DOB: 6.7.1979, Campbelltown, NSW
From: Free
To: Brighton (Free)
BCFC: 9.9.2002 to 25.3.2004
Signed by: Nicky Law
Sold by: Bryan Robson
Now: Free agent
Former Wollongong Wolves midfielder Paul Reid made such an impression on his full league debut for the Bantams it is easy to forget he only played eight games for the club.
After coming off the bench in a 3-0 defeat against Portsmouth on September 28, 2002, Reid had to wait nearly a month for his next appearance, winning a starting spot in midfield against Norwich City.
Four minutes before half-time, Reid blasted City in front with a shot from distance which left the highly-rated Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green with no chance. It was, according to The Telegraph & Argus, ‘the best goal seen in these parts since Beni Carbone’s lob against Charlton in the Premiership.’
He then netted again 10 minutes after the break to help Bradford to a 2-1 win, but unfortunately that was as good as it got for Reid, who had signed an initial four-month deal with the club.
He made just six more league appearances, five of which were defeats, before injury got the better of him.
He twice dislocated toes in his time at Valley Parade, and told of his frustration to The Telegraph & Argus.
“People call me a one-hit wonder but I don’t want to be regarded as that. I want to get that Norwich monkey off my back,” he told the newspaper in an article published on August 23, 2003.
“I know that I’m a good enough player and hopefully I can play regularly in the Bradford line-up once these injuries are out of the way.”
“I played every week in Australia and only had one major injury, a broken ankle. Maybe it’s adjusting to full-time football that has caused the problem but hopefully this will now be the start of better times for me.”
Although Reid eventually earned himself a one-year deal with City, in January 2004 he was told by manager Bryan Robson he could leave the club, and signed for Brighton two months later after a successful trial period on the south coast.
While with the Bantams, Reid lived in Leeds in the same apartment building as former Socceroos skipper Paul Okon.
Reid is the only Australian-born player at BCFC to score twice in one game.
Brighton announced in May 2008 that Reid would be one of 10 players released by the club. On July 29, 2008, A-League club Adelaide United confirmed they had secured the Sydney-born star on a two-year deal.
Reid’s move to Australia would certainly pay dividends – playing in a more defensive midfield role he went on to make his debut for the Socceroos, play in the 2008 AFC Champions League final and 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, plus become the first Australian-born former Bradford City player to play in the A-League Grand Final.
On March 2, 2011, Adelaide announced that Reid would be leaving the club.
Last updated 3.6.11
BCFC Stats:
Appearances: 8 Goals 2
League appearances: 7 (1) League goals: 2
Cup appearances: 0 Cup goals: 0
Links:
Adelaide United profile
Soccerbase profile
Wikipedia entry
