Paul Robert Bernard (born 30 December 1972) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Oldham, Aberdeen, Barnsley, Plymouth Argyle, St Johnstone and Drogheda United. Bernard represented Scotland twice, with both appearances coming in 1995.
Career He was born in Edinburgh but moved to Manchester as a small child in the mid-1970s, and grew up as a Hearts supporter.
Bernard started his career with Oldham Athletic, and is remembered for scoring the equaliser in the famous 3–2 win over Sheffield Wednesday in only his second game for the club during the 1990–91 season when the Latics sealed the Second Division title and returned to the First Division after a 68-year exile. He was soon a regular player in the Boundary Park midfield, helping them achieve survival in the First Division in 1991–92 and the new FA Premier League in 1992–93. He helped them reach the FA Cup semi-finals in the 1993–94 campaign, and when the Latics took the lead over Manchester United with an extra time goal by Neil Pointon, it looked as though Bernard and his teammates were on their way to the club's first ever FA Cup final. However, a late equaliser by United's Mark Hughes forced a replay, which the Latics lost 4–1 at Maine Road. They were relegated on the final day of the season after only managing a 1–1 draw with Norwich City. He played a total of 112 league games for the Latics, scoring 18 goals.
He was then transferred to Aberdeen for £1M on 27 September 1995, and remained the only player that a Scottish club outside the Old Firm had spent £1 million on until the transfer of Thibault Klidjé by Hibernian F.C. in July 2025. Soon after joining Aberdeen, Bernard helped them to win the Scottish League Cup, but his career suffered after this point due to injuries and loss of form. As such Bernard has been associated with the misguided spending of Aberdeen in the 1990s, when relatively large amounts were spent without much success. Bernard was released by Aberdeen in 2001 after six seasons, 99 league games and six goals.Pittodrie pair can go, BBC Sport, 22 December 2000.
His playing career finished in 2006 after a year-long spell in Ireland with Drogheda United.
He was capped twice by the senior Scotland national team, with both of his appearances coming in 1995, following 16 under 21 and two "B" caps earlier in the decade.
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsOldham Athletic1990-91Second Division21 - - - - - -2+1+1991-92First Division215 - - - - - -21+5+1992-93Premier League334 - - - - - -33+4+1993-94325 - - - - - -32+5+1994-95First Division172 - - - - - -17+2+1995-9671 - - - - - -7+1+Total11218------13721Aberdeen1995-96Scottish Premier Division3113120003621996-971400010101601997-981701040002201998-99SPL91000000911999-002547130003552000-013000001040Total996112100201228Barnsley2001-02First Division000000 - -00Total000000--00Plymouth Argyle2002-03Second Division1000000 - -100Total1000000--100St Johnstone2003-04First Division242 - - - - - -24+2+2004-0520 - - - - - -2+0+Total262------26+2+Drogheda United2005-06 Ireland Premier Division - - - - - - - - - -Total----------Career total247+26+11+2+10+0+20295+31+
International +Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsScotland199520Total20
Honours Scottish League Cup Winner (1): 1995 (Aberdeen) FAI Cup Winner (1): 2005 (Drogheda United)
References
External links