Focus On…....Paul Warnecki

Series continues on players who have spent some of their careers as a player or manager in the Southern League.

Paul is definitely one to which the phrase `well-travelled` can definitely be used!

Well known, especially around the Milton Keynes area, he spent many years playing in the Southern, United Counties and Spartan South Midlands League.

After spending schoolboy years at Luton Town and Cambridge United, Paul advanced quickly into senior football, making his debut aged just 16 years old for Buckingham Town in the early 1980s, initially in the UCL and then the Southern League after helping the Robins to win the UCL title.

He gained the reputation as one of the best goalkeeper’s playing at semi-professional level, playing for many clubs ranging from Kettering Town, Rushden Town and Baldock town.

He took a break to develop outside business interests in the late 1990s but continued to play for various clubs in the region - winning the Berks & Bucks Cup with Newport Pagnell Town at the grand old age of 44 and continues to play actively to this day, so he has certainly been there done it and worn the goalkeeping gloves!

It was Paul`s desire to coach the next generation of goalkeepers that lead him to set up his own goalkeeper schools in 2014 through the Just4Keepers franchise.

He is now FA level 2 qualified and lead goalkeeper coach for Bedfordshire FA.

Now with over ten regular venues for group coaching throughout Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, as well as numerous individual sessions for teams and clubs throughout the region, Paul launched `Goalkeeper Warz`.

Clubs played For (deep breath!):

Buckingham Town, Rushden Town, Baldock Town, Stamford, Bedford Town, Aylesbury United, MK Borough, Irthlingborough Diamonds, Long Buckby, Daventry Town, Wolverton Town, Buckingham Athletic, Newport Pagnell Town, MK City (to name but 14!).

Best Game Played In?

Buckingham Town v Aldershot Town 1994/95 FA Cup – we won 2-1.

Best 11 Played With:

Kevin Fox (Rushden)

Paul Lamb (Buckingham)

Jess Mansfield (Buckingham)

Andy Peaks (Stamford) pictured

Nick Ashby (Stamford)

Steve Searle (Buckingham)

Mark Sherlock (Buckingham)

Dave Botterill (Aylesbury United)

Paul Covington (Bedford Town)

Terry Shrieves (Buckingham)

Wayne Spencer (MK Boro & Buckingham)

Subs:

Darren Watts (Raunds)

Nigel Roberts (Buckingham)

Danny Nichols (Buckingham)

Barry Grant (Buckingham)

Best Captain?

Andy Peaks

Funniest Team-Mate/Manager:

Team-mate Wayne Spencer - manager Mick Foster

Best Manager?

Roger Ashby at both Rushden and Wolverton

Best Mate in Football:

Too many to mention. Football has brought me some great friendships.

Are You Still Involved in the Game?

I do a bit at Newport Pagnell Town but mainly it’s all my coaching business now Goalkeeper Warz coaching the kids.

Words of Advice?

Always enjoy it. Play at the highest level you can don’t drop your standards. Savour the good times.