Paul McLaren

Paul McLaren
Personal information
Full namePaul Andrew McLaren[1]
Date of birth17 November 1976
Place of birthHigh Wycombe, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing positionMidfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1994–2001Luton Town166(4)
2001–2004Sheffield Wednesday96(8)
2004–2006Rotherham United71(4)
2006–2008Tranmere Rovers85(5)
2008–2009Bradford City34(3)
2009–2010Tranmere Rovers44(0)
2010–2012Oxford United42(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:18, 9 May 2012 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Paul Andrew McLaren (born 17 November 1976) is an English footballer who is currently a free agent. He was born in High Wycombe.

Career

He began his career as a trainee for Luton Town, playing over 160 games over eight seasons. He left Luton to step up a Division for Sheffield Wednesday where he played 96 games and scored six goals. He was released, however, by Chris Turner after the club's relegation and subsequent failure to gain promotion to The Championship. He played for Rotherham United under Ronnie Moore and in the 2006–07 close season signed a two-year contract for Moore's new club Tranmere Rovers having been released by Rotherham. In his debut season at the centre of the Rovers midfield McLaren started 42 of Tranmere's 46 games in League One, and a further 43 the following season.

McLaren is a central midfielder, with an excellent assist record—13 during the 2007–08 season—mainly due to his passing and set piece ability.

He turned down a new contract offer from Tranmere and instead, on 1 July 2008, signed a two-year deal with League Two club Bradford City.[2] He was one of four Bradford players to make his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season against Notts County, which Bradford won 2–1.[3] His first goal for his new club came on 30 August 2008, with the opening goal in a 3–2 defeat to Aldershot Town.[4] He was a regular in the Bradford side but missed a month of the season during February and March because of a calf injury,[5] before being released at the end of the season.

On 10 July 2009 McLaren rejoined Tranmere on a two-year contract. He scored his first Tranmere goal upon his return when he scored at home to Grimsby in a first-round League Cup tie on 11 August 2009. On 26 November 2010, Tranmere Rovers cancelled McLaren's contract by mutual consent.[6] A little over a month later, on 31 December 2010, he joined Oxford United until the end of the 2010–11 season. [7] In May 2012, McLaren was released by the club after being deemed surplus to requirements.[8]

References

  1. "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  2. "Tranmere's McLaren joins Bradford". BBC Sport. 1 July 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  3. "Bradford 2–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  4. "FT Aldershot Town 3 Bradford City 2". Yorkshire Post. 30 August 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  5. Parker, Simon (12 March 2009). "Rehman: No point in feeling sorry for ourselves". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  6. "McLaren's contract cancelled". Tranmere Rovers: the official website. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  7. "United Sign McLaren". Oxford United: the official website. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  8. "Trio land new Oxford deals". Sky Sports. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.

External links