| view Bodin's match-by-match record |
| Paul BODIN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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:
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date of birth
usual positions left back left wing back youth career senior career |
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WALES
