Paul Ifill

Personal

Ifill is the son of English and Barbados parents, Everton and Christine. Ifill's partner is Elle Isaac and they have a baby daughter Romy born in 2006.

Club career

After rejection from Watford F.C.'s youth team as a 16-year-old, Ifill went back to his home town, Brighton. He enrolled on a physical education course at college and played non-League football in the same Saltdean United F.C. team as his father. He was scouted there and signed by Millwall F.C. as a centre-forward.

After suffering injury at a crucial time between contracts he was given just one month to prove himself by manager Billy Bonds. Ifill responded by scoring four goals the next Saturday and two more the following week.

Injuries led to Millwall switching him to midfield, but a recurring back injury prevented him from sprinting, a basic requirement for a winger. Despite seeing a number of different specialists, he was out for three months, and was in danger of having to end his career. Fortunately, a Harley Street consultant diagnosed a pelvic flaw pressing on a nerve, the day after treatment he was able to sprint again. He was a member of the team that reached the FA Cup Final in 2004, where they lost to Manchester United.

He signed for Sheffield United F.C. in May 2005 for £800,000, after making over 200 league appearances at New Den Stadium.

In his first season at Bramall Lane, United raced into a large lead, and despite falling behind eventual champions Reading F.C., the Blades finished as runners-up, securing promotion to the FA Premier League in the process.

In the top flight, Ifill fell out of favour, and boss Neil Warnock placed him on the transfer list. During the January transfer window, Ifill left the Blades and was unveiled by Crystal Palace F.C., having signed for a reported £750,000 fee.

At Palace Ifill's career has stuttered, with him struggling for fitness. Warnock's appointment to the managers' post at Palace has not left him without any chances, but nevertheless Ifill has struggled to remain fit.

On 18 August 2008 Ifill and team mate Carl Fletcher (Welsh footballer) were put on the transfer list by manager Neil Warnock.

Club career statistics

International career

Ifill plays internationally for Barbados national football team due to parental nationality and played in two FIFA World Cup qualifying games for Barbados in June 2004 against Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team. He has recently been recalled to the squad for three Caribbean Nations Cup 2007 Group B fixtures against St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda national football team and Anguilla national football team at the Antigua Recreation Ground. On 24 September 2006, he scored a hat-trick for Barbados during their 7-1 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying victory over Anguilla at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Ifill was also recalled for Barbados' semifinal Group G, in which he scored twice in three games, as the hosts advanced to the finals, in Trinidad and Tobago, in January 2007.

He scored all his international goals for Barbados in the 2007 Gold cup competition.

Ifill captained his country against USA in two World Cup 2010 qualifying games, which Barbados lost 9-0 on aggregate.