitions for Rotherham United, and, following a serious injury that derailed his career, Non-League-soccer for Alfreton Town and Maltby Main. [1]

Having come to prominence by excelling in the Kennedy Cup competition for the Limerick District Schoolboy League selection, Dillon was the only Limerick player chosen to play for the Republic of Ireland u-15 team in the 1993/94 season, winning his first international cap against Austria. At this point he was still playing for Geraldines, the famous nursery club in Limerick, where he was renowned for his flying runs up the left flank and his excellent set-piece ability. Dillon was the stand-out player in what was called "The Dream Team", a crack Geraldines side put together in an attempt to win the national (Evans) cup competition (but who lost surprisingly to New Ross, of Wexford, in the last eight. In 1995, Dillon had a successful trial with Rotherham United FC and moved over to England. Despite some tempestuous displays in the reserve team, including a fist-fight with Coventry City's former Benfica star Isiais, Dillon quickly broke into the first team at Millmoor and - by the latter part of the 1996/97 season, he was a regular at left-back in the first team. He scored an outrageous goal from 50 yards against Gillingham which brought him back to the notice of the Ireland scouts. Accordingly, Dillon was included in the Republic of Ireland national under-19 football team for the 1997 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship finals in Iceland, and played all of the games in that tournament as the first choice at left-back. Dillon also went on to win one cap for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team, playing against the Czech Republic in a friendly in Olomouc in March 1998. Serious injury prevented him from winning any other international caps. Dillon was a first team regular for Rotherham for three and a half seasons, and had attracted notice from scouts of teams at Premiership and Championship level, before serious injury struck and Dillon drifted out of the professional game.

Dillon's potential was recognized by the developers of the famous Championship Manager computer-game. In the 1997/98 version of the game, Paul Dillon was one of the players with most potential. He was regularly included in lists of most valuable players and smartest buys for that version of the game.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Staunton</span> Irish footballer

Stephen Staunton is an Irish football manager, scout and former professional footballer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limerick F.C.</span> Football club

Limerick Football Club was an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland who played in the League of Ireland and currently have teams competing in the underage National League of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Douglas</span> Irish association football player

Jonathan Michael Douglas is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at international level.

Michael Alphonsus "Al" Finucane was an Irish football player. During his 28-year career he played for League of Ireland sides Limerick, Waterford United and Newcastlewest. Finucane was also a member of several Republic of Ireland national football team squads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Kelly (footballer, born 1983)</span> Irish footballer

Stephen Michael David Kelly is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a right back. He was part of the team that secured the Republic of Ireland's qualification for UEFA Euro 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Frecklington</span> British footballer (born 1985)

Lee Craig Frecklington is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Ritchie (footballer, born 1975)</span> Scottish footballer (born 1975)

Paul Simon Ritchie is a Scottish football coach and former professional player. Ritchie started his playing career with Heart of Midlothian (Hearts), making 133 league appearances for the club and helping it win the Scottish Cup in 1998. He played for several clubs after leaving Hearts during the 1999–2000 season. Ritchie made seven appearances for the Scotland national football team between 1999 and 2004, scoring one goal. Since retiring as a player he has worked as a football coach, as assistant coach with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer and for San Diego, the LA Galaxy-affiliated youth soccer club.

Dave Henderson, is an Irish former professional footballer goalkeeper who played in the League of Ireland from 1978 until his retirement in 1998. He also played two seasons in the North American Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Green (footballer, born 1983)</span> Association football player

Paul Jason Green is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Con Martin</span>

Cornelius Joseph Martin was an Irish footballer. Martin initially played Gaelic football for the Dublin county team before switching codes and embarking on a successful soccer career, playing for, among others, Drumcondra, Glentoran, Leeds United and Aston Villa.

Joe Hanrahan is an Irish former footballer who played during the 1980s and 1990s.

Tommy Kelly was an Irish soccer player during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Tommy Hamilton is a former Irish footballer who played as a forward. He was educated at Synge Street CBS in Dublin.

Seán William Scanlon is a retired Irish rugby union player. He played as a fullback or wing. During his professional career, Scanlon played for his home province Munster, before moving to England and playing for Rotherham, Doncaster and Nottingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Lynch (footballer)</span> Irish association footballer

Lee Lynch is an Irish footballer who plays for NIFL Premiership side Coleraine.

Austin Gleeson is an Irish hurler who plays for Waterford Senior Championship club Mount Sion and at inter-county level with the Waterford senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a centre-forward but can also be deployed as a centre-back. He is the younger brother of Jessica Gleeson, the Republic of Ireland women's national team soccer player.

Chiedozie Ogbene is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Luton Town and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Rianna Lauren Jarrett is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Wexford Youths of the Irish Women's National League, and for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team. A prolific forward, Jarrett was the Women's National League (WNL) Player of the Season in 2018 and 2019.

Dillon Quirke was an Irish hurler who played for Tipperary Senior Championship club Clonoulty–Rossmore and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team.

Ciara Rossiter is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Women's National League club Wexford Youths Women FC. She has been a member of the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She is a left-sided full-back who can also play in midfield.

References

  1. ↑ "Player profile: Paul Dillon". Non-League Daily. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2011.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.