Paul is a 6’4” goalkeeper who was born in Beverley in Yorkshire and signed as a professional for Leeds United at 18. He made his first-team debut against Chelsea in 1998 but his appearances were few and far between until he replaced Nigel Martyn after the 2002 World Cup.
He had made 95 Premier League appearances, and scored with a header in a League Cup tie against Swindon Town, by the time he switched to Tottenham Hotspur following Leeds’ relegation in 2004. He was virtually an ever-present with the Londoners in his first three seasons.
Paul was capped 11 times for the Under-21s and made his England senior debut as a substitute for David James in a friendly against Australia at Upton Park on 12 February 2003. He was James’ understudy at EURO 2004 but was almost immovable in England’s goal from the following September onwards, starting 36 out of 39 internationals that included all five during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
He got a goal for Spurs too, firing a free-kick over Watford’s Ben Foster, and won the League Cup with them in 2008 before becoming Paul Ince’s first signing at Blackburn Rovers.
