During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Paul Lake was looked upon as a symbol of England’s next generation. The Manchester City midfielder was subject to a bid from Liverpool and earmarked as a future England captain.
His versatility in midfield became hugely beneficial to Man City as they looked to stop their trend of moving up and down the divisions and bring the glory years back to the blue half of Manchester. When Sir Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish came calling, Lake famously turned down their approach to remain at his beloved Man City.
A devastating knee injury in September 1990 started the beginning of the end for Paul’s career, though. 22-year-old Lake was named in Sir Bobby Robson’s World Cup squad before being one of three players to be chopped before final selection.
Stunning goals, Manchester City captain, astonishing footballer, these were some of the words you could use to describe Lake’s early career. A reoccurrence of his knee injury once again in 1992 saw Lake struggle to maintain morale and his career was unfortunately ended early.
Sadly Lake retired in 1996 and this is his story in the form of an exclusive Q&A with FootballFanCast…
We’re going to go back to your time as a youth player. Can you give tell us how you got the chance to join City and how the opportunity came about?
I was scouted playing for Denton Town when I was eight, and graduated through various City satellite teams, like Blue Star and Midas. I signed schoolboy forms when I was 14, did a one-year YTS when I was sixteen, followed by another year as an apprentice. I signed professional forms for Manchester City when I was 18; it was one of the best days of my life.
During your time in the youth side, you made a lot of friends with team-mates who would become Man City’s greatest ever youth team, what made your side stand out in comparison to other City teams?
We were so lucky to have been taught by two wonderful coaches, Tony Book and Glyn Pardoe, who both reinforced the importance of respecting the club, the opportunity and each other. We had a great set of lads in our youth team and I have so many fond memories of playing alongside the likes of Steve Redmond, Paul Moulden, Ian Brightwell and David White.
You achieved great things in the youth cup side, and will remain in club folklore after winning the competition for the first time, can you describe how you felt on that day?
We drew the first leg at Old Trafford but were confident that we were man-for-man better than United at that time, and knew that if we stuck to our game plan we’d have too much for them at Maine Road. On the day I wavered between excitement and nervousness, however, Tony Book, Glyn Pardoe and Ken Barnes ensured that we took nothing for granted, that we did our jobs and that we remained disciplined. The fact that there were numerous City-supporting players in the side gave us added impetus, and the euphoria at the final whistle (in front of over 18,000 fans) was such a special moment to share with team-mates, friends and family. It’s a memory that I’ll treasure forever.
Jimmy Frizzell, who recently passed away, gave you your first-team debut in January ’87, what are your memories of that day at Wimbledon’s Plough Lane?
I remember receiving great support from Jimmy and my team-mates, and I really tried to ensure that I did my job properly and didn’t let anyone down. Wimbledon were such a physical side – none more so than Vinnie Jones – and I had to make sure that I was aggressive in my play, and didn’t get bullied for the ninety minutes. I was pleased to finish the match undefeated, although it wasn’t a classic game by any stretch of the imagination. It was a great experience, though, and taught me lots of lessons about the importance of playing as a team.
Mel Machin gave you the opportunity to play more regularly. City fans, in general, don’t look too fondly on Machin’s time, but what was he like as a manager?
Mel was a great coach and every training session was both interesting and technical. You always felt that he was happier coaching rather than managing, though, and didn’t feel comfortable in the spotlight. Looking back, it would have ideal if there’d been a manager alongside Mel to enable him to concentrate on coaching, and not have to face the media so much. Had there been this managerial pairing, I think the City fans would have been able to appreciate Mel’s coaching talent a little more and may have warmed to him as a consequence.
You played in every position bar goalkeeper, what was your favourite position to play, or at least where did you feel most comfortable?
I enjoyed playing in midfield, but I felt most comfortable as a centre-back. Watching the City side today, I see the roles that [John] Stones, [Nicolas] Otamendi and [Aleksandar] Kolarov occupy and think how much I’d love to be in their shoes!
You’ve written in your book, “I’m Not Really Here”, that Howard Kendall was the best coach you ever played under. Do you feel City could have gone places with Kendall in charge or do you feel the club was destined to sink under Swales’ hierarchy?
There’s no doubt that Howard had the personality and character to manage up, and had the credibility to influence the board more so than any other manager at that time. It was a bombshell when he left to return to Everton, but he had his reasons. That said, City weren’t exactly blessed with huge financial backers at that time, so that could have only taken us so much further.
Your form got you into the England provisional side for Italia ’90, do you feel it was the right decision for you not to go?
I was selected to the provisional squad while playing as a right-back and, had I gone to Italy, would have also have provided cover at centre-back. I believed at the time that I could have brought more of an attacking flair from defensive areas, but Bobby Robson thought that it was perhaps a little too soon for me to take part in a senior tournament like Italia ‘90. I disagreed then, and I disagree now!
Three weeks into the 1990/91 season, you were appointed captain and were being watched by new England manager Graham Taylor. But, the beginning of your injuries woes occurred, did you fear for your career after that injury?
No, I didn’t.
Again in 1992, you damaged your knee against ‘Boro, were you aware at this stage it would require a miracle to salvage your career or were you confident of achieving full fitness once again?
By this time I knew that my predicament was more serious but, again, I listened to and trusted in the advice of City’s medical team. There was still a glimmer of hope, but all my treatment seemed to be reactive rather than proactive.
How do you feel the club handled your injury during this time?
They didn’t make the time to seek the expertise that was required, and it would quite simply have been a phone call away. As well as the physical challenges, because of the uncertainty of my future, I suffered mentally too. Sadly, there was very limited support and hardly any awareness of mental health issues in football at that time. Some people would quite happily tell me that it “must be great to be paid to do nothing” without realising how emotionally desperate I was, and how much I wanted to get back on the pitch again.
Five and a half years later you were forced to call time on your career, what was that day like? Relief? Sadness?
It was a really, really sad day. I hate thinking about it, to be honest, and it still makes me feel sick talking about it. Bitterness and regret are emotions I try to avoid, however, so I try not to dwell too much on the sad times and instead concentrate on the many happy times I spent at Maine Road.
Describe the feelings surrounding your testimonial game in October 1997?
Bittersweet. My first son, Zac, was born that morning, which was fabulous of course, but the match that afternoon marked the end of my identity as a footballer at Manchester City FC.
Were you ever subject of a bid from any other club or close to ever leaving City?
I was never close to leaving City – there was no way I would have ever left the club – but Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish both offered Peter Swales an open cheque to sign me. Ironically, if I’d damaged my knee playing for either of those two clubs, I believe would have received the correct care from the outset.
Since retirement, you have published your award-winning autobiography. It’s been labelled the best City book of all-time, has life changed much since publication?
It’s funny, really, because I probably get as many fans stopping me to say how much they liked the book as those who stop me to say they liked to watch me play! My wife, Jo, and I are very proud of ‘I’m Not Really Here’ – we loved the whole process of writing it – and were delighted that so many supporters seemed to enjoy reading it.
You now work with the Premier League after leaving CITC, what is your role now within the league?
I’m a Club Support Manager and am the link between the Premier League and the academies at Manchester City, Everton, Hull City and Sunderland.