THE LEGENDS QUICK SIX
With Stanley Legend Paul Mullin
Paul was born in Burnley in 1974 and started his career at Accrington in 1995. After having spells at Darwen, Trafford, Clitheroe and Radcliffe, Paul returned to Stanley in August 2000. He scored 132 goals in 320 appearances for Stanley before moving to Morcambe where he played 66 games soring 16 goals. Paul retired from football in April 2011. 1. Who was your biggest footballing inspiration whilst growing up? My Mum, Dad and brother were all great influences on me when I was growing up. They were all very supportive and my parents clocked up thousands of miles driving me and John all over the place for games and training. My Dad and Uncle were apprentices at Man City in the sixties and my brother John had a great career playing in every league from the Premier to League 2 so we are from a football mad family. 2. Which team did you grow up supporting? My Mum and Dad are both Mancunians so it was always going to be United. 3. As a player what is your favourite memory? I scored the goal that secured Accrington’s return to the Football League in 2006. We took a great following down to Woking and there was a pitch invasion after the game. It was a special day. The following season we beat Nottingham Forest live on the television and I scored the goal. Three years earlier we were playing against teams like Barrow and Farnborough!
Paul celebrates another goal for Stanley 4. Did you have a nickname growing up as a player? It has always been Mullers although I was known as “flumpy foot” at Accrington because shooting wasn’t the stongest feature of my game! 5. Who was your favourite player? My Dad used to take me and John to Old Trafford every other Saturday when we were kids. We grew up watching United and even though they were not the best United sides I still loved watching Bryan Robson, Frank Stapleton and Mark Hughes. We went to the 1985 Cup Final when they beat Everton with 10 men which is a great memory. 6. If you could some advice to any youngsters looking to make in the game, what would it be? Don’t give up. I didn’t turn professional until 29 and managed to play until 37. It is important to work hard, believe in yourself and listen to your parents and coaches.
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