• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    £8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

    £8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

    Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

    Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

    Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

    Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

    Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

    Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

    Illegal vapes seized from Eden shop

    Illegal vapes seized from Eden shop

    Partnership vs company: Choosing the right structure for your farming business

    Partnership vs company: Choosing the right structure for your farming business

    Pensioner exposed himself to Lake District runner

    Pensioner exposed himself to Lake District runner

    Expansion of smell complaints scheme

    Expansion of smell complaints scheme

    Terminal hillness: Cumbrian man with incurable cancer pays homage to the Lake District

    Terminal hillness: Cumbrian man with incurable cancer pays homage to the Lake District

  • Sport
    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    £8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

    £8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

    Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

    Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

    Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

    Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

    Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

    Anti-social residents move out after threatened with police order

    Illegal vapes seized from Eden shop

    Illegal vapes seized from Eden shop

    Partnership vs company: Choosing the right structure for your farming business

    Partnership vs company: Choosing the right structure for your farming business

    Pensioner exposed himself to Lake District runner

    Pensioner exposed himself to Lake District runner

    Expansion of smell complaints scheme

    Expansion of smell complaints scheme

    Terminal hillness: Cumbrian man with incurable cancer pays homage to the Lake District

    Terminal hillness: Cumbrian man with incurable cancer pays homage to the Lake District

  • Sport
    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Penrith AFC legends Willy Paul and Grant Davidson honoured by club

by CWH
24 April 2021
in Latest, Sport
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Willie Paul and Grant Davidson with Jimmy Romano and Billy Williams

Two Penrith AFC players firmly in the frame during the past 20 years have had their loyalty honoured with commemorative shirts which will go on display in the Frenchfield Park clubhouse.

But as Willy Paul and Grant Davidson were officially presented with jerseys highlighting astonishing appearance landmarks, Willy confirmed he had hung up his boots after 19 successive seasons with the Blues.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” Willy, 42, said modestly. “It’s a good club to have played for. It just shows local people can come and have a good time playing at a good standard at their local club.”

An Eden farmer, Willy made his Penrith debut in September 2001, and last started a game in front of a 68-strong crowd at Ryhope in February last year.

But while the married dad was back in action at a club training session earlier this month, he admits to now being “just too busy”.

“It’s not been quite normal,” he said of a COVID-ravaged year in which two competitive seasons have been wiped out at non-league level.

“It’s less of a miss than it might otherwise have been but I definitely have missed it these last few months.

“It’s been a big part of my life for 20 years,” he added, highlighting current captain Grant’s excellent 500-game effort.

“It’s a tremendous achievement and he’s got a few years left.”

Willy also turned the spotlight on dedicated club volunteers. “They do all the work,” he said.

“When you’re there a long time, they might get a bit of stick from people now and then, but when you see what’s really done it’s amazing; the effort it takes to keep a club like this going.

“You need those volunteers. They give up half their lives. I’ve had the best of it, the playing. That’s the easy bit!”

And Willy’s playing highlights? “I think there’s been good and bad right through,” he recalled.

“We had some good teams right at the start (early 2000s). A lot of young lads all came through and played together, for seven, eight, nine or 10 seasons.

“There’s been a lot more chopping and changing since then, but even when when you’re having a bad season there are good times in that as well — it’s not always when you’re winning.”

After presenting the shirts, Penrith chairman Billy Williams struggled to summon words to describe the pair’s dedication.

“They’ve become legends in their own right, locally, as far as football’s concerned and they set such an example to all potential young players round and about, everybody who plays for this club,” said the ex-Blues player and boss.

“As a manager when you have two of these lads you can build a side around them. You know you’re dealing with proper people.”

Grant spoke of his own notable number but cast envious glances towards Willy’s 800. “That’s an achievement!” he said.

Describing the current period without first team football, the skipper admitted: “It’s grim. You don’t realise how much you miss it until it’s taken away.”

But his final words were reserved for now former team-mate Willy, who he dubbed “the Penrith legend”.

“The man’s not human, being able to compete in the Northern League for so many years,” said Grant.

“Eight hundred games is a massive achievement and will never be surpassed. I’ve played with Willy for many years; he’s probably the nicest man I’ve ever met in football and took me under his wing when I first started at Penrith.

“He’s as loyal as they come as well and would play anywhere on the park for the manager. A great role model for all the youngsters coming through.

“He says it’s his last game for Penrith but I wouldn’t be surprised if he put the shirt back on down the line!”

Related Posts

£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects
Latest

£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

3 July 2025
Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit
Latest

Fun day in Penrith to celebrate community spirit

3 July 2025
Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith
Latest

Arrests after shoplifting incidents in Penrith

2 July 2025
Plans for 100-caravan holiday park revealed
Latest

Plans for 100-caravan holiday park revealed

27 June 2025
£100,000 target for new changing rooms extension
Sport

£100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

27 June 2025
MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges
Latest

MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges

20 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Pensioner exposed himself to Lake District runner

Pensioner exposed himself to Lake District runner

29 June 2025
£100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

£100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

27 June 2025
Plans for 100-caravan holiday park revealed

Plans for 100-caravan holiday park revealed

27 June 2025
Eden school’s adventure play area given new lease of life

Eden school’s adventure play area given new lease of life

27 June 2025
Alarm bells over plans for wheelie bins in parts of rural Eden

Alarm bells over plans for wheelie bins in parts of rural Eden

27 June 2025
Illegal vapes seized from Eden shop

Illegal vapes seized from Eden shop

3 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald