Paul Brooker

Paul Brooker (born 25 November 1976) is an English retired professional football Winger who played in the Football League, most notably for Brighton & Hove Albion. He also played league football for Brentford, Fulham, Reading and Leicester City.

Paul Brooker
Personal information
Full name Paul Brooker[1]
Date of birth (1976-11-25) 25 November 1976
Place of birth Hammersmith, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Chelsea
0000–1995 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2000 Fulham 56 (4)
1998–1999 → Stevenage Borough (loan) 8 (1)
2000 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 15 (2)
2000–2003 Brighton & Hove Albion 118 (13)
2003–2004 Leicester City 3 (0)
2004 → Reading (loan) 11 (0)
2004–2005 Reading 31 (0)
2005–2007 Brentford 71 (4)
2008–2009 Chertsey Town 36 (9)
2008 → Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 1 (0)
2010 Dorking Wanderers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion (1995–2003)

Able to play on either wing,[2] Brooker began his career as a schoolboy at Chelsea, before joining the youth system at West London rivals Fulham.[3] He turned professional in 1995 and broke through into the first team during the 1996–97 season.[3] He was a part of the team which secured promotion to the Second Division in May 1997.[4][5] Brooker was out of favour over the course of the following three seasons and made just one league appearance during the Cottagers' 1998–99 promotion season.[5][6][7][8] He spent time away on loan at Stevenage Borough and Brighton & Hove Albion and joined the latter club on a three-year contract for a £25,000 fee in May 2000,[3][9] a move which reunited him with his former Fulham manager Micky Adams.[10]

After breaking into the starting lineup in February 2001,[11] Brooker became an integral part of the Brighton & Hove Albion team which won consecutive promotions from the Third to the First Division in 2001 and 2002.[2][12] He turned down a new two-year contract in August 2002 and departed the Withdean Stadium when his contract expired at the end of the 2002–03 season.[10][13] He made 147 appearances and scored 16 goals during just over three seasons with Brighton & Hove Albion.[14]

Leicester City, Reading and Brentford (2003–2007)

On 1 July 2003, Brooker reunited with Micky Adams for the third time at Premier League club Leicester City and signed a two-year contract on a free transfer.[10][15] He made just six appearances during the 2003–04 season and spent just over two months on loan at First Division club Reading,[16][17] with whom he signed a two-year contract on a free transfer on 2 July 2004.[18] Brooker made 34 appearances during the 2004–05 season,[19] but was allowed to join League One club Brentford on a free transfer on 1 July 2005.[20][21]

Though Brentford were defeated in the 2006 League One play-off semi-finals,[22] Brooker had a successful 2005–06 season, making 45 appearances and scoring four goals,[23] one of which late in the season versus Swindon Town was described as "a superb individual effort", in which he "ran from within his own half and beat three defenders before scoring".[24] The strike was nominated for the Goal of the Year award at the 2007 Football League Awards.[25] He was again a regular during a disastrous 2006–07 season,[26] which finished with relegation to League Two.[22] The end to Brooker's season was doubly soured when he "stupidly gesticulated in the direction of the fans" after being substituted on the final day during a match versus Tranmere Rovers.[27] Supporter taunts led him to react again during a pre-season friendly versus Harrow Borough in July 2007.[27] Despite having been previously in negotiations to leave the club,[28] Brooker received backing from new manager Terry Butcher,[27] but after two early-2007–08 season appearances,[29] his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 30 August 2007.[30] He made 86 appearances and scored four goals during just over two seasons with Brentford.[14]

Non-league football (2008–2010)

Aside from a spell training with former club Brighton & Hove Albion in September 2008,[31] Brooker spent the remainder of his career in non-league football, playing for Chertsey Town, Havant & Waterlooville and Dorking Wanderers.[32][33]

Personal life

After leaving professional football, Brooker set up a carpet cleaning business.[3]

