Played For Luton And Chelsea – Paul Elliott

For the third in a series that has already seen Mal Donaghy and Mick Harford covered, I have chosen to feature Paul Elliott.

Born in March 1964, Paul Marcellus Elliott started his professional career at a local club, Charlton Athletic.

A cultured defender, Elliott’s performances saw Luton Town sign the player in 1983, with the Hatters developing their squad and keen to maintain their First Division status.

Immediately, Elliott’s cultured displays, at the heart of the Luton defence saw him become a fans favourite.

However, his stay at Kenilworth Road came to an end in 1985 when after just 66 league appearances he joined Aston Villa.

His stay at Villa Park ended in 1987 when he moved to the Italian club Pisa.

However, Elliott was soon to return to the UK and in 1989 he joined Celtic.

Continuing to grow as a footballer and with his reputation enhanced, Elliott, in the summer of 1991 joined Chelsea with the London club paying £1,400,000 for his services.

Sadly, Elliott’s career was to end abruptly when, in an away fixture against Liverpool, he picked up a bad knee injury in a melee with Dean Saunders.

It was an injury Elliott was never to recover from and on 10 May 1994 he announced his retirement from football.

Between picking up the injury and announcing his retirement, I was fortunate enough to bump into Paul.

Leaving the Engine public house, in Bute Street, Luton, Elliott was emerging from the Chinese restaurant across the road, we stopped for a quick chat and he assured me he would return from his injury and that he remembered his time at Kenilworth Rad with fondness, but, sadly, it was not to be.

Elliott, never picked up any full England caps but made 1 appearance for the ‘B’ team and 3 for the U-21 side.

I am convinced that, if he had not suffered that cruel twist of fate, he would have gone on to grace the England side, such was his stature as a central defender.