13th February 1961

Liverpool

Midfielder

Paul Lodge had appeared in the Football League with Everton, Preston North End Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County - together with three other clubs on loan - when he arrived at St James’ Park for a trial in September 1985. Not offered a deal, he continued to appear in non-league football in the North West for many years.

Starting as an Everton apprentice in 1977, he became a professional two years later and went on to make 24 league appearances for the first-team together with loans at Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United. Moving to Preston in 1983, he made 38 league appearances during his time at Deepdale before brief stints at Bolton (four league outings) and Port Vale (three league games when on loan).

He then joined Stockport County for the second half of the 1984/85 season but, having started the following season at Edgeley Park, soon left the club and was in search of fresh pastures when invited to Exeter City by Colin Appleton. Still only twenty-four, nothing came of his Devon venture and he later played for Barrow, Southport, Macclesfield Town, Witton Albion, Morecambe, Lancaster City, Bangor City, Chorley and Burscough.

Moving into coaching and management, Paul worked at Southport, Stalybridge Celtic, St Helens Town, Chorley and Accrington Stanley.