Paul Wotton

Paul Anthony Wotton (born 17 August 1977) is an English former professional footballer who is the manager of Truro City.

Paul Wotton
Personal information
Full name Paul Anthony Wotton[1]
Date of birth (1977-08-17) 17 August 1977[1]
Place of birth Plymouth,[1] England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Truro City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–2008 Plymouth Argyle 394 (54)
2008–2011 Southampton 57 (0)
2010 → Oxford United (loan) 4 (0)
2010–2011 → Yeovil Town (loan) 6 (0)
2011–2012 Yeovil Town 39 (4)
2012–2015 Plymouth Argyle 52 (3)
Total 552 (61)
Managerial career
2019– Truro City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Having begun his career with his home-town side, Wotton went on to become the club's most successful captain as they won two Football League titles in three seasons. By the time he left Plymouth in 2008, Wotton had broken into the top ten of the club's all-time appearance list – playing in more than 400 matches – and won their Player of the Year award twice. A year later, he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.[3]

Wotton went on to spend three seasons with Southampton, with whom he won the Football League Trophy at Wembley Stadium during the 2009–10 season. Towards the end of his time with the club, he was loaned out to Oxford United and Yeovil Town before joining the latter permanently. A year later, Wotton returned to Plymouth Argyle. He was appointed player-coach at Argyle at the end of the 2013–14 season[4] and formally retired from playing the following year.[5]

Renowned for his leadership and powerful shot, Wotton played at both centre half and defensive midfield and was considered a specialist at set pieces.[6] Wotton also got recognised as for all but one of his seasons at Plymouth, he had worn the no.15 shirt. "It was my first squad number. I came in for pre-season while I was in a contract dispute with the club. I was raging. I thought, me being me, if you weren't (numbers) 1–11, you weren't fancied. I was really disappointed because I was a regular in the team. When I came back and things went really well, I just stayed (number) 15."[7]

Playing career

Plymouth Argyle

Wotton was born in Plymouth, Devon, and started his playing career with his hometown club. His first season for Plymouth Argyle was also his first as a professional, under Steve McCall in 1994–95. After Argyle were relegated from the Second Division at the end of the 1997–98 season following defeat at Burnley he famously vowed that he would be part of the side that won promotion, and captained the side to the title with a record 102 points in 2001–02 whilst being named in the PFA Division Three team of the year.[8] Two seasons later he again lifted some silverware, this time the Division Two championship. He was named the player of the season for Argyle for the following 2004–05 season, in which the team finished 17th. He appeared in the famous Jimmy Glass game against Carlisle, in which the goalkeeper scored in the 94th minute to keep Carlisle United in the Football League.[9]

Wotton could be described as a solid and mature defender with a ferocious shot taking ability that resulted in him taking the majority of free-kicks and penalties during his first spell at Argyle. Playing at centre back during Argyle's Third and Second Division championship winning seasons, his slight lack of pace meant that in the Championship he usually played holding midfield role in front of the defence. He was the top-scorer in 2004–05 with 12 league goals, an excellent return for a non-striker, and again in 2005–06 with 8 goals.

In the summer of 2006, he was involved in an incident with young striker Chris Zebroski during a pre-season tour of Austria,[10] which required Wotton to have more than a hundred stitches in his head. Zebroski was sacked less than a month later, having been found guilty of gross misconduct.[11]

In the Championship match against Hull City on 9 December 2006 he damaged his cruciate and medial ligaments to his left knee and missed the rest of the 2006–07 Championship season. He returned from injury in time for Paul Sturrock's return to the club as manager, and after making a handful of substitute appearances he returned to the side for his first start in 15 months in the 2–1 win at Bristol City on 15 March 2008. He later went on to score a penalty in his final ever game for Plymouth against Preston North End,[12] shortly before being released.

His autobiography, My Journey: The First Ten Years, was published in 2004.

Southampton
Wotton after the 2010 Football League Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium

In June 2008, Wotton was released by Plymouth. On 18 June he joined Southampton.[13][14] In his first start he came up against former club Plymouth's archrivals, Exeter City, in the first round of a League Cup match that Southampton comfortably won 3–1.[15]

In March of the 2009-10 season, Wotton got his first taste of silverware away from Argyle, when he played in central midfield for 85 minutes of the 2010 Football League Trophy Final, winning 4–1 against Carlisle United.[16]

On 8 November 2010, he joined Oxford United until the end of December on an emergency loan.[17] On 31 December 2010, Wotton joined Yeovil Town on a one-month loan.[18]

Yeovil Town

On 1 January 2011, Wotton made his debut for Yeovil away in a 0–0 draw to his old side Plymouth, for whom he played for 13 years clocking up nearly 400 appearances, and he received a standing ovation from the Argyle fans when his name was called out on the PA system. He played the full 90 minutes as the two sides played out a 0–0 draw.[19] On 28 January 2011, Wotton's contract with Southampton was terminated "by mutual consent",[20] and he made a permanent move to Huish Park on an 18-month contract.[21] He scored his first Yeovil goal in the 2–1 win away to Brentford; a characteristic free kick from 25 yards out.

