Paul Downing (footballer)
English footballer (born 1991)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul Michael Downing (born 26 October 1991) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
|
Downing playing for Doncaster Rovers in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Michael Downing[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 October 1991[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Taunton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2009 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | (0) |
| 2010 | → Hereford United (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Rotherham United (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Shrewsbury Town loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | → Barnet (loan) | 26 | (0) |
| 2012–2016 | Walsall | 156 | (6) |
| 2016–2018 | Milton Keynes Dons | 37 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Blackburn Rovers | 15 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2019–2022 | Portsmouth | 11 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Rochdale (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Hereford | 27 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Kidderminster Harriers | 29 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | Worcester City | 32 | (2) |
| Total | 383 | (10) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 08:31, 28 April 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
West Bromwich Albion
Downing was born in Taunton, Somerset and came through the youth system at West Bromwich Albion.[2] He signed a professional contract lasting until June 2012, with an option of a further year in the club's favour.[3] He made the bench for a 0–0 draw against Blackburn in the Premier League on 24 May 2009.[4]
Downing went on a one-month loan deal to Hereford United on 25 January 2010, along with West Brom teammate Lateef Elford-Alliyu.[5] He was given the squad number 16, and made his debut on 2 February in a 2–0 win against Lincoln City at Edgar Street.[6] He was sent off on his final appearance, a 5–0 loss to eventual league winners Notts County on 27 February.[7] He made six appearances during his loan spell.[8]
Between November 2010 and April 2011, Downing signed on loan for two successive spells with Rotherham United[9] and Shrewsbury Town[10] but made no senior appearances for either club before returning to West Brom.[11]
On 3 November 2011 he signed on loan for League Two side Barnet, initially on a one-month deal.[12] He made his debut on 8 November in a 2–0 win in the Football League Trophy against Cheltenham Town.[13] On 17 November Barnet extended the loan deal to allow him to remain there until 2 January.[14] On 19 January 2012 the loan deal was extended again to allow him to remain at Barnet until 28 February.[15] On 29 February the loan deal was extended again, this time until the end of the season.[16] He was sent off for the second time in his career during a 1–1 draw with Rotherham on 3 March.[17]
When Downing returned to West Bromwich Albion at the end of the 2011–12 season the club announced that they were not offering him a new contract. On 24 May 2012, Downing was released after three years at the club, having never made an appearance for the first team.
Walsall
On 1 August 2012, Downing signed for League One team Walsall.[18] He made his debut on 1 September in a 2–2 draw against Brentford.[19]
Milton Keynes Dons
On 27 June 2016, after declining a new contract with Walsall, Downing joined fellow League One side Milton Keynes Dons on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.[20] Downing made his league debut for the club on 6 August 2016, in a 0–1 away win against Shrewsbury Town.[21]
Blackburn Rovers
On 31 August 2017, Downing initially joined fellow League One club Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan.[22] On 8 January 2018, Downing joined the club permanently on a one-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[23] On 15 May 2019 it was announced that Downing will leave at the end of his contract.[24]
Doncaster Rovers
On 24 January 2019, it was announced that Downing had been loaned to Doncaster Rovers in League One for the rest of that season.[25]
Portsmouth
On 21 June 2019, it was announced Downing had signed for League One side Portsmouth on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract after being released by Blackburn Rovers.[26] Having spent the second half of the 2021–22 season on loan away from the club, Downing was released at the end of the season.[27]
Rochdale (loan)
On 13 January 2022, Downing signed for Rochdale on loan for the rest of the season.[28]
Hereford
On 31 August 2023, after 16 months without a club, Downing signed for National League North club Hereford, linking up with former Blackburn teammate Paul Caddis.[29] He made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat to Southport two days later. On 17 October 2023, it was announced that Downing had signed a contract to stay at Hereford until the end of the 2023–24 season.[30]
Kidderminster Harriers
On 20 June 2024, Downing signed a one-year contract with National League North club Kidderminster Harriers.[31] He was released at the end of the season.[32]
Worcester City
On 17 June 2025, Downing signed for Southern League Premier Division Central club Worcester City.[33]
On 12 June 2026, Downing announced his retirement from football.[34]
Coaching career
In October 2025, he returned to former club Kidderminster Harriers, helping coach the under-19s squad.[35]
Personal life
He is the nephew of former footballer and manager, and former assistant head coach of West Brom Keith Downing, a cousin of Judas Priest's guitarist K.K. Downing. His older brother Leigh was formerly at the West Bromwich Albion academy as a scholar.[36]
Career statistics
- As of match played 18 February 2025[37]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2008–09[38] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011–12[39] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Hereford United (loan) | 2009–10[8] | League Two | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Rotherham United (loan) | 2010–11[40] | League Two | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2010–11[40] | League Two | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Barnet (loan) | 2011–12[39] | League Two | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| Walsall | 2012–13[41] | League One | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 32 | 1 |
| 2013–14[42] | League One | 44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 49 | 1 | |
| 2014–15[43] | League One | 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[a] | 0 | 45 | 1 | |
| 2015–16[44] | League One | 46 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 56 | 3 | |
| Total | 156 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 183 | 6 | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2016–17[45] | League One | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| 2017–18[46] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
| Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 2017–18[46] | League One | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2017–18[46] | League One | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19[47] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | ||
| Total | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 2 | ||
| Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 2018–19[47] | League One | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Portsmouth | 2019–20[48] | League One | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 2020–21[49] | League One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2021–22[50] | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| Rochdale (loan) | 2021–22[50] | League Two | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Hereford | 2023–24[51][52] | National League North | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 2024–25[51] | National League North | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Career total | 341 | 8 | 21 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 380 | 9 | ||
- Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
- Appearance(s) in League One play-offs
Honours
Walsall
- Football League Trophy runner-up: 2014–15[53]
Blackburn Rovers
- EFL League One runner-up: 2017–18[54]
