Paul Arnison
Director of Soccer
Paul Arnison played professional soccer in the UK for almost 20 years for teams such as Newcastle United in the English Premier League where he captained the reserve team for almost three years. While he did not break into the first team, which at the time included several world class and international players such as Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, David Ginola, John Barnes and managers of calibre such as Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson, he appreciated the opportunity to train and be coached by them on a daily basis.
In 2000, Paul moved on to his hometown team, Hartlepool United, where he made his professional debut at the age of 21, scoring for the first time the following week. Paul then played for Carlisle United for six years. Achievement included relegations, promotions, cup finals at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales in front of 50,000 fans – a time of his life he will never forget. Unfortunately, his team lost to Swansea City that day but to play in a Big Cup Final in front of family and friends and thousands of screaming fans was a fantastic experience.
Paul left Carlisle United at the age of 30 and had a knee operation which kept him off the field for three months during that time. Paul was then picked up for Bradford City before moving to Darlington FC, his final professional club in the United Kingdom.
Paul had many highs and lows at Darlington. He says he could write a book with some of the stories from his time there. Paul says one of the best moments in his career was playing at the new Wembley Stadium (England’s National Stadium ) in a non-League Cup Final. Paul fondly remembers walking his two sons – who were club mascots – out alongside him. To then win the game in the last minute of extra time and to walk up the famous Wembley steps to lift the trophy just made the occasion that little bit more special for him.
In 2013, Paul and his family emigrated to Australia and settled on the Sunshine Coast. He coached and played at the Sunshine Coast Fire for three years, played for Noosa FC and then Caboolture FC. Paul decided to hang up the boots and give something back to this favourite game which has served him well from the age of 16 to the day before his 40th birthday.
Paul now runs Paul Arnison’s Soccer Skills Clinics, coaches Flinders Football and at the beginning of 2019 took the Head Coaches role at the Sunshine Wanderers Soccer Club who recently won promotion to the Queensland National Premier League.
Paul says, “In my Director of Coaching role here at Matthew Flinders Anglican College, I run training sessions during lunch time to get the kids out enjoying kicking a soccer ball around. In Terms 1 and 4 we have our SCISSA programs for both boys and girls and in recent times participation numbers have increased greatly. We are beginning to get great turnouts for training and that shows in the game play. We are now competing with St Andrews and Suncoast Christian College in grand finals, which demonstrates the great work from all soccer coaches/staff. I love my job coaching soccer. We have such great talent here on the Sunshine Coast and I get great satisfaction from seeing the kids enjoying football and playing with a smile on their faces.”
