Paul Dyson

Position
Defender
Nationality
Place Of Birth
Birmingham
Date Of Birth
December 27, 1959
Age
65
Height (cm)
188
Games Played
166
-
Per Game
Games Started
166
1.0
Per Game
Minutes
14910
89.8
Per Game
Goals
5
0.03
Per Game
Assists
2
0.01
Per Game
Notes
Stats
Matches
Transfers
Gallery
Internationals

Paul was the regular centre-half for Coventry City from January 1979 through until May 1983 when he left the club to join Stoke City. He developed an excellent partnership with a young Gary Gillespie and was part of an exciting young team put together by manager Gordon Milne and nurtured by his successor Dave Sexton.

He joined City as a 15-year old and played for the youth team for three seasons, alongside players such as Gary Bannister, Andy Blair, Ray Gooding, Les Sealey and Garry Thompson. His first team debut came out of the blue four days before his 19th birthday and he played alongside Jim Holton and helped the Sky Blues to end Everton’s 19-match unbeaten run. In January 1980 with Holton suspended, Paul was called up for a Cup-tie at Oldham. City won 1-0, Dyson excelled and missed only three games in the next four years; Holton never played for the first team again.

Two weeks after the Oldham game Paul was a national celebrity when the Match of the Day cameras were at Highfield Road to record City’s ‘kids’ beat the mighty Liverpool 1-0 with Paul scoring the winning goal – a superb glancing header. Paul was a tall, tough, uncompromising defender in the mould of the classic British centre-half and he left his mark on many strikers. In 1980 his outstanding club performances earned him a call-up to the England Under 21 side and he won four caps under the management of Dave Sexton. That season he was also a key figure as the fearless young team reached the semi-finals of the League Cup only to lose to West Ham.

In City’s summer of discontent of 1983 Paul was out of contract and signed for First Division Stoke, where after a good first season he suffered a traumatic second as the Potters registered their worst season ever in Division One, being relegated with only three wins and 17 points.

Paul joined West Brom in March 1986 but could not stop them being relegated from Division One. He played alongside youngsters Carlton Palmer and David Burrows and made 64 appearances for the Baggies before brief periods at Darlington and Crewe saw his professional career end at the age of 30.

He subsequently played non-league football for Telford United and Solihull Borough before a successful spell as manager of Solihull in the late 1990s. He had a spell as a prison officer and ran his own sports shop in the Kings Heath district of Birmingham.

Football League First Division (England)
1982-1983
Coventry City
39
39
3465′
5
1 (0)
1981-1982
Coventry City
40
40
3600′
2
1
1980-1981
Coventry City
41
41
3690′
3
2 (0)
1
1979-1980
Coventry City
18
18
1620′
2
2 (0)
1978-1979
Coventry City
2
2
180′
140
140
0
12555′
12
0
0
5 (0)
2
0
FA Cup (England)
1982-1983
Coventry City
3
3
300′
1981-1982
Coventry City
3
3
270′
1980-1981
Coventry City
4
4
315′
1979-1980
Coventry City
2
2
180′
12
12
0
1065′
0
0
0
0 (0)
0
0
League Cup (England)
1982-1983
Coventry City
3
3
300′
1981-1982
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1980-1981
Coventry City
9
9
810′
2
14
14
0
1290′
2
0
0
0 (0)
0
0
Totals:
166
166
0
14910′
14
0
0
5 (0)
2
0
Date
For
Against
H/A
Result
Football League First Division 1982-1983
Football League First Division 1982-1983
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
L 0:1
45`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Aston Villa
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Watford
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
A
L 5:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
W 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Swansea City
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Luton Town
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
L 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Luton Town
H
W 4:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Aston Villa
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Watford
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Swansea City
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 1:0
90`
FA Cup 1982-1983
FA Cup 1982-1983
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
L 2:1
120`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Worcester City
H
W 3:1
90`
Milk Cup 1982-1983
Milk Cup 1982-1983
Coventry City
Burnley
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Fulham
H
D 0:0
120`
Coventry City
Fulham
A
D 2:2
90`
Football League First Division 1981-1982
Football League First Division 1981-1982
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
W 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
D 5:5
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 6:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Swansea City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
H
L 1:5
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
D 3:3
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
L 2:4
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
L 5:2
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Swansea City
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Aston Villa
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
W 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 2:1
90`
FA Cup 1981-1982
FA Cup 1981-1982
Coventry City
Oxford United
H
W 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
W 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
H
W 3:1
90`
Milk Cup 1981-1982
Milk Cup 1981-1982
Coventry City
Everton
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
D 1:1
90`
Football League First Division 1980-1981
Football League First Division 1980-1981
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
W 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
W 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
L 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
L 0:4
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Aston Villa
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Sunderland
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
W 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
D 3:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Everton
H
L 0:5
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Aston Villa
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
L 3:1
90`
FA Cup 1980-1981
FA Cup 1980-1981
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 3:1
45`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
D 1:1
90`
League Cup 1980-1981
League Cup 1980-1981
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Watford
H
W 5:0
90`
Coventry City
Watford
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Cambridge United
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Cambridge United
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
W 0:1
90`
Football League First Division 1979-1980
Football League First Division 1979-1980
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Aston Villa
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Bolton Wanderers
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
L 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 4:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
W 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
L 1:0
90`
FA Cup 1979-1980
FA Cup 1979-1980
Coventry City
Blackburn Rovers
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Oldham Athletic
A
W 0:1
90`
Football League First Division 1978-1979
Football League First Division 1978-1979
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 3:2
90`
Club Out
Club In
Transfer Date
Fee
Club Out / Club In
Transfer Date / Fee
Coventry City
Stoke City
Fri, 01 Jul, 1983
Coventry City
Stoke City
Fri, 01 Jul, 1983
Apprentice
Coventry City
Wed, 01 Jun, 1977
Apprentice
Apprentice
Coventry City
Wed, 01 Jun, 1977
Apprentice

England U21, 4 caps

1980-81
9 September 1980 England U21 v Norway U21, Southampton, friendly, 3-0
14 October 1980 Romania U21 v England U21, Ploesti, UEFA U21 Championship 1982 qualifying, 4-0, own goal
18 November 1980 England U21 v Switzerland U21, Ipswich, UEFA U21 Championship 1982 qualifying, 5-0
25 February 1981 England U21 v Republic of Ireland U21, Anfield, friendly, 1-0, replaced