Paul Bastock
Upright1.1
Full namePaul Anthony Bastock[1]
Birth date19 May 1970 (age 56)[1]
Birth placeLeamington Spa,[1] England
Height5.9 ft (1.80 metres)[2]
PositionGoalkeeper[1]
Youthyears 11986–1988
Youthclubs 1Coventry City
Years 11988–1989
Years 21988
Years 31989
Years 41989
Years 51989–1990
Years 61990–1992
Years 71991
Years 81992–2004
Years 92004
Years 102004
Years 112004–2007
Years 122007–2008
Years 132008–2011
Years 142011–2012
Years 152012–2013
Years 162013–2014
Years 172014
Years 182014–2015
Years 192015–2016
Years 202016–2017
Years 212017
Years 222017
Years 232017–2018
Years 242018
Years 252018
Years 262018
Years 272018–2021
Years 282022
Years 292022–2023
Clubs 1Cambridge United
Clubs 2→ Bath City (loan)[3]
Clubs 3Sabah FA
Clubs 4Cheltenham Town
Clubs 5Fisher Athletic
Clubs 6Kettering Town
Clubs 7→ Aylesbury United (loan)
Clubs 8Boston United
Clubs 9Scarborough
Clubs 10Dagenham & Redbridge
Clubs 11St Albans City
Clubs 12Rushden & Diamonds
Clubs 13St Albans City
Clubs 14Boston United
Clubs 15Worksop Town
Clubs 16St Albans City
Clubs 17Royston Town[4]
Clubs 18St Neots Town
Clubs 19Dunstable Town
Clubs 20Stamford
Clubs 21Corby Town
Clubs 22→ Wisbech Town (dual registration)
Clubs 23Wisbech Town
Clubs 24→ Kettering Town (dual registration)
Clubs 25Grantham Town
Clubs 26Pinchbeck United
Clubs 27King's Lynn Town
Clubs 28Deeping Rangers
Clubs 29Boston United
Caps 112
Caps 21
Caps 40
Caps 528
Caps 627
Caps 75
Caps 8501
Caps 90
Caps 101
Caps 11110
Caps 1219
Caps 13121
Caps 1448
Caps 1541

Paul Anthony Bastock (born 19 May 1970) is an English professional football manager and former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He previously held the record for the most competitive club appearances in world football, having played more than 1,286 times in league and cup competitions, primarily across the English lower leagues,[5][6][7][a] but has since been surpassed by Fábio.

During his career, which began in 1988, Bastock has represented more than twenty clubs, including Cambridge United, Boston United, Rushden & Diamonds and St Albans City. Having played 679 games in all competitions for the club,[8][9] Bastock was voted as Boston's 'all-time cult hero' by viewers of the BBC show Football Focus in April 2005.[10] He also played once for the England National Game XI (England C) in an unofficial game against a Highland League selection.[11]

Club career

Bastock started his career in the youth team at Coventry City in the eighties and was a member of their 1987 FA Youth Cup winning side that beat a Southampton youth side including Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier.[12] He was released by Coventry and signed his first professional contract in 1988 with Cambridge United where he stayed for one season during which he also played once on loan for Bath City in October 1988, a 1–1 draw against VS Rugby.[3] He then moved to Malaysia to play in the Malaysian Super League where he spent six months with Sabah FA.[13] He then moved back to England, where he spent time on trial with Newcastle United[14][15][16] and Leyton Orient,[14] and played a single match for Cheltenham Town in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup in return for a pair of gloves,[15] before signing for Fisher Athletic.[15][14] After a season with Fisher, he transferred to Kettering Town in 1990 where he spent two years.

At Kettering, after a brief period on loan at Aylesbury United,[17] he impressed and was snapped up by Boston United in 1992. His next 12 years with the Lincolnshire club were to prove the best of his footballing career. His first season with Boston was a disaster, with the club finishing bottom and being relegated from the Football Conference to the Northern Premier League. However, despite conceding 69 goals in 42 games, Bastock was still voted Player of the Season by supporters. He started to concede less goals the season after and Boston had a string of respectable league positions from 1993 to 1998 when they were moved to the Southern Premier League and their fortunes took an upturn. Bastock helped them to a second-place finish in the 1998–99 season and the team won the league and were promoted back to the Conference in 2000. He spent two seasons in the Conference before Boston were promoted to the Football League Third Division, Bastock missing just one game all season as Boston won the Conference.[12] He won the Player of the Season award again in the 2002–03 season, ten years after last winning it. He remained first choice throughout the whole 2003–04 season; the highlight of which was saving a penalty from Yeovil's Gavin Williams to help his side to a 3–2 win.[18] In the summer of 2004, Boston signed Nathan Abbey and Bastock was unable to regain his first-team place. Whilst playing for Boston, he also worked as a care assistant in a nursing home.

