Many a fine footballer has graced the sky blue shirt of Manchester City over the years, but none have worn the shirt with more pride than Paul Lake. The versatile midfielder only made 110 appearances before his career was cruelly cut short by injury. During this brief time, City fans took him to their hearts and proclaimed him as one of their all time greatest players.
Paul Lake was born on 28 October 1968 in Denton and was first spotted by City scout Ken Barnes at just ten years old. Barnes could tell that the young Lake, who was playing against boys much older than him, was destined for great things. In his teenage years, Lake joined a youth club named Blue Star, who had links with City. Manchester United were also interested in the youngster but, being a City fan, Lake was determined to play for the blues and joined the City Youth Training Scheme on 1st July 1985. A year later, he was in the team that won the FA Youth cup and the following season, made his first team debut against Wimbledon.
Lake suffered the heartache of relegation as City dropped into the second division along with Aston Villa and Leicester City. In May 1987, the blues appointed Mel Machin as manager and Lake was to prove a key figure in Machin's squad. A young City side was blossoming and Lake, who partnered Neil McNab in midfield, was rapidly becoming a major star. At the end of the season, Lake had been noticed but when the big guns knocked on the door, it was for leading marksman Paul Stewart, who moved to Tottenham for £1.7m. The following season saw Lake selected for the England Under-21 squad, won his first cap in September 1988 and was tipped by then England manager Bobby Robson to receive major honours. In 1989 during a game with Leicester City, Lake swallowed his tongue after an accidental clash of heads and only the quick work of Roy Bailey had saved his life. He recovered to help City win promotion back to the first division.
In September 1989, Lake destroyed the expensive Manchester United defence as City ran out winners 5-1. It was a difficult season for City but an impressive one for lake, who was rewarded with a call-up to England's provisional squad for the Italian World Cup in 1990, but just missed out on making the full squad. His form prompted Liverpool to make what would have been a record £3m bid for him, but then chairman Peter Swales rejected it, fearing a backlash from the supporters. In the third game of the 1990/91 season, City beat Aston Villa 2-1 at home but Lake had been stretchered off following a clash with Tony Cascarino. Although the challenge didn't look much, Lake had ruptured his cruciate ligaments, an injury which would rule him out for two years.
He made his first team comeback against Queens Park Rangers in the first Monday night clash of the new Premier League, but after just eight minutes of his second comeback game at Middlesbrough Lake suffered heartbreak as the ligament snapped again. After four years and fourteen operations, Lake called it a day and retired from football. He later studied at Salford University and qualified as a physiotherapist and, after spells at Altrincham, Burnley, Oldham and Macclesfield, Lake is now the assistant physio at Bolton.
Forever in the hearts of every City fan, Lake was a talent that will never be forgotten.