Paul Anthony Linwood (born 24 October 1983) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
He has previously played professionally in the Football League for Tranmere Rovers, Wrexham, Chester City and Grimsby Town and in the Cymru Premier for Connah's Quay Nomads.
Linwood spent the start of the 2005–2006 season on loan to Wrexham, before enjoying a short spell back in the Tranmere first-team.
He was named the official captain after a contract dispute involving fellow defender Paul Butler, a role he maintained during the 2008–09 campaign.
Despite a glowing reference from his new boss, Linwood found himself playing second fiddle to the preferred centre half pairing of Ryan Bennett and Robert Atkinson, this was until Bennett was sold which allowed Linwood an extended run in the first team, until the club opted to sign Olly Lancashire on loan.
[3] On 29 June 2010 Linwood signed a 3-year deal with newly promoted Conference Premier side Fleetwood Town.
[9] In May 2019, Linwood appeared on the I Had Trials Once podcast on Spotify, in the interview he spoke about his time at Grimsby Town during the 2009–10 season.
He claimed that the clubs biggest mistake was sacking Mike Newell who had joined in with the drinking, and that the players had never taken to his replacement Neil Woods.
Linwood added that "You'd finish training, Adam Proudlock on the Whatsapp group would say 'lads, I'm just having a pint at the Laceby Arms', and the whole squad would be in there.
[11] When the podcast went viral in January 2020, fans of Grimsby Town reacted with anger and contempt and began abusing Linwood on his social media accounts.