He was awarded a testimonial match for his great service to the club before leaving to join Scarborough in October 2004.[19] However, he stayed with Scarborough for just one week, before leaving due to family and travelling issues.[20]

He signed for Dagenham & Redbridge later the same month.[21] He stayed there for two months, making just one appearance, before he was signed by then Conference South side St Albans City in November 2004.[12] He played in 84 consecutive league games for St Albans between his debut match on 23 November 2004 against Hornchurch and 10 November 2006 before he received a suspension after being sent off in an FA Cup tie against Yeading.[12] During the 2005–06 season he was named Supporters Player of the Year, having kept a club record seven consecutive home clean sheets and also equalled the record of six consecutive clean sheets home or away as St Albans win promotion to the Conference.[12]

In 2006, Bastock took a position as part-time goalkeeping coach with Boston United,[citation needed] continuing to play for St Albans until May 2007 when he joined Rushden & Diamonds after St Alban's relegation from the Conference.[22] However, he was released by Rushden in February 2008[23] and rejoined St Albans City the following month. Within six games of returning was named Conference South Player of the Month[12] He played a crucial role in helping St Albans escape a further relegation and was named as the Supporters Club Player of the Year at the end of the season, only the second player to with the honour twice.[12]

Bastock rejoined former club Boston United, in March 2011.[24] He left the club at the end of the season.[25]

After spending the 2012–13 season at Worksop Town, it was announced he would be rejoining St Albans City for a third time for the 2013–14 season.

After one season with St Albans City, Bastock joined Royston Town in the summer of 2014, linking up with ex-St Albans manager Steve Castle.

Bastock moved up a division to sign for St Neots Town in October 2014 where he would go on to play his 1,000th game in senior football.[26] However, despite being a regular for St Neots Town, Bastock was released by the club along with Matt Spring in 2015.[27]

Bastock then moved to league counterparts Dunstable Town in the summer of 2015.[17]

In January 2016, Bastock moved to Stamford. Injury sidelined him for parts of his time at the Lincolnshire-based club, restricting him to 20 league appearances before he departed in the summer of 2017.[28]

He joined Corby Town prior to the 2017–18 season,[29] making his debut in a 5–1 win at home to Romulus on 12 August.[30] He signed for Wisbech Town on dual registration terms on 21 September 2017.[31][32] On 2 October 2017 he announced that his stay at Corby Town had ended.[33] In March 2018, he returned to Kettering Town on dual registration.[34]

Bastock announced his retirement from playing at the end of the 2017–18 season at the age of 48 and joined the coaching staff of Grantham Town but was called upon at short notice to come out of retirement for one final league game due to injury, playing in the Northern Premier League fixture away to Basford United on 27 August 2018. He was named as one of the substitutes for a further 11 games that season but was not called upon to play.[35] On 18 October 2018, Bastock signed for Pinchbeck United,[36] and some days later made an appearance with the club on a UCL League Cup game.[37][38] On 1 November 2018, Bastock joined King's Lynn Town as assistant manager.[39][40] Eighteen days later, he turned out for the team in their Norfolk Senior Cup tie against the University of East Anglia.[41]

In March 2021, aged 50, Bastock was named as a substitute for an away fixture against Notts County in the National League.[42] He appeared on the bench on subsequent other occasions, with the latest being on 25 May 2021.[43][44]

Bastock left King's Lynn Town on 10 December 2021.[45]

On 13 August 2022, Bastock returned to playing for a United Counties League Premier Division North match for Deeping Rangers.[46][47]

On 4 October 2022, Bastock was an unused substitute for Boston United in the FA Cup tie against Basford United.[48]

International career

Bastock also played once for the England National Game XI (England C) in a game against a Highland League selection.[11]

Managerial career

On 1 November 2018, Bastock joined King's Lynn Town as assistant manager,[39][40] and left the club on 10 December 2021.[45]

On 23 January 2022, Bastock was announced as Kettering Town's new assistant manager, alongside Ian Culverhouse.[49] He left the club, along with Culverhouse, on 15 May 2022.[50]

In September 2022, Bastock returned to Boston United for the role of the assistant manager, once again to Ian Culverhouse.[51] He left Boston on 28 October 2024 after Ian Culverhouse was sacked.[52]

