view Bodin's match-by-match record
 
Paul BODIN

Bodin was originally signed from Newport County in March 1988 as cover for Phil King - and his first few appearances for the club were terrible - leading Town fanzine "Bring the Noise" to describe him as being "no better than an average Conference player".

When King left for Sheffield Wednesday in November the following year, Bodin became the club's first choice left back, and his performances began to improve - so much so that he became a regular choice for his country. He was almost ever-present in 1989/1990, a season which resulted in his first appearance for Swindon at Wembley, in the ill-fated Play-Off Final win over Sunderland.

After the illegal payments scandal, Swindon were forced to sell players, and shortly after Ossie Ardiles left the club, Bodin also left - Crystal Palace paying over £½ million for his services. Bodin failed to settle in London, and after Ardiles took him to Newcastle for a short loan spell, he returned to the County Ground just ten months after he had left - Glenn Hoddle paying half the fee that Palace had.

Hoddle played Bodin as a more attack-minded wing back, making better use of Bodin's crossing ability. He also installed Bodin as the club's penalty taker - moves which were to come to fruition the following season, when he scored a total of twelve goals from his new position. Five of these goals came from the penalty spot - the last of which was possibly the most pressurised kick ever to be taken by a Swindon player - the penalty which gave Swindon the lead in the dying minutes of the 1993 Play-Off Final win over Leicester at Wembley.

Bodin performed well again in the Premier League, scoring seven league goals, including penalty strikes against Manchester United and Arsenal. By now, he was a regular choice at international level - missing a crucial penalty for Wales in their World Cup qualifier with Romania - had he scored, Wales would have qualified.

He remained as the Town's first choice left back for two more seasons, despite two successive relegations and the arrival of Jason Drysdale - and he helped the club to the Second Division championship in 1996, before leaving the club at the end of that season.

PLAYING RECORD:

Season LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP OTHER TOTAL
Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls
'95/'96 32 (+1) 2 4 1 4 - 1 - 41 (+1) 3
'94/'95 25 6 1 - 6 - 2 - 34 6
'93/'94 28 (+4) 7 2 - 3 - - - 33 (+4) 7
'92/'93 37 (+1) 12 1 - 1 - 2 - 41 (+1) 12
'91/'92 21 2 2 - - - - - 23 2
'90/'91 31 2 3 - 4 - 1 - 39 2
'89/'90 41 (+3) 5 1 - 8 - 3 1 53 (+3) 6
'88/'89 15 (+1) 1 2 - - - - - 17 (+1) 1
'87/'88 3 (+2) 1 - - - - 1 - 4 (+2) 1
TOTAL 233 (+12) 38 16 1 26 - 10 1 285 (+12) 40


TRANSFER INFORMATION:

DATE IN/OUT TRANSFER DETAIL
7 MAR 1988 IN Newport County
£25,000
20 MAR 1991 OUT Crystal Palace
£550,000
10 JAN 1992 IN Crystal Palace
£225,000
11 JUL 1996 OUT Reading
Free transfer


full name

Paul John Bodin


 WALES
international apps

23 apps, 3 goals
(16 apps whilst at Swindon) 

U-21 international apps

1 apps
youth international apps



date of birth
13 September 1964


             
             
             
           
           
             

usual positions
left back
left wing back

youth career
Chelsea

senior career
Newport County 
Cardiff City 
Merthyr Tydfil 
Bath City
Newport County 
SWINDON TOWN
Crystal Palace
Newcastle United (loan)
SWINDON TOWN
Reading
Wycombe Wanderers (loan)

Bath City
player-manager

Devizes Town
player

Swindon Supermarine
player

SWINDON TOWN
youth coach
caretaker manager
youth coach

Southampton
academy coach

Port Vale
assistant manager

Wales 
under-19 coach
under-21 coach