Paul Shrubb facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Shrubb | ||
| Date of birth | 1 August 1955 | ||
| Place of birth | Guildford, England | ||
| Date of death | 28 May 2020 (aged 64) | ||
| Place of death | Guildford, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Playing position | Utility player | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1972–1975 | Fulham | 1 | (0) |
| 1975–1976 | Hellenic | ||
| 1977–1982 | Brentford | 182 | (8) |
| 1982–1987 | Aldershot | 174 | (5) |
| 1987–1989 | Woking | ||
| 1989–1990 | Dorking | ||
| 1990–1991 | Leatherhead | ||
| 1991 | Fleet Town | ||
| 1991–1992 | Cove | ||
| 1992–1995 | Aldershot Town | 31 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1995 | Aldershot Town (caretaker) | ||
|
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Paul Shrubb (born August 1, 1955 – died May 28, 2020) was a talented English footballer. He was also a coach and a scout. Paul played in 350 games in the Football League. He is best known for his time playing for Brentford and Aldershot. After his playing career, he returned to Aldershot as an assistant manager. He also coached at several other football clubs.
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Paul Shrubb's Playing Career
Paul Shrubb started his football journey in the youth system at Fulham. This was a Second Division club at the time. He signed his first professional contract in 1972. Paul made his debut in the 1972–73 season. This was his only game for Fulham before he left in 1975.
Playing in South Africa
In 1975, Paul moved to South Africa. He joined a club called Hellenic in the National Football League. A big moment for him there was reaching the final of the 1976 NFL Cup. However, his team lost the final to Cape Town City.
Time at Brentford
Paul came back to England in March 1977. He joined Brentford, which was a Fourth Division club. Brentford had a small team, but Paul became a very important player. He was a "utility player," meaning he could play in many different positions. He played well in both defence and midfield.
Paul helped Brentford get promoted to the Third Division in the 1977–78 season. For a while, he even became the team's captain. He played almost every game for several seasons. Paul left Brentford in August 1982. He had played 198 games and scored eight goals for the club.
Playing for Aldershot
In August 1982, Paul signed with Aldershot, another Fourth Division club. He played 202 games and scored six goals during his five years there. Paul left Aldershot after they won the 1987 Fourth Division play-off final. He was so versatile that he wore every single shirt number (1–11) during his time with the club!
Non-League Football
After leaving Aldershot, Paul played for several "non-League" clubs starting in 1987. These were clubs not in the top professional leagues. He played for Woking, Dorking, Leatherhead, Cove, and Fleet Town.
Return to Aldershot Town
In 1992, Paul returned to Aldershot. He joined Aldershot Town, a new club that had formed after the original Aldershot club closed. This new club won the Third Division championship in the 1992–93 season. They were promoted to the First Division the next year. Paul played 31 games before he stopped playing in January 1995.
To celebrate his long service to the club, Paul had a special "testimonial" match. This game was played against Charlton Athletic on August 1, 2007.
Management and Coaching Career
Between 1987 and 1992, Paul Shrubb was a "player-coach" for several clubs. This means he played for the team and also helped coach them. He did this at Woking, Dorking, Leatherhead, Fleet Town, and Cove.
When he came back to Aldershot in 1992, he became a player-assistant manager. In 1995, he was the "caretaker manager" for one match. This means he temporarily took charge of the team. He was offered the manager job permanently but said no because of his other work. After he stopped playing, Paul worked as an assistant to Steve Wigley. He left Aldershot for good in 1997. Later, he coached at Hampton and Kingstonian. He left Kingstonian in 2001 to support a fellow coach who had been fired.
Scouting Career
Paul Shrubb also worked as a "scout" for football clubs. A scout's job is to find new talented players. He worked as a scout for Charlton Athletic, Plymouth Argyle, and AFC Wimbledon. While at Plymouth Argyle, he worked with his former Aldershot teammate, Andy King.
Paul Shrubb's Personal Life
Paul Shrubb lived in Aldershot for many years. He also had his own window cleaning business. In 2014, he was living in Ash, Surrey.
In January 2006, Paul was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. This is a serious condition that affects the nerves and muscles. Doctors told him he might only have two years to live. Because of his illness, he had to stop working full-time in 2009. Paul Shrubb sadly passed away from the disease in May 2020.
Honours and Achievements
Paul Shrubb achieved several successes during his football career:
Brentford
- Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1977–78
Aldershot/Aldershot Town
- Football League Fourth Division play-offs: 1986–87
- Isthmian League Second Division third-place promotion: 1993–94
- Isthmian League Third Division: 1992–93