On 28 November 2024, Bastock was appointed as assistant manager at National League South club St Albans City, once again alongside Ian Culverhouse.[53]

Personal life

Bastock's son Callum is also a footballer and a fellow goalkeeper. He played several first-team games at semi-professional level for Boston Town before moving on 22 February 2013 to Grimsby Town on a two-year scholarship deal.[54]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[55][17][56][57][58][8][9][59]
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cambridge United1988–8912[60][citation needed]0001[60]000130
Bath City (loan)1988–891[citation needed]000000010
Sabah FA1989
Cheltenham Town1989–900000001[15]010
Fisher Athletic1989–90280000000280
Kettering Town1990–913000000030
1991–92240000000240
Aylesbury United (loan)1991–925000000050
Boston United1992–93420200090530
1993–94410300070510
1994–95410301070520
1995–964101000160580
1996–973906000120570
1997–98410200090520
1998–993901000170570
1999–2000420400040500
2000–01420200040480
2001–02410100020440
2002–03460102020510
2003–04460101030510
Scarborough2004–05[19][20]0000000000
Dagenham & Redbridge2004–051000000010
St Albans City2004–05240000050290
2005–06420400040500
2006–07440000020460
Rushden & Diamonds2007–08190101040250
St Albans City2007–08110000000110
2008–09360200050430
2009–10400000010410
2010–11340300030400
Boston United2010–119000000090
2011–12390000060450
Worksop Town2012–1341000001[61]0420
St Albans City2013–14430400080550
Royston Town2014–15110000020130
St Neots Town2014–15330000060390
Dunstable Town2015–16250000050300
Stamford2015–16[62]180000010190
2016–17[63]2030001060
Corby Town2017–185[64]000000050
Wisbech Town2017–1833[58]0
Kettering Town2017–18[34]0000000000
Grantham Town2018–191[65]000000010
Pinchbeck United2018–19[36]1[37][38]000000010
King's Lynn Town2018–190000001[41][38]010
2020–210000000000
2021–22[66][citation needed]0000000000
Deeping Rangers2022–231[46][47]000000010
Boston United2022–23[48]0000000000
Career total1,053+[b]044+[b]06+[b]0149+[b]01,286+[c]0
  1. ^ Paul Bastock is often credited with 1,280 club appearances in the news[67] instead of 1,286 because he is credited with 677 appearances for Boston United instead of 679,[68][59][8][9][57] most likely the total count is missing his match for Cheltenham Town, his match for Pinchbeck United and his match for Deeping Rangers in 2022,[46] and there is some other miscalculation that can't be traced since all sources listing him with a total of 1,280 matches lack the detailed stats per club.
  2. ^ The symbol "+" indicates possibly more, since the source for the stats with Wisbech Town[58] only includes a total and the numbers with that club are not known by competition.
  3. ^ "+" because the number of his appearances for Sabah FA is unknown. Also, the total has one more to the one it sums, as, while the total sum of his appearances for Boston United on the table is 678, based on the detailed statistics,[55] he actually played in a total of 679.[8][9][59][57]

