Paul Wilkins

Paul Harford Wilkins (born 20 March 1964) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Crystal Palace and Preston North End as a forward.

Wilkins was born in Hackney and began his career at Tottenham Hotspur as an apprentice but did not go on to make a league appearance. In January 1982, he signed for Crystal Palace, then playing in the Second Division. He made his debut, as a substitute for David Giles, in a 1–2 home defeat to Barnsley on 1 May. He went on to make a total of five appearances that season (three as substitute) and scored twice on his first starting appearance in a 2–1 home win against Wrexham. In 1982–83, Wilkins made only one appearance, as a substitute and a further seven appearances in 1983–84 (one goal). In June 1984, Wilkins moved on to Preston North End for whom he made six league appearances scoring twice, before moving into non-league football with Fisher Athletic in 1985.[citation needed ] He subsequently played for Chelmsford City from 1986 to 1988.[citation needed ]