Interview by Pat Verrill
Paul Hyde is a man that needs little introduction to Dover supporters after 8 years and 350 appearances with the Whites. Before joining Dover, Paul played for Wycombe Wanderers, Leicester City and Leyton Orient to name a few. Here we spoke about his career in the game including his role back at the club he loves.
Hi Paul thank you for you time. How happy are you to be back at Dover and how did it come about?
I’m delighted to be back at Dover. It was the last big club that I played for over a span of eight years, 350 appearances, good memories and some very bad managers. The manager you have now is a very good young manager with a good coach and backroom staff. Jake invited me back to help work with the goalkeepers and to be around as an old head to advise if needed!
We’re delighted to have you back Paul! You played alongside Jake during your time with Dover, did he always stand out as one you thought may go on to be a manager? You’ve already spoken highly of him, what do you like most about his managerial style?
Thank you very much. That’s lovely to hear. Jake played a big part in the Bill Williams team, he was confident, vocal, understanding, passionate and could play the game of football. If I remember rightly it was my decision to pass over the captaincy to him as even then I could see the players responded in the right manner to what he had to say and his opinions. He is levelheaded and as honest as a manager as he was a player, he’s a top bloke all round.
It isn’t just Dover where you’ve made a lasting impression, you also played for Wycombe Wanderers during your career winning at Wembley twice in two seasons. How did that feel?
When I was a boy my dream of playing at Wembley was always in my mind, as it was to become a professional footballer. To actually play at Wembley for Wycombe in the FA trophy final of the non-league FA Cup was everything to me. To experience the journey from the changing room up the slope of the old Wembley Stadium and the long walk to the centre of the pitch, it was the longest walk I’ve ever done. That year we gained promotion to league two as well as winning the FA Trophy final at Wembley. Next season we played Preston in the playoff finals at Wembley, we’d only been promoted the season before so to experience Wembley again was an incredible experience for me personally. We won the game and made it two promotions in two seasons, those are games that I will always remember.
After you left Wycombe you joined Leicester City, how did that move happen?
Martin O’Neill was my manager at Wycombe, he’d left to move to Leicester and I followed six months later. It was a fantastic experience and a great achievement to make it to that level but if I’m at a football club I want to be number one, sitting on a bench isn’t for me.
You left to move to Leyton Orient and get back to being a number one, how was your time there?
I loved it. It’s a wonderful, traditional London club with an incredible stadium. My time there was amazing but it will be tainted by the leg break I suffered.
Did you realise how bad the leg break was at the time?
I knew he’d broken my leg put it that way! I even screamed at him to get off me telling him he’d broken it. When I was told I wouldn’t be able to play professionally again I was heartbroken.
How did you get back to playing after being told it wasn’t possible?
I got angry. I wasn’t being told by anyone else what my body could do, I decided that I would let my body tell me when to give up and I wasn’t ready for that.
Then a phone call came from Dover, how did that feel at the time?
A dream came true, genuinely. Bill Williams rang me and said that he wanted me to join, I was elated. I had every intention of being a coach for the current number one and being a back up to him too. Bill soon saw that I was still more than capable and he wanted me as number one, after such a bad leg break to have that confidence placed in me was such a relief. I couldn’t be anymore grateful for that phone call. At the same time Bill had given my number to a contact at Gillingham and I began coaching there, working alongside Peter Taylor who is a lovely man. I really enjoyed my coaching there, working alongside Vince Bartram and bringing Jason Brown to the club. After being in such a low place after what happened at Orient to coaching and playing again, I couldn’t have been happier.
And now you’re back at Crabble but now on the coaching staff. Whats it been like being a coach to Mitch and Claudio?
Both keepers are honest and good fun. Mitch is a seasoned pro as we’ve discussed he’s too old in the tooth to learn new tricks but he’s happy that I’m there to talk train and be around. He’s a fantastic pro, great athlete and a genuinely lovely bloke for Claudio he’s funny, enthusiastic and brings a little bit of fun to a training session!
What do you think has changed about goalkeeping since your playing days?
My opinion is that its changed quite a lot. Goalkeepers have become more like outfield players using their feet for distribution and massively playing out from the back. It also has brought something to the game that I don’t like, goalkeepers reject trying to catch the ball to keep possession in favour of two hand punching the ball back into play giving the opposition a second bite at the cherry, obviously all situations dictate what choice you make but very seldom do they elect and trust their hands.
You said after leaving Dover in 2004 that you were disappointed with football, what made you feel that way?
I left in 2008 but my best form was 2000 to 2004 the conference days with Bill Williams who I rated very highly. Him leaving came with darker days where relegation took hold year after year, I felt disillusioned. The fact that the new managers in place saw me as a threat to their managerial career rather than accepting the fact I was a good goalkeeper that loved to play for Dover, ruined my time towards the end. This happened with two or three of the managers in that time. I was put on gardening leave and I was called back on a few occasions to try and help Stave off relegation which was also heartbreaking.
That must have been so difficult at the time. It must feel great then to be back at Dover now albeit in a different capacity? Knowing your time at Dover doesn’t end on a sour note
Correct it was a sad time back then, Managers made these decisions to push me out of the club entirely, it hurt a lot. You must understand there is always questions why someone leaves but unfortunately I was never there to be able to explain why and some rumours may have appeared that I was a troublemaker, I can assure you this is not the case. I was very understanding of the managers decisions but it baffled me why the managers made these decisions. I went along with the managers decisions without question as a professional that I am. Its nice to come back and be remembered for the player I was and it’s nice to come back and people now realise the person I really am, in a different capacity at the club but missing my playing days massively! But I am really enjoying working with Jake,Mike and all the staff.
What are your personal ambitions for the season and do you hope to stay involved with Dover for the foreseeable future?
I would love to see the team; Jim, Jake, Mike and staff achieve their goal and be a helpful part of the team that puts Dover back into a more realistic league for the quality of the ground and huge support we have. I hope to be able to stay and to help move the club forward in any capacity. If not I will always be around to support them.
Thanks Paul