Honours

Coventry City
Boston United
St Albans City

See also

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ "Paul Bastock". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Past players". I Love Bath City. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  4. ^ "- Appearances/Scorers". Roystontownfc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Paul Bastock breaks Peter Shilton record in Wisbech's FA Vase victory". BBC. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Non-League Icons: Paul Bastock – Crazy, but just so committed!". theNonLeagueFootballPaper.com. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Bedworth United V Kings Lynn – the greenbacks – page 6". Issuu.com. 23 February 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Video – Paul Bastock". BostonUnited.Co.UK. 22 May 2021. Archived 5 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Boston United Records". BUFC.drfox.Org.UK. Boston United Football Club. Archived 5 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Boston's cult heroes". BBC Sport. 22 April 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  11. ^ "England Matches – The C Team (Semi-Professional & The National Game)". EnglandFootballOnline. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Paul Bastock profile". St Albans City F.C. Archived from the original on 13 January 2005. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  13. ^ "47-Year-Old Bastock Signs For Steelmen". nonLeague.pitchero. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  14. ^ "PILGRIMS IN PROFILE: Paul Bastock". LincolnshireWorld. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Former Cheltenham Town goalkeeper set to break world record". GloucestershireLive.Co.UK. 7 November 2017. Archived 3 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Archives – Where Are They Now? - B – Whatever happened to ? ...the unlikely lads". NUFC. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
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  18. ^ "Boston 3–2 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 12 April 2004. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Scarborough to release goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  20. ^ "Bastock ends time at Scarborough". BBC Sport. 27 October 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
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  29. ^ "Bastock so sure he can finish on a high with Corby". Northamptonshire Telegraph. 10 August 2017. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Paul Bastock". Corby Town F.C. Archived 26 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
  31. ^ "Experienced keeper signs as cover". Wisbech Town FC. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  32. ^ "Experienced goalkeeper Paul Bastock signs for Wisbech Town". Wisbech Standard. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  33. ^ "One In – Two Out at Corby". Pitchero Non League. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  34. ^ "Veteran goalkeeper Bastock joins the Poppies". Northamptonshire Telegraph. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  35. ^ Browne, Duncan (9 May 2018). "Promotion number five! World record-breaking keeper Paul Bastock bows out on a high". Boston Standard. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  36. ^ "Bastock is a Knight". Pitchero.com. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Dunn ready for big test of Pinchbeck United's title credentials against Eynesbury". SpaldingVoice.Co.UK. 2 November 2018. Archived 31 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  38. ^ "King's Lynn Town Football Club Players' Pen Pictures 2021–22". theLinnets.Co.UK. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  39. ^ "Hon.Member News: Record Breaker Paul Still Keeping His Boots Polished at 50!". ccfpa.co.uk. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  40. ^ "Bastock feeling at home in new King's Lynn Town role". lynnnews.co.uk. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  41. ^ "No clean sheet for veteran Bastock as King's Lynn bow out of Norfolk Senior Cup". EDP24.Co.UK. 19 November 2018. Archived 31 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  42. ^ Notts County Match Report
  43. ^ "King's Lynn Town 1-1 Solihull Moors". BBC Sport. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  44. ^ "Kings Lynn Town vs. Solihull Moors - Football Match Summary - May 25, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  45. ^ "New Linnets manager unveiled - and it's Strictly business". EDP24.Co.UK. Eastern Daily Press. 10 December 2021. Archived 24 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  46. ^ "Goalkeeper Paul Bastock keeps a clean sheet as Deeping Rangers defeat Heather St Johns". StamfordMercury.co.UK. Stamford Mercury. 13 August 2022. Archived 17 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  47. ^ "13/08/22, 15:00, Deeping Rangers 5 – 0 (HT 2–0) Heather St. John's". fulltime.theFA.com. The FA. 13 August 2022. Archived 17 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  48. ^ "Match Report: Boston United 3 - 3 Basford United". Boston United FC. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  49. ^ "BREAKING NEWS - IAN CULVERHOUSE". Kettering Town FC. 23 January 2022. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  50. ^ "Culverhouse leaves Kettering Town". Northamptonshire Telegraph. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  51. ^ "Club legend Paul Bastock wants to get Boston United rocking and rolling". Lincolnshireworld. 11 September 2022. Archived 17 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  52. ^ "Manager Culverhouse sacked by struggling Boston". BBC Sport. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  53. ^ "A New Era: Culverhouse and Bastock take the reins". St Albans City FC. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  54. ^ "Bazza is a Mariner! Callum Bastock switches Boston Town for Grimsby". Bostonstandard.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  55. ^ "Boston United Roll Call". BUFC.drfox.org.UK. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  56. ^ "St Albans City F.C. Statistics". SaintsStatistics.Co.UK. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  57. ^ "Paul Bastock – RDFC1992". RDFC1992.com. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  58. ^ "Paul Bastock". WisbechTownFC.Co.UK. Wisbech Town FC. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  59. ^ "FA Cup: Singer Jake Quickenden looking to hit the right notes for Ossett Town (main article title) – Going Strong at 47 (section title)". BBC Sport. 17 August 2017. Archived 5 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
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  61. ^ "Paul Anthony Bastock – Worksop – FA Trophy". Tribuna.com. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  62. ^ "Paul Bastock – Stamford AFC – 2015–16". Pitchero.com. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  63. ^ "Paul Bastock – Stamford AFC – 2016–17". Pitchero.com. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  64. ^ "Paul Bastock – Corby Town FC". CorbyTown.Co.UK. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  65. ^ "Paul Bastock – Grantham Town FC". GranthamTownFC.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  66. ^ "King's Lynn FC Club Details – First Team Squad – Soccer Base". SoccerBase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  67. ^ "Non-League Icons: Paul Bastock – Crazy, but just so committed!". TheNonLeagueFootballPaper.com. 16 April 2020. Archived 2 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  68. ^ "Bedworth United V Kings Lynn – the greenbacks". Issuu.com. 23 February 2019. p. 6. Archived 31 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 October 2021.