Paul Compton
Encyclopedia
Paul David Compton is an English
former professional footballer
and football club manager. He most notably managed Torquay United
during the 1992-93 season
, and was assistant manager at Dorchester Town
prior to rejoining Torquay United
in the summer of 2008 as joint manager of their new youth set-up. He was born in Stroud
.
After ending an apprenticeship with Cardiff City, Compton joined Trowbridge Town
in 1978, moving to Bournemouth
in October 1980 for a fee of £10,000. He played 64 times for the Cherries before a free transfer took him to Aldershot
in December 1983. This was swiftly followed by another free transfer move to Torquay United
in February 1984 where he quickly established himself as an aerial presence in Torquay's defence, though lacking the pace that could have taken him to a higher level.
After his debut away to Hereford United
on the 25th of February, he played every game until the end of the season and played fairly regularly for the Gulls before leaving to join Newport County in December 1986. He left Newport, prior to their eventual demise, shortly after playing in the Welsh Cup final defeat against Merthyr Tydfil
, in the summer of 1987, joining Weymouth
, taking over as player-manager in 1990 and leaving in February 1991 to join Bashley
with Weymouth bottom of the Southern League Premier Division
.
Compton rejoined Torquay United
in August 1991 as youth coach, although he also restarted his professional playing career. On the 8th of May 1992, Compton was surprisingly appointed as manager of Torquay, shortly after their relegation back to the bottom flight of the Football League
. The expected push for promotion did not materialise and Torquay found themselves in a relegation battle, which, only after Neil Warnock
was brought in and Compton had reverted to his old youth coach role, they survived.
Between 1996 and 1997 he was the youth coach at Preston North End
, but returned to the south-west, joining Bideford as player, playing in the centre of defence alongside former Torquay player Phil Lloyd
. In the 1998 close season, Compton returned to Plainmoor
as Torquay United's youth coach, bringing through many of the players that later brought money into Plainmoor on their sale.
In September 2000, shortly after making the shortlist for the Youth Development job at Southampton
, Compton moved to Swansea City as Director of Youth Development at the Vetch Field. With Swansea in the midst of a serious financial crisis, Compton, along with the Swans management team of Colin Addison
and Peter Nicholas
, was made redundant, the Welsh side no longer able to pay his wages.
He subsequently joined West Bromwich Albion
as youth coach, before joining Cardiff City
as Head of player recruitment. He left this post in August 2007, and became assistant manager at Dorchester Town
in December 2007. Immediately upon appointment, however, he took control of first team affairs whilst Director of Football Shaun Brooks took time off due to ill health.
In June 2008 he became joint manager of Torquay United
's youth set-up alongside Matt Williams.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and football club manager. He most notably managed Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
during the 1992-93 season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
, and was assistant manager at Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
prior to rejoining Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in the summer of 2008 as joint manager of their new youth set-up. He was born in Stroud
Stroud
Stroud a town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England.Stroud may also refer to:*Stroud, New South Wales, Australia*Stroud, Ontario, Canada*Stroud , Gloucestershire, UK*Stroud...
.
After ending an apprenticeship with Cardiff City, Compton joined Trowbridge Town
Trowbridge Town F.C.
Trowbridge Town F.C. are a football club based in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, and they play at Woodmarsh on the southern edge of the town. They are currently members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West.-History:...
in 1978, moving to Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in October 1980 for a fee of £10,000. He played 64 times for the Cherries before a free transfer took him to Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
in December 1983. This was swiftly followed by another free transfer move to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in February 1984 where he quickly established himself as an aerial presence in Torquay's defence, though lacking the pace that could have taken him to a higher level.
After his debut away to Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on the 25th of February, he played every game until the end of the season and played fairly regularly for the Gulls before leaving to join Newport County in December 1986. He left Newport, prior to their eventual demise, shortly after playing in the Welsh Cup final defeat against Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil F.C.
Merthyr Tydfil Football Club was a Welsh football club based at the Penydarren Park ground in Merthyr Tydfil. In 2010 the club was liquidated and reformed under the name Merthyr Town, which was accepted into Division One of the Western League.-History:...
, in the summer of 1987, joining Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
, taking over as player-manager in 1990 and leaving in February 1991 to join Bashley
Bashley F.C.
Bashley F.C. is a football club based in Bashley, near New Milton, Hampshire, England. It was established in 1947 and is currently a member of the Southern League Premier Division....
with Weymouth bottom of the Southern League Premier Division
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
Compton rejoined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in August 1991 as youth coach, although he also restarted his professional playing career. On the 8th of May 1992, Compton was surprisingly appointed as manager of Torquay, shortly after their relegation back to the bottom flight of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. The expected push for promotion did not materialise and Torquay found themselves in a relegation battle, which, only after Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
was brought in and Compton had reverted to his old youth coach role, they survived.
Between 1996 and 1997 he was the youth coach at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, but returned to the south-west, joining Bideford as player, playing in the centre of defence alongside former Torquay player Phil Lloyd
Phil Lloyd
Phil Lloyd is an Australian actor and scriptwriter. He is best known for his acting role as Myles Barlow in the Australian TV series, Review with Myles Barlow and the comedy series At Home with Julia, where he played Tim Mathieson, the partner of prime minister Julia Gillard.Phil has been a...
. In the 1998 close season, Compton returned to Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
as Torquay United's youth coach, bringing through many of the players that later brought money into Plainmoor on their sale.
In September 2000, shortly after making the shortlist for the Youth Development job at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Compton moved to Swansea City as Director of Youth Development at the Vetch Field. With Swansea in the midst of a serious financial crisis, Compton, along with the Swans management team of Colin Addison
Colin Addison
Colin Addison is an English former professional footballer and manager.Addison has managed a wide variety of clubs in the UK, as well as in countries such as Spain, South Africa, Kuwait and Qatar. Notably he was the player-manager of Hereford United during their famous 1971-72 FA Cup run, which...
and Peter Nicholas
Peter Nicholas (footballer)
Peter Nicholas is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international, now football manager.He was capped 73 times at senior level for Wales between 1979 and 1991.-Crystal Palace:...
, was made redundant, the Welsh side no longer able to pay his wages.
He subsequently joined West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
as youth coach, before joining Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
as Head of player recruitment. He left this post in August 2007, and became assistant manager at Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
in December 2007. Immediately upon appointment, however, he took control of first team affairs whilst Director of Football Shaun Brooks took time off due to ill health.
In June 2008 he became joint manager of Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
's youth set-up alongside Matt Williams.