Paul Michael Downing (born 26 October 1991) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
Club career West Bromwich Albion Downing was born in Taunton, Somerset and came through the youth system at West Bromwich Albion. He signed a professional contract lasting until June 2012, with an option of a further year in the club's favour."West Bromwich Albion Team Profiles: Paul Downing" West Bromwich Albion F.C. Retrieved 6 April 2012. He made the bench for a 0–0 draw against Blackburn in the Premier League on 24 May 2009."Blackburn 0–0 West Brom" West Bromwich Albion F.C. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
Downing went on a one-month loan deal to Hereford United on 25 January 2010, along with West Brom teammate Lateef Elford-Alliyu."Hereford sign West Brom's Downing and Elford Alliyu" BBC Sport. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2012. He was given the squad number 16, and made his debut on 2 February in a 2–0 win against Lincoln City at Edgar Street."Hereford 2–0 Lincoln" BBC Sport. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2012. He was sent off on his final appearance, a 5–0 loss to eventual league winners Notts County on 27 February."Notts County 5–0 Hereford" BBC Sport. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012. He made six appearances during his loan spell.
Between November 2010 and April 2011, Downing signed on loan for two successive spells with Rotherham United"Rotherham sign Will Atkinson & Paul Downing" BBC Sport. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2012. and Shrewsbury Town"Shrewsbury sign Davis, Nicholls and Downing" BBC Sport. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2012. but made no senior appearances for either club before returning to West Brom.
On 3 November 2011 he signed on loan for League Two side Barnet, initially on a one-month deal."Barnet sign defenders Paul Downing and Michael Hector" BBC Sport. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2012. He made his debut on 8 November in a 2–0 win in the Football League Trophy against Cheltenham Town."Cheltenham 0–2 Barnet" BBC Sport. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2012. On 17 November Barnet extended the loan deal to allow him to remain there until 2 January."Barnet extend Paul Downing loan deal from West Brom" BBC Sport. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2012. On 19 January 2012 the loan deal was extended again to allow him to remain at Barnet until 28 February."Barnet extend deals of Alassane N'Diaye & Paul Downing" BBC Sport. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012. On 29 February the loan deal was extended again, this time until the end of the season."Downing extends loan deal" Yahoo! Eurosport. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012. He was sent off for the second time in his career during a 1–1 draw with Rotherham on 3 March."Barnet 1–1 Rotherham" BBC Sport. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
When Downing returned to West Bromwich Albion at the end of the 2011–12 season the club announced that they were not offering him a new contract. On 24 May 2012, Downing was released after three years at the club, having never made an appearance for the first team.
Walsall On 1 August 2012, Downing signed for League One team Walsall."Paul Downing & Connor Taylor sign one-year deals for Walsall" BBC Sport. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012. He made his debut on 1 September in a 2–2 draw against Brentford."Walsall 2–2 Brentford" BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
Milton Keynes Dons On 27 June 2016, after declining a new contract with Walsall, Downing joined fellow League One side Milton Keynes Dons on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal. Downing made his league debut for the club on 6 August 2016, in a 0–1 away win against Shrewsbury Town.
Blackburn Rovers On 31 August 2017, Downing initially joined fellow League One club Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan. On 8 January 2018, Downing joined the club permanently on a one-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee. On 15 May 2019 it was announced that Downing will leave at the end of his contract.
Doncaster Rovers On 24 January 2019, it was announced that Downing had been loaned to Doncaster Rovers in League One for the rest of that season.
Portsmouth On 21 June 2019, it was announced Downing had signed for League One side Portsmouth on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract after being released by Blackburn Rovers. Having spent the second half of the 2021–22 season on loan away from the club, Downing was released at the end of the season.
Rochdale (loan) On 13 January 2022, Downing signed for Rochdale on loan for the rest of the season.
Hereford
On 31 August 2023, after 16 months without a club, Downing signed for National League North club Hereford, linking up with former Blackburn teammate Paul Caddis. He made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat to Southport two days later. On 17 October 2023, it was announced that Downing had signed a contract to stay at Hereford until the end of the 2023–24 season.
Kidderminster Harriers On 20 June 2024, Downing signed a one-year contract with National League North club Kidderminster Harriers. He was released at the end of the season.
Worcester City On 17 June 2025, Downing signed for Southern League Premier Division Central club Worcester City.
On 12 June 2026, Downing announced his retirement from football.
Coaching career In October 2025, he returned to former club Kidderminster Harriers, helping coach the under-19s squad.
Personal life He is the nephew of former footballer and manager, and former assistant head coach of West Brom Keith Downing, a cousin of Judas Priest's guitarist K.K. Downing. His older brother Leigh was formerly at the West Bromwich Albion academy as a scholar."Assistant head coach" West Bromwich Albion F.C. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsWest Bromwich Albion2008–09Premier League000000—002011–12Premier League000000—00Total000000—00Hereford United (loan)2009–10League Two60———60Rotherham United (loan)2010–11League Two00———00Shrewsbury Town (loan)2010–11League Two00———00Barnet (loan)2011–12League Two26020004Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy0320Total320200040380Walsall2012–13League One3110000103212013–14League One4412020104912014–15League One3512020604512015–16League One46350302Appearance(s) in League One play-offs0563Total156690701101836Milton Keynes Dons2016–17League One3702010304302017–18League One0000201030Total370203040460Blackburn Rovers (loan)2017–18League One161200000181Blackburn Rovers2017–18League One120———1202018–19Championship300011—41Total311201100442Doncaster Rovers (loan)2018–19League One18020—2000Portsmouth 2019–20League One601030401402020–21League One30002040902021–22League One2000002040Total1101050100270Rochdale (loan)2021–22League Two100000000100Hereford2023–24FA Cup second qualifying round v Anstey Nomads (H), 16 September 2023: FA Cup third qualifying round v Cambridge City (H), 30 September 2023: National League North27130—20321Kidderminster Harriers2024–25National League North19000—20210Career total34182101613403809
Honours Walsall Football League Trophy runner-up: 2014–15
Blackburn Rovers EFL League One runner-up: 2017–18
References
External links