Honours

Fulham

Brighton & Hove Albion

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fulham 1995–96[36] Third Division 9 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 3
1996–97[4] 22 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 24 3
1997–98[6] Second Division 10 0 0 0 2 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 14 0
1998–99[7] 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 2 0
1999–00[8] First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 42 4 2 1 3 1 3 0 50 6
Stevenage Borough (loan) 1998–99[9] Conference 10 1 — — — 10 1
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 1999–00[8] Third Division 15 2 — — — 15 2
Brighton & Hove Albion 2000–01[35] Third Division 40 3 1 0 2 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 1 45 4
2001–02[34] Second Division 41 4 3 0 2 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 47 4
2002–03[37] First Division 37 6 1 0 2 0 — 40 6
Brighton & Hove Albion total 133 15 5 0 6 0 3 1 147 16
Leicester City 2003–04[16] Premier League 3 0 1 0 2 0 — 6 0
Reading (loan) 2003–04[16] First Division 11 0 — — — 11 0
Reading 2004–05[19] Championship 31 0 1 0 2 0 — 34 0
Reading total 42 0 1 0 2 0 — 45 0
Brentford 2005–06[23] League One 36 4 6 0 1 0 2[lower-alpha 2] 0 45 4
2006–07[26] 34 0 1 0 2 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 39 0
2007–08[29] League Two 1 0 — 1 0 — 2 0
Total 71 4 7 0 4 0 4 0 86 4
Chertsey Town 2007–08[38] Combined Counties League Premier Division 7 2 — — — 7 2
2008–09[39] 29 7 2 0 — 5[lower-alpha 3] 4 36 11
Total 36 9 2 0 — 5 4 43 13
Havant & Waterlooville (loan) 2008–09[40] Conference South 1 0 — — 1[lower-alpha 4] 0 1 0
Career total 338 33 18 1 17 1 16 5 389 40
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy.
  2. Appearances in League One play-offs.
  3. 1 appearance and 2 goals in FA Vase, 2 appearances in Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup, 2 appearances and 2 goals in Surrey Senior Cup.
  4. Appearance in Conference League Cup.

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 63. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. "THE GREAT GOAL: BROOKER V READING". Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  3. "Where are they Now?". www.fulhamfc.com. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  4. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  5. Fulham F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  6. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  7. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  8. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  9. "BoroGuide | Stevenage Players | Paul Brooker". www.boroguide.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  10. "Brooker joins Leicester". 24 June 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  11. "Paul Brooker Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.com. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  12. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  13. "Adams targets Brooker". 6 June 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  14. Paul Brooker at Soccerbase
  15. getreading (4 July 2004). "BROOKER REJECTS RIVALS TO JOIN ROYALS". getreading. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  16. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  17. "Reading | News | Latest News | Latest News | Royals boss Coppell swoops to sign Premiership player on loan deal". readingfc.co.uk. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  18. "Reading | News | Latest News | Latest News | Royals complete double swoop to sign Sonko and Brooker". readingfc.co.uk. 2 July 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  19. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  20. "Reading | News | Latest News | Latest News | Brooker set to leave Royals and sign for Brentford on a free transfer". readingfc.co.uk. 24 June 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  21. "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | MARTIN'S FRIDAY UPDATE". brentfordfc.co.uk. 24 June 2005. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  22. Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  23. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  24. "Swindon 1–3 Brentford". 22 April 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  25. "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE AWARDS". brentfordfc.co.uk. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  26. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  27. "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | PAUL BROOKER – A STATEMENT". brentfordfc.co.uk. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  28. "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | BEES ANNOUNCE RETAINED LIST". brentfordfc.co.uk. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  29. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  30. "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | PAUL BROOKER DEPARTS". brentfordfc.co.uk. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  31. "Winger Brooker trains with Albion". 18 September 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  32. "hawks.net : Paul Brooker player profile". www.havantandwaterlooville.net. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  33. "Wanderers make Brooker signing | This is Surrey". Thisissurreytoday.co.uk. 11 June 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  34. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  35. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  36. "Paul Brooker". Fulhamweb. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  37. "Games played by Paul Brooker in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  38. "football.mitoo". football.mitoo.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  39. "football.mitoo". football.mitoo.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  40. "hawks.net : player apps breakdown for Paul Brooker (/1.#QNAN Season)". www.havantandwaterlooville.net. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
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