Paul Devlin (footballer)

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Personal information
Paul Devlin
Paul Devlin in action for Bohemians..
Full name	Paul Devlin
Date of birth	14 April 1972
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	None
Youth clubs
1989-1990	Tamworth
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1991-1992 1992-1996 1996-1998 1998-2002 1998 2002 2002-2003 2003-2006 2006 2006 2006	Stafford Rangers Notts County Birmingham City Sheffield United Notts County (loan) Birmingham City (loan) Birmingham City Watford Walsall Bohemian Tamworth	- (-) 141 (25) 76 (28) 147 (24) 5 (0) 13 (1) 34 (3) 79 (6) 8 (1) 8 (1) 4(0)
National team**
2002-2003	Scotland	10 (0)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:45, 26 August 2006 (UTC). ** National team caps and goals correct as of 19:45, 26 August 2006 (UTC).

Paul Devlin (born 14 April 1972, in Birmingham, England) is a Scottish football player. He plays as an attacking midfielder, usually on the right hand side. He qualified as a Scottish international through Scottish relatives, despite being born in England.

Devlin began his professional career at Notts County in the 1991-1992 season, eventually playing 141 times for the club, and scoring 25 times. In January 1996 his form was enough to attract Birmingham City, who signed him, with Devlin scoring a further 7 times before the end of the season.

The following season saw him score 16 times, and he contributed a further 5 goals in the 1997-1998 season before signing with Sheffield United in February 1998. Devlin, a hard-working player with a habit of getting booked, fitted in with the Blades' physical style, notching 24 goals in 145 games for the club (November 1998 briefly saw him loaned back to Notts County, where he played a further 5 times).

Come February 2002, Devlin was to return to Birmingham, manager Steve Bruce signing him to provide cover for his main strikers. This second spell, now in the Premier League, saw Devlin play 77 times, scoring 7 goals. At the end of the 2003-2004 season Devlin was released, joining Watford. He added steel and experience to the Championship side, scoring 3 goals in 32 appearances in 2004-2005.

On 17 January 2006 he joined Walsall on a free transfer, but was injured on his debut just a week later. Upon his return to the first team he was sent off for an elbow to the face of an opponent. After 9 appearances for 'The Saddlers' he asked to be released after being left on the bench by then manager Kevan Broadhurst for a game against AFC Bournemouth in April 2006. It was a controversial move, coming as it did whilst Walsall were in the midst of a struggle to remain in League One, in which they ultimately failed. Devlin joined Irish side Bohemians in July 2006 where he was signed until the end of the Irish season. Devlin left Bohemians in late August 2006 following the dismissal of Gypsies manager, Gareth Farrelly.

On 7 September 2006, Devlin returned to his roots by joining his youth team club, Tamworth. This bridged a 16 year gap away from the club. However on 4 October it was announced that Devlin had left the club by mutual consent, as he was unable to commit the necessary time.

Devlin won the first of his 10 Scotland caps in the 2002 friendly against Canada, and last played for them in September 2003, against The Faroes in a Euro 2004 qualifying match.