611 Paul Blackburn

Biography

Goalkeeper Paul Blackburn – not to be confused with 1970s netminder Eddie Blackburn – played in an Associate Members’ Cup tie for City in May 1984 amidst an injury crisis that affected both Tony Norman and John Davies, the club’s two senior keepers at that time. He also played in a friendly against Tampa Bay Rowdies when the USA side visited Hull City in April 1984, then joined City on their reciprocal post-season tour to Florida that summer.

Paul Blackburn was born in Lowestoft on the East Anglian coast and rejected the chance to join Ipswich Town as a youngster in favour of studying French at Hull University, beginning an association with the East Riding and Lincolnshire non-league scene that lasted for a decade. In November 1974 he was retained by Bridlington Town as stand-in goalkeeper while playing for the Hull University XI, which was coached by Hull City first teamer Malcolm Lord. He spent the 1975/76 season living in France as part of his studies and played a handful of reserves matches for Saint Etienne. In November 1976 he joined Yorkshire League side Bridlington Town on a fully registered basis, working under the management of another ex-Tiger Dave King while still completing his studies and helping Hull University win the 1977 British Universities Cup.

In September 1977 Paul had a two week trial at Division Two side Millwall that came to nothing and in January 1978 he switched rivalries and signed for Midland League side Bridlington Trinity – two months later he was chosen to play for a British Universities XI. In November 1979 Blackburn returned to Bridlington Town, having lost his place in the Trinity team after one of his regular holidays in France – by now he had graduated and was teaching in local secondary schools. Paul remained registered to the Midland League with Trinity and occasionally filled in for them when his commitments to Town allowed it. He returned to Bridlington Trinity again in July 1980 but in August 1981 he was lured away from the East Coast and joined Northern Premier League side Gainsborough Trinity.

In July 1982 Paul joined Northern Premier League rivals Goole Town, who were managed by ex-Tiger Stuart Blampey, but after only one season at Goole he returned to Gainsborough Trinity in July 1983 after a difference of opinion about contract terms. In November 1983 Gainsborough reached the FA Cup First Round Proper and Blackburn played in a 0-2 defeat to Division Four side Blackpool, but a few weeks later he was dropped after a heavy defeat to Goole Town. In February 1984 Paul patched up his differences and returned to Goole Town, the club he was serving when he helped out Hull City at the end of the 1983/84 season.

Blackburn returned to Goole Town for the start of the 1984/85 season and continued to mix fine form with niggling injuries and occasional time away for holidays, the pattern he had established over many years. He began the 1985/86 season at Goole but suffered another injury and lost his place. In September 1985 he joined North East Counties League side North Ferriby United but by January 1986 he had returned to Goole Town. In October 1986 his career turned full circle and he returned to the East Coast to sign for Bridlington Trinity, but by February 1987 to lure of Goole Town drew him in once again. In April 1987 he played for Hull City’s Reserves against Manchester United, having played in a friendly for Goole against the Red Devils’ first XI two months earlier.

Now employed as a social worker in Hull, Blackburn talked of reducing his playing time and left Goole Town in the 1987 close season. After starting the 1987/88 season playing local football in Hull for Schultz, Blackburn was once again drawn back into regular football and rejoined Bridlington Town in December 1987 before leaving the club in the 1988 close season. He briefly returned to Bridlington Trinity in the early weeks of the 1989/90 season but a broken leg sustained during a Sunday League match in November 1989 drew his playing days to a temporary halt. He returned to Sunday League football in November 1990 and in March 1991 he briefly served Hall Road Rangers before returning to play in the Hull Sunday League for several more years.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 31 August 1954, Lowestoft
Hull City First Game: 2 May 1984, Sheffield United H (Associate Members Cup Quarter Final), 29 years, 245 days old
Hull City Final Game: 2 May 1984, Sheffield United H (Associate Members Cup Quarter Final), 29 years, 245 days old

Clubs

Bridlington Town (1976-1978), Bridlington Trinity (1978-1979), Bridlington Town (1979-1980), Bridlington Trinity (1980-1981), Gainsborough Trinity (1981-1982), Goole Town (1982-1983), Gainsborough Trinity (1983-84), Goole Town (1984), Hull City (1984), Goole Town (1984-1985), North Ferriby United (1985-1986), Goole Town (1986), Bridlington Trinity (1986-1987), Goole Town (1987), Bridlington Town (1987-1988), Bridlnigton Trinity (1989), Hall Road Rangers (1991)

Hull City Record

Career: 1 apps, 0 goals

Paul Blackburn
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1983/841 (0)0

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