Paul Eshelby, who featured once during Exeter City’s 1989/90 Fourth Division championship winning season, joined the club after playing for various amateur teams in Sheffield. He moved on to Scarborough before appearing for a number of non-league teams in the East Midlands and Yorkshire. 

Paul had been studying at college in Sheffield, and playing football for teams such as Endcliffe United and Sheffield Bankers, when he carried on playing whilst working as a seasonal lifeguard in Minehead. Recommended to Exeter City he attended a trial watched by manager Terry Cooper who, after just ten minutes, decided to offer Paul a contract. Paul’s only previous connection with professional football had been an unsuccessful trial with Scunthorpe United.

Arriving in December 1989 with the Grecians making a strong promotion bid, the nineteen-year-old Paul made his debut against Wrexham on 24 February 1990. Not re-appearing that season, Paul made eighteen appearances (nine as a substitute) during City’s first campaign in the third-tier before leaving the club in March 1991 to sign for Scarborough.        

Finishing his Football League career with just three appearances for the Yorkshire club, Paul moved on to Alfreton Town before later joining neighbours Ilkeston Town in a record £7,500 deal. Featuring in several FA Cup games against Football League opposition, Paul enjoyed a successful spell with Ilkeston before the briefest of associations with Northwich Victoria and more productive stints with Worksop Town and Gainsborough Trinity.