Paul Leeman

Paul Leeman
Personal information
Date of birth	(1978-01-21) 21 January 1978
Place of birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 ¹⁄₂ in)
Playing position	Defender, midfielder
Club information
Current team	Crusaders
Number	4
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1993–2011	Glentoran	374	(30)
2011–	Crusaders	85	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:45, 21 February 2015. † Appearances (Goals).

Paul Leeman (born 21 January 1978 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a footballer from Northern Ireland, who currently plays for IFA Premiership side Crusaders.^[1] He notably played for Glentoran for 15 years and captained the side to Irish League and cup titles, playing 597 times for the team, before being released in 2011.^[2]

Playing career

Glentoran

After playing for Dungoyne Boys, Leeman joined Glentoran as a schoolboy in 1993. Two years later he made his first-team debut. Initially playing in midfield and at right back, he switched to centre-back. He was named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year for the 2002/03 season.^[3] Leeman missed almost all of the 2005–06 season.

He brought his children out with him to lift the Irish Premier League trophy after Glentoran had beaten Cliftonville to see off the challenge of Linfield who had beaten Crusaders 5–0 at Seaview. He had his testimonial against Roy Keane's Ipswich Town, a 3–1 defeat. He was the fourth generation of his family to play for Glentoran.^[4]

Crusaders

Leeman joined fellow Belfast side Crusaders in June 2011, linking up with former Glens team-mate Michael Halliday.^[5] He scored his first Crusaders goal in a 5-1 league victory over Carrick Rangers on 29 October 2011.^[6]

Honours

Glentoran

Irish Premier League (4): 1998-99, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2008-09
Irish Cup (4): 1997-98, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2003–04
Gold Cup (3): 1997-98, 1998–99, 1999–2000
Irish League Cup (5): 2000-01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2009–10
County Antrim Shield (6): 1997-98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2007–08

Crusaders

NIFL Premiership (1): 2014–15
Irish League Cup (1): 2011–12
Setanta Cup (1): 2012

References