On 12 January 2012, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[22][23]

Return to Argyle

Wotton rejoined Plymouth Argyle later that day, three and a half years after being released when the club were in the Championship.[24] He signed an 18-month contract.[25][26] "Paul has got a lot of experience, has a good knowledge of the game, he's determined and has a real will to win. We are pleased to have him on board," said manager Carl Fletcher. "When I spoke to Paul about coming back he made it clear he would have walked here on broken glass."[27] Wotton made a winning return to the Argyle side as they defeated Burton Albion 2–1 at Home Park on 14 January.[28]

At the end of the 2013–14 season, Wotton signed a new one-year contract to become a player-coach at Home Park replacing Gary Owers who had left the club. Wotton at this point was Argyle's second highest appearance maker on 491 games, but still some way behind Kevin Hodges.[29]

Wotton formally retired from playing on 15 May 2015, having not played for the entirety of the 2014-15 season.[30] Wotton's last competitive game for the club was in a 3–3 draw with Portsmouth, on the final day of the 2013-14 season.

Coaching career

New Argyle manager Derek Adams kept Wotton on as first-team coach at Argyle for the 2015-16 season, with Adams stating that he needed someone on board who knew the club. Wotton became a main-stay as a staff member under Adams, and for the 2017-18 season took on management duties for Argyle's Central League South team.[31]

On 8 May 2018, it was announced that Wotton would step up to the role of assistant manager for the 2018–19 season, following the departure of Craig Brewster.[32] On 28 April 2019, Wotton and Adams were both sacked by Argyle with the club in the League One relegation zone with one game left of the season, following a 5–1 defeat at Accrington Stanley.[33] Wotton's dismissal came hours after he completed the London Marathon.[34]

On 4 July 2019, it was announced that Wotton had agreed to become the manager of Truro City of the Southern League Premier Division South.[35]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Plymouth Argyle 1994–95 Second Division 7000000070
1995–96 Third Division 1000002030
1996–97[36] Second Division 91200020131
1997–98[37] Second Division 341202010391
1998–99[38] Third Division 361512000432
1999–2000[39] Third Division 230100010250
2000–01[40] Third Division 424201010454
2001–02[41] Third Division 465411010526
2002–03[42] Second Division 4384310004811
2003–04[43] Second Division 389101020429
2004–05[44] Championship 40121011—4213
2005–06[45] Championship 4581011—479
2006–07[46] Championship 2240010—234
2007–08[47] Championship 810000—81
Total 3945423511210043861
Southampton 2008–09[48] Championship 2900030—320
2009–10[49] League One 160302050260
2010–11[50] League One 2000100030
Total 470306050610
Oxford United (loan) 2010–11[50] League Two 40———40
Yeovil Town 2010–11[50] League One 232———232
2011–12[51] League One 222302010273
Total 454302010514
Plymouth Argyle 2011–12[51] League Two 181———181
2012–13[52] League Two 192001000202
2013–14[53] League Two 150000000150
2014–15[54] League Two 0000000000
Total 523001000533
Career total 5656129520316062071

Honours

Plymouth Argyle

Southampton

Individual

References
  1. "Paul Wotton". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  2. Hugman, Barry (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 443. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
  3. "Paul Wotton: The Profile". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  4. "Plymouth Argyle: Paul Wotton signs player-coach deal". BBC Sport. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  5. "Retain list". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  6. "Paul Wotton". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  7. "The Pilgrim v Exeter City". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 11 July 2014.
  8. "Plymouth players rewarded". BBC Sport. 15 April 2002.
  9. Metcalf, Rupert (10 May 1999). "Carlisle raise a Glass to survival – Carlisle United 2 Plymouth Argyle 1". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  10. "Footballers in training bust-up". BBC News. 24 July 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  11. "Argyle sack Zebroski after fracas". BBC Sport. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  12. "Plymouth 2–2 Preston". BBC. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  13. Wotton signs for Southampton
  14. Saints sign former Pilgrim Wotton
  15. "Exeter City v Southampton, 12 August 2008".
  16. "Carlisle 1-4 Southampton". 28 March 2010.
  17. "Wotton Loan". Southampton F.C. 8 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  18. "Yeovil sign Paul Wotton, Max Ehmer and Richard Martin". BBC Sport. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  19. "Plymouth Argyle 0–0 Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  20. "Midfielder Leaves Saints". Southampton F.C. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  21. "Wott's Happening at Huish Park?". Yeovil Town F.C. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  22. "Paul Leaves The Glovers". Yeovil Town F.C. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  23. "Yeovil release captain Wotton and Watford loanee Massey". BBC Sport. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  24. "He's Only Gone And Come Back!". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  25. "Plymouth Argyle re-sign former captain Paul Wotton". BBC Sport. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  26. "Former Plymouth Argyle captain Paul Wotton back at Home Park". The Herald. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  27. "Wotton's a winner, says Argyle boss". The Herald. 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  28. "Plymouth 2–1 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  29. "Paul Wotton signs player-coach deal". BBC Sport. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  30. "Retain list". Plymouth Argyle. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  31. "First team coach Paul Wotton gets extra responsibility at Plymouth Argyle". The Herald (Plymouth). 6 September 2017.
  32. "Wotts Steps Up".
  33. "Plymouth Argyle sack manager Derek Adams". BBC Sport. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  34. Errington, Chris (29 April 2019). "Paul Wotton lost his Plymouth Argyle job hours after running London Marathon". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  35. "New Manager: Paul Wotton signs for Truro City". Truro City F.C. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  36. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  37. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  38. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  39. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  40. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  41. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  42. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  43. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  44. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  45. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  46. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  47. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
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  50. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  51. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  52. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  53. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  54. "Games played by Paul Wotton in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  55. Shemilt, Stephan (28 March 2010). "Carlisle 1–4 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
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