After giving loyal service to his beloved Leeds, Paul signed for Bramley and made his debut on September 6th 1981 in the impressive 21-12 victory at Halifax. In a season which saw him start in 22 matches, he scored his first try for the club in a comfortable 20-6 home win versus Blackpool Borough with his second try of the season coming in an 18-11 victory against Batley at McClaren Field.
The 1982-83 season saw Bramley just miss out on promotion to the first division in their most successful season in many years. Paul was an ever-present, playing in all 36 matches and notching nine tries in the process including a brace of tries in the 30-5 thumping of Batley. Amazingly Pauls first ten tries for the club were all scored at McClaren Field with his first try on away soil being scored in the penultimate away match of the season at York. He reached the milestone of 50 first-team appearances when he played in the disappointing 11-29 defeat at Blackpool Borough.
The traumatic season of 83-84 which saw Bramley go into administration and very nearly out of the Rugby League had started well for Paul as he scored three tries in the first four matches of the season, in the home victory against Dewsbury (28-18) and in the away defeats at Cardiff (10-27) and Doncaster in the Yorkshire Cup (12-16). During the season Paul made his first appearance at loose-forward in the excellent 32-4 win at Keighley in which he celebrated his new role by crossing the whitewash.
1984-85 will be remembered as the season when Bramley reached the quarter-finals of all three cups, the Rugby League Challenge Cup, the Yorkshire Cup and the John Player Trophy. The opening match of the season saw Paul cross for two tries in the 25-17 home win against Batley. He reached the milestone of 100 first-team appearances in the Boxing Day 6-6 draw at Wakefield Trinity. This was also the season which saw Paul make three starts in the stand-off position as well as at centre and loose-forward.
Now appearing more as a loose-forward, Paul had the unique feat of scoring tries in two 20-20 draws in the 1985-86 season, firstly in the tremendous Rugby League Challenge cup tie at first division Bradford Northern and then away at Hunslet in the league. His try tally for the season is six, including one in the 14-2 away victory against Sheffield and another in the 46-20 stroll against Mansfield.
Paul opened his try-scoring for the 1986-87 season in the narrow 22-29 defeat at first division high-fliers Hull in the Yorkshire cup in a brave performance. He also scored in the 20-6 home victory against Runcorn and scored in both league matches against Fulham (18-10 at home and 20-24 away). The 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons were disappointing for Paul as he scored just one try against York in an 18-27 home defeat in his 14 starts throughout the 1987-88 season and just five starts and two sub appearances in the following try-less season.
After not scoring a try for 27 months Paul was back on the scoresheet with a try in the 14-27 defeat at Doncaster when he came on as a replacement for Paul Fraser, this was one of five substitute appearances to go with his one “start” in the 0-17 home defeat against Fulham in the 1989-90 season.
Paul was now heavily involved with coaching and nurturing the young players of the Bramley second team and the last time he wore the black and amber was his substitute appearance against Oldham at McClaren Field in the Rugby League Challenge Cup, he replaced Gary Hall in the 6-38 defeat on the 17th February 1991. Paul will always be fondly remembered by the Bramley faithful for his 100% commitment to the club as both player and coach.
Career details
Season Appearances Sub Apps Tries
1981-82 22 2
1982-83 36 9
1983-84 26 5
1984-85 28 2 5
1985-86 22 2 6
1986-87 25 1 4
1987-88 14 1 1
1988-89 5 2 0
1989-90 1 5 1
1990-91 0 1 0
Career Totals
Appearances 179
Sub Apps 14
Tries 33