Paul Willis (Scottish footballer)

Paul Willis (born 21 August 1991) is a Scottish footballer who last played as a midfielder for Linlithgow Rose.

Paul Willis
Personal information
Full name Paul Willis
Date of birth (1991-08-21) 21 August 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2013 Dunfermline Athletic 38 (1)
2011Ayr United (loan) 6 (1)
2012–2013East Fife (loan) 33 (4)
2013–2014 East Fife 11 (1)
2014 Kingston FC
2014–2015 Berwick Rangers 34 (9)
2015–2017 Albion Rovers 56 (7)
2017–2018 East Fife 10 (0)
2018–2019 Berwick Rangers 29 (7)
2019 Peterhead 15 (1)
2019–2020 Stirling Albion 17 (0)
2020 Linlithgow Rose
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:30, 12 November 2020 (UTC)

Willis began his career with Dunfermline Athletic, and has also played for Ayr United, East Fife (three spells), Berwick Rangers (two spells), Albion Rovers, Peterhead and Stirling Albion,[1] as well as for Canadian club Kingston FC.

Career edit

Willis was signed for Dunfermline Athletic under-15s by Jim McArthur from local side Hutchison Vale. He progressed up the ranks playing for the under-17s for a season before being promoted to the under-19 squad for the 2007–2008 season. In February 2008, Willis was promoted to the Dunfermline Athletic first team squad after impressing at the lower levels. On 1 March 2008, Willis made his début against Livingston, being brought on for Alex Burke in the 83rd minute.[2]

In June 2013, it was announced that Willis had signed with East Fife.[3] It was mutually agreed to terminate his contract with East Fife in February 2014. After his release from East Fife he had a brief stint overseas in Canada with Kingston FC of the Canadian Soccer League.[4][5] Willis signed for Berwick Rangers in July 2014.[6] At the end of 2014–15 season, Willis signed for Scottish League One newcomers Albion Rovers on a one-year contract.[7]

Willis played with Rovers for two seasons, before returning to Bayview to sign for East Fife on 25 May 2017.[8] After failing to make an impact in Methil, Willis signed for Berwick Rangers on 31 January 2018, having previously played for the side 3-years earlier.[9] Willis moved to Peterhead in January 2019,[10] but would later sign for Stirling Albion in the summer, with the Binos announcing the transfer on 13 June 2019.[11]

Willis signed with East of Scotland team Linlithgow Rose in July 2020.[12] Willis departed the club on 12 November 2020.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ "Paul Willis | Football Stats | Stirling Albion | Age 28 | Soccer Base". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Dunfermline 1–1 Livingston". BBC News. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Update on Club signings". East Fife F.C. 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Reaching for the Top - Again! - Kingston FC - The Official Website of Kingston's Professional Men's Soccer Club". Kingston FC - The Official Website of Kingston's Professional Men's Soccer Club. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. ^ Fletcher, Alex (19 March 2014). "Support Local Football: CSL: Kingston FC 2014 roster". supportlocalsoccer.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  6. ^ Berwick move for Willis, SPFL
  7. ^ "New Signing". albionroversfc.co.uk. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Signing news". East Fife FC. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  9. ^ Inglis, Scott (1 February 2018). "East Fife turn heads with addition of former Manchester United target". Fife Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Peterhead make deadline day swoop for Willis". Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Willis is 10th Stirling signing | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  12. ^ Carson, Callum (8 July 2020). "Linlithgow Rose boss targets three more arrivals following Paul Willis signing". dailyrecord. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  13. ^ "In other news, Paul Willis has departed the club". Twitter. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

External links edit