Paul Arnison

Paul Arnison
Personal information
Full name Paul Simon Arnison
Date of birth (1977-09-18) 18 September 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Hartlepool, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive Midfielder
Youth career
1993–1998 Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Newcastle United 0 (0)
2000 → Hartlepool United (loan) 1 (0)
2000–2003 Hartlepool United 79 (4)
2003–2008 Carlisle United 121 (1)
2008–2009 Bradford City 27 (0)
2009–2012 Darlington 89 (3)
2012–2013 Celtic Nation
2013–2015 Sunshine Coast 47 (1)
Total 364 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Simon Arnison (born 18 September 1977) is an English former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He last played for National Premier League Queensland club Sunshine Coast FC, where he was also employed as a coach.[2]

He is a former Newcastle United trainee, who has also played for his hometown club Hartlepool United, as well as Carlisle United, Bradford City, Darlington and Celtic Nation.

Club career

Early career

Born in Hartlepool, Arnison started his career at Newcastle United, where failed to make an appearance. He joined his hometown club Hartlepool United firstly on loan, then after joining on a permanent basis he scored on his home debut at Victoria Park.

Hartlepool United

During the 2001–02 season, Arnison was limited to 19 league games,[3] but helped Hartlepool to reach the play-off semi-finals. Arnison scored his first goal of the season during the play-off semi-final second leg against Cheltenham Town. However, after the result finished 2–2 on aggregate, Arnison and Hartlepool were knocked out on penalties.[4] During the summer, Arnison signed a contract extension, along with fellow defender Chris Westwood and top goalscorer Gordon Watson, to stay at Hartlepool for another season.[5] Arnison was offered another deal at the end of the following season by new boss Mike Newell after Pools had secured promotion to Division Two.[6]

Carlisle United

However, after just over three years with Hartlepool, he joined Carlisle United in October 2003 on a three-month loan. He signed a full contract with Carlisle at the end of this loan deal[7] but was relegated with Carlisle to the Conference National in his first season but managed to secure back-to-back promotions to see Carlisle playing their football in League One in 2006. Arnison played more than 100 league and cup games for Carlisle signing new contract extensions at the end of the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons.[8][9] Just five months later, Arnison signed a further 12-month contract extension, keeping him at Carlisle until June 2008.[10] He made the right back position his own, but he has competition at the right back position with David Raven joining Carlisle United. Arnison started in Carlisle's 2–1 first leg play-off victory over Leeds United on 12 May 2008.[11] But he missed their second leg defeat three days later, and on 16 May 2008, Arnison was one of three players to be released by manager John Ward.[12]

Bradford City

He earned interest for a number of clubs,[13] before he signed a two-year contract at League Two side Bradford City on 18 June 2008.[14] He was one of four Bradford players to make his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season against Notts County. Arnison made Bradford's first goal for Peter Thorne, was booked and was substituted in the second half, as Bradford won 2–1.[15] Arnison started the first seven games of the season before he was substituted against AFC Bournemouth because of an injury; it was later diagnosed as a muscle tear, which gave TJ Moncur the chance to deputise at right back.[16] He failed to win his place back in the team until he returned in December for a 2–1 defeat at Brentford.[17]

During the summer of 2009, his manager Stuart McCall signed two new full backs, Simon Ramsden and Jonathan Bateson, leaving Arnison surplus to requirements at Bradford.[18]

Darlington and non-league

Paul was asked to find a new club and had a trial with League Two rivals Darlington playing 40 minutes of a friendly against Sunderland.[19] He played in another pre-season friendly, and along with fellow Bradford defender Mark Bower, he joined Darlington following his release from Bradford City.[20][21] Darlington suffered financial difficulties during Arnison's time at the club and his contract was terminated on 16 January 2012, along with the rest of the playing squad and caretaker manager Craig Liddle.[22] The following day, a rescue bid led to the reinstatement of many of the club's players including Arnison. At end of the season, Arnison left the club as Darlington were relegated to the Northern Football League and reformed as Darlington 1883.

During his time at Darlington, Arnison played a part in Darlington's 2011 FA Trophy victory.[23]

Arnison dropped back into Non-league football, joining Celtic Nation during the 2012–13 close season break[24] where he joined up with his former teammates Adam Boyd, Graeme Lee and Jeff Smith.

Emigration to Australia

Arnison left Celtic Nation in early January 2013 to emigrate to Australia,[25] Arnison stated his intention to continue playing in Australia, with former teammate Michael Bridges helping him find a club in the minor leagues,[25] where he became a player-coach for National Premier Leagues Queensland side Sunshine Coast. he later become manager of the team, but resigned one week out from the start of the 2016 season.

Personal life

Arnison is married to Amanda, who works as a nurse practitioner and the couple have two sons; Harry and Alfie. Alfie previously captained Brisbane Roar FC Youth and currently plays in England for Blyth Spartans.[26] He is related through marriage to the boxer Savannah Marshall.[27]

Honours

Hartlepool United

Carlisle United

Darlington

References

  1. ^ "Name: Paul Arnison". darlington-fc.net. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Fire stalwart likes the look of club's first 11".
  3. ^ "Paul Arnison 2001–02". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  4. ^ "Play-off joy for Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 30 April 2002. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Westwood's new deal". BBC Sport. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Pool part with Widdrington". BBC Sport. 15 May 2003. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  7. ^ "Arnison completes switch". BBC Sport. 2 February 2004. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  8. ^ "Carlisle pair sign new contracts". BBC Sport. 8 June 2005. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  9. ^ "Arnison set to stay at Carlisle". BBC Sport. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  10. ^ "Carlisle duo sign new contracts". BBC Sport. 12 October 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  11. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (12 May 2008). "Leeds 1–2 Carlisle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  12. ^ "Ward releases three at Carlisle". BBC Sport. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
  13. ^ Parker, Simon (18 June 2008). "Arnison interested in City move". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
  14. ^ "Bradford City seal Arnison switch". BBC Sport. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
  15. ^ "Bradford 2–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  16. ^ Parker, Simon (25 September 2008). "I'll be back, vows Arny". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  17. ^ Parker, Simon (19 December 2008). "Arnison aims to hit a home run". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  18. ^ Parker, Simon (9 July 2009). "Time for me to move on, says Arnison". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  19. ^ Richardson, Andy (17 July 2009). "Bruce waits on Crouch". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  20. ^ Fraser, Paul (23 July 2009). "Quakers recruit Arnison and Bower". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  21. ^ "Defender Arnison leaves Bradford". BBC Sport. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  22. ^ "Darlington axe manager Craig Liddle and players". BBC Sport. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  23. ^ "FA Trophy final: Darlington 1–0 Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  24. ^ "High-Profile Arrivals at Celtic Nation". NonLeagueDaily.com. 20 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ a b "Paul plans for Australia move". Hartlepool Mail. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  26. ^ "Arnison becomes a Spartan". Blyth Spartans FC. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  27. ^ "Where Are They Now? HARTLEPOOL U 2002-03". The Football League Paper. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Carlisle 1–2 Swansea". BBC Sport. 2 April 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2024.