Paul Rachubka

Paul Stephen Rachubka (born 21 May 1981) is a professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He now works as an accountant in Manchester.

Born in the United States, he represented England at youth level.

Born in San Luis Obispo, California, to an English mother and an American father, Rachubka possesses dual nationality, having moved to England with his family when he was seven years old.

He represented England at under-16, under-18 and under-20 levels.

Born in the United States, Rachubka grew up in England from the age of seven.

He started playing football for a Stockport club called Norbury Moor Rangers.

At the age of nine, after three months there, he was invited to join Manchester United by youth coach Brian Kidd.

He signed a trainee contract in 1997 before turning professional in July 1999.

He was included in the club's squad for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil and made his debut as a substitute in their final group match against South Melbourne on 11 January 2000.

He made two more first-team appearances the following season, against Watford in the League Cup and Leicester City in the league.

The 2001–02 season saw Rachubka go on a three-month loan to Manchester United's Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp, followed by six months with Oldham Athletic.

At the end of the season, Manchester United received a £200,000 bid for Rachubka from Charlton Athletic, and he left the club without having conceded a goal in any of his three appearances.

Rachubka earned promotion with Huddersfield on loan during the 2003–04 season when they won the Division Three playoffs.

After failing to dislodge Dean Kiely in his two years at Charlton, Rachubka was loaned out five times, all in 2004; firstly to Burnley in February, then from March to the end of the 2003–04 season he was at Huddersfield Town.

On 6 August, at the start of the 2004–05, he was loaned out to Milton Keynes Dons for one month.

He then spent October and November with Northampton Town before returning again to Huddersfield Town, for a further month, on 5 December.

After his contract expired with Charlton Athletic in 2004, Rachubka took the option to re-sign for Huddersfield Town.

He was the first-choice goalkeeper at the Galpharm Stadium until Matt Glennon was signed during the summer of 2006.

Rachubka was sent on loan to Peterborough United as cover for Mark Tyler and played four League Two matches over the Christmas and New Year period of 2006–07.

In January 2007, Rachubka joined Blackpool on loan.

He made his debut for the Seasiders on 27 February and kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at his former club Oldham Athletic.

On 2 April he was named in the Press Association's League One "Team of the Week", alongside Blackpool teammate Wes Hoolahan, for his performance in the 2–1 win over Crewe Alexandra.

Also in April, Rachubka picked up an injury that kept him out of the team for six weeks.

Blackpool's other 'keepers, Rhys Evans and Lewis Edge, also picked up concurrent injuries, which led to Seasiders boss Simon Grayson bringing in Manchester City's Joe Hart on loan as an emergency stand-in.

When Hart returned to Manchester City, Rachubka returned to the Blackpool first team on 13 May 2007, for the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final against Oldham Athletic.

Blackpool won both legs, and Rachubka played in the final on 27 May at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium.

Blackpool won 2–0 against Yeovil Town, gaining promotion to The Championship.

On 5 June 2007, five days after his contract at Huddersfield expired, Blackpool signed Rachubka on a permanent two-year deal.

On 13 August 2007 he was named in The Championship "Team of the Week" for his performance on the opening day of the 2007–08 season, two days before, in the Seasiders' single-goal victory over Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium.

Rachubka was one of two ever-present players during Blackpool's 2007–08 league season, the other being Shaun Barker.

In April 2009 Rachubka signed a new two-year deal at Blackpool, before winning the 2008–09 Blackpool Player of the Year award in May.

Following his performance in Blackpool's 2–0 win over Peterborough United on 26 September 2009 at Bloomfield Road, Rachubka was named in The Championship "Team of the Week".

Rachubka started the season as Blackpool's first choice goalkeeper, however after being sent off in a 4–1 loss against Crystal Palace, substitute goalkeeper Matt Gilks came into the side and managed to displace Rachubka who dropped to second choice due to the impressive form of Gilks.

He made 20 league appearances for Blackpool that season as they earned promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs after beating Cardiff City.

After being promoted to the Premier League with Blackpool, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway confirmed that Rachubka would be out of action for some time following a knee operation.

As such, he was not named in Blackpool's 24-man squad for the start of their Premier League campaign the following season.

Blackpool signed Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson who became the club's back-up goalkeeper during Rachubka's time out injured.

Even after returning to fitness, he had to wait until January 2011 to be registered in the Blackpool 25 man squad, when squads to see clubs through until the end of the season were named.

Manager Ian Holloway said it was an error not to have named Rachubka in his initial 25 man squad for the first half of the season.