Paul Thirlwell

Paul Thirlwell (born February 13, 1979 in Springwell village, Tyne and Wear, England) is an England football (soccer) who has played for four English clubs. He plays for Carlisle United F.C. in Football League One and is the club Captain (football).

Thirlwell, who is a midfielder, is a former England national under-21 football team footballer who has often been compared to former Sunderland A.F.C. and Everton F.C. star Paul Bracewell.

Biography

Paul Thirlwell began his career in Sunderland A.F.C. in August 1997 and his first league game for Sunderland was against Tranmere Rovers F.C. on August 22, 1998. His first goal for the club from Tyne and Wear came against Luton Town F.C. on September 19, 2000 when Sunderland won 3-0 in the English Football League Cup. Thirlwell was on loan to Swindon Town F.C. from September 1999 to November 1999 and in those months he played 12 league games for the club from Wiltshire.

With Sunderland A.F.C. flying high in the FA Premier League, Thirlwell often found himself on the fringes of the first team, unable to break into the side ahead of established stars such as Don Hutchison and Stefan Schwarz. However, following the clubs relegation from the top flight in 2003, Thirlwell went on to establish himself in the heart of Sunderland's midfield, making 33 league and cup appearances for the first team. Thirlwell even had a stint as captain in the premiership side after skipper Jason McAteer picked up an injury.

Despite a regular starting place during the first half of the season, injuries meant that Thirlwell missed a large chunk of the latter half of the campaign. Thirlwell also suffered a fractured skull during a reserve team match in April 2004, bring a premature end to Thirlwell's Sunderland career.

With Thirlwell's contract up for renewel at the end of the season, manager Mick McCarthy decided not to retain him, and Thirlwell signed for Sheffield United F.C. on a free transfer (soccer) in July 2004. His first appearance for this club came against Reading F.C. on August 14, 2004 and in a league game against Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. on November 27, 2004 he scored his first goal for the club from South Yorkshire. Despite featuring 30 times for the club, Thirlwell played only one season for Sheffield United and on August 5, 2005 he signed for Derby County F.C..

He made his debut for Derby on August 6, 2005 in a league game against Brighton & Hove Albion F.C..

On September 8, 2006 Thirlwell joined Carlisle United F.C. on a 3-month loan from Derby County. after a lack of first team opportunities at Pride Park Stadium and his début for the Brunton Park team was on September 9, 2006 in a 1-1 draw against Northampton Town F.C. as a 54th minute Substitute (football). On January 4, 2007, Thirlwell re-joined Carlisle United on a permanent 2½ year deal for an undisclosed fee. On July 20, 2007, Thirwell was named as Carlisle's new Captain (football) after the departure of Kevin Gray, manager Neil McDonald described Thirwell as the "prime candidate".

Career as player