Paul Walsh

Paul Anthony Walsh (born 1 October 1962) is an English former professional footballer who now works as a television pundit.

Paul Walsh was born to Don and June Walsh in Plumstead on 1 October 1962; his father was an electrician and his mother worked at Tate & Lyle.

He grew up supporting Arsenal, though his father was a season-ticket holder at West Ham United.

Despite his natural skill, his small stature meant he was frequently overlooked at junior football.

He was spotted playing for local youth side Londinium by Charlton Athletic scout Jim Fibbins, and signed schoolboy forms aged 14.

Walsh made his debut for the Reserves in September 1978, playing right midfield against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

He began his career at Charlton Athletic, making his first team debut aged 16 in September 1979.

He made his first team debut in the English Football League at 16 years old, coming on as a half-time substitute for Dick Tydeman in a Second Division fixture with Shrewsbury Town on 22 September 1979; he provided the assist for Martin Robinson's winning goal.

However Nelson was sacked the following March and the "Addicks" were relegated into the Third Division at the end of the 1979–80 season.

He helped Charlton to win promotion out of the Third Division in 1980–81, and then won a place on the PFA Team of the Year in 1981–82.

Following the sale of Mike Flanagan to Crystal Palace, new manager Mike Bailey played Walsh in a strike partnership with Derek Hales in the 1980–81 campaign.

Due to a League Cup draw the season opened with three matches against Brentford, and Walsh scored his first senior goal at Griffin Park in a 3–1 defeat before scoring a hat-trick in the return fixture at The Valley, a 5–0 victory; this made him the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the club's history.

He ended the campaign with 18 goals in all competitions, whilst Hales was named in the division's PFA Team of the Year.

Charlton were top of the table for most of the season but a loss of form from February cost them the title, though promotion was still secured with a third-place finish.

Bailey left Charlton to replace Alan Mullery as Brighton & Hove Albion manager, and the Charlton board ironically decided to name Mullery as Bailey's successor.

After the game Pleat celebrated by running down the touchline in a scene that became an iconic moment of 1980s football in England.

Charlton finished the 1981–82 season in 13th place, and Walsh scored 15 goals in total.

He performed well against divisional champions Luton Town, giving captain Mal Donaghy a difficult afternoon, which was enough to win him a move to his next club.

He moved from the Second Division into the First Division when Luton Town paid £400,000 to acquire his services in July 1982.

Walsh was signed by Luton Town manager David Pleat for £400,000 plus Steve White in July 1982.

Pleat had an attacking philosophy which gave Walsh the freedom to express himself and score goals.

In only his second game for Luton at Kenilworth Road he scored a hat-trick in a 5–3 win over Notts County, the second goal of which was voted Goal of the Season as he beat numerous defenders before chipping the goalkeeper.

On the final day of the 1982–83 season Luton needed to beat Manchester City at Maine Road to remain in the First Division, and a late Radomir Antić volley secured the "Hatters" a 1–0 win and a place in the top-flight.

A pacey and skilful forward, he scored a total of 127 goals in 521 league games in a 17-year career in the English Football League and Premier League; he also won five senior caps for England in an eleven-month international career beginning in June 1983.

Luton enjoyed an excellent start to the 1983–84 season, and were in third place on Boxing day.

On 10 December, Walsh scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 win over Stoke City at the Victoria Ground.

However a run of just three wins in 24 games saw Luton go from title contenders to relegation candidates, as well as exit the FA Cup in a 4–3 defeat to rivals Watford at Vicarage Road.

He continued to impress, and was named as PFA Young Player of the Year in 1984.

He moved to Liverpool for a £700,000 fee in May 1984, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in his second season for the club as Liverpool won the league title and the Football League Super Cup.

He went on to struggle with injury at Anfield, though still managed to appear in losing finals of the 1984 FA Charity Shield, 1984 European Super Cup, 1985 European Cup, and 1987 Football League Cup, as well as help Liverpool to the league title and FA Cup double in 1985–86, and to finish as runners-up in the league in 1984–85 and 1986–87.

In a 1986 interview with Shoot magazine Walsh cited Londinium manager John O' Connor as the biggest influence on his career.

After leaving school he also began working part-time at a meat factory and later a fruit packing factory before he joined Charlton on a full-time basis.

He was sold on to Tottenham Hotspur for a £500,000 fee in February 1988 and played for Spurs in their 1991 FA Cup Final victory over Nottingham Forest.

However, he was frozen out of the first team after punching a coach at the club, and after a brief loan spell at Queens Park Rangers was moved on to Portsmouth for a £400,000 fee in June 1992.

A popular player at Fratton Park, supporters voted him Player of the Season in 1992–93 and he was named on the PFA Team of the Year in 1993–94.

He returned to the top-flight with Manchester City after being signed for £750,000 in March 1994.

He returned to Portsmouth for a £600,000 fee in September 1995, but was forced to retire due to cruciate ligament damage in February 1996.

After retiring as a player he became a football pundit, and became a regular face on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday.

He was capped five times by England, scoring one goal.

Manager Andy Nelson handed him his first professional contract on his 17th birthday, a two-year contract paying £100 a week.