Paul Ian Dyson (born 27 December 1959) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender for Coventry City, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Darlington and Crewe Alexandra.
Career Dyson was born in Birmingham and began his career with Coventry City progressing through the youth team at Highfield Road he made his debut on 23 December 1978 at home to Everton in place of the injured Gary Gillespie. He played once more match in the 1978–79 season and was prevented from remaining in the side due to the arrival of Bristol City's Gary Collier and Sunderland's Jim Holton. However the new signings failed to impress and Dyson played against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup on 5 January 1980 and went on to miss just three matches in the next four years for Coventry and his performances earned him a call up to the England U21s where he won four caps.
After a poor summer of 1983 for Coventry which saw a number of players refuse new contracts in protest at the sacking of Dave Sexton Dyson joined First Division rivals Stoke City. In 1983–84 he played in 44 matches as Stoke avoided relegation by two points but Stoke then suffered an embarrassing relegation in 1984–85, going down with a record low points tally of 17. He made 38 appearances in 1985–86 before he joined West Bromwich Albion in March 1986. He could help the Baggies avoid relegation Second Division and he spent the next two seasons at the Hawthorns and had sport spells with Darlington and Crewe Alexandra before deciding to retire at the age of 30.
He then went on to play non-league football with Telford United and Solihull Borough was manager of Solihull for a time in the late 1990s. He then worked as a prison officer and later ran his own sports shop in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham.
Career statistics Source:
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCoventry City1978–79First Division20000000201979–80First Division1822000002021980–81First Division4124090005421981–82First Division4003020004501982–83First Division391303000451Total1405120140001665Stoke City1983–84First Division3821050004421984–85First Division3732020004131985–86Second Division310103030380Total106540100301235West Bromwich Albion1985–86First Division1100000001101986–87Second Division4221020104621987–88Second Division82000000821988–89Second Division3100100041Total645103010695Darlington1988–89Fourth Division123000000123Crewe Alexandra1989–90Third Division312504120423Career Total353202203116041221
A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy, Full Members' Cup.
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