Paul Huntington

Paul Huntington (born September 17 1987 in Carlisle) is an England football (soccer), currently playing for Leeds United F.C.. His position is defender (football).

Biography

Early career

Huntington joined the Newcastle United School of Excellence on July 1 2004 from Trinity School in Cumbria. As a schoolboy he played at Wembley Stadium and also won the England Under 18 National Cup for his school in 2004. After impressing in the youth teams he was promoted to the reserve squad in late 2004 to play tougher opposition and gain experience. He made his reserve debut for the club on December 7 2004 in a 3-0 home win over rivals Middlesbrough F.C. and made his official England Under 18 debut against Scotland national football team fifteen days later in a 1-0 win. He signed his first professional contract at the club in July 2005.

His first involvement in the first team at Newcastle was when he appeared on the bench for the club's UEFA Intertoto Cup games against FK ZTS Dubnica and Deportivo La Coruña in July 2005. In the summer of 2005 he was awarded the prestigious 'Jackie Milburn' trophy, given each year to the rising star of North East England football. He was also named in the first team squad at Newcastle United F.C. for the FA Cup third-round tie against Mansfield Town F.C. (remembered by Geordies for being the game in which Alan Shearer scored his 200th goal for the club). He came close to making a first team appearance on 23rd of November 2006 when a defensive crisis left the club with only three fit senior defenders. Huntington and fellow youth defender David Edgar made the substitutes bench for a UEFA Cup match against Celta Vigo.

On 9 December, 2006 he made his first Newcastle United appearance as a late substitute against Blackburn Rovers F.C. in the unfamiliar role of right-back. The following match, on 14 December 2006 Huntington started his first ever game for Newcastle, again appearing at right back in the midst of an injury crisis engulfing the club. He scored his first goal for the club during the 3-2 win away to Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. Huntington marked his first ever goal for Newcastle on January 14 2007 when he scored the first equaliser for them in Newcastle's 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur F.C..

On 31 August, 2007 he transferred to Leeds United F.C. for an undiclosed fee. Huntington made his home debut for the club as a substitute in the 2-0 victory on 8 September 2007 at Hartlepool United F.C..