September 5th 1990, Maine Road
Manchester City Vs Aston Villa
''The first hour of the match saw us comfortably holding Villa's attack, with the two Tony's - Cascarino and Daley - failing to make much of an impact. It was after half-time, though, that we started to get more of a grip on the game. In the 65th minute I advanced towards goal in a mazy run, skinning Cascarino and Paul McGrath, nutmegging Derek Mountfield, before having the ball nicked off my toes by a diving Nigel Spink.
Then it happened.
Intercepting a pass to Cascarino, I jumped in and clipped the ball to my team-mate Mark Brennan. As I did so my right boot got stuck in the turf, my body twisted awkwardly and, with an almighty crunch, I landed in a heap on the ground. As I hit the deck I felt a weird clunk in my knee, followed by a sharp, searing pain.
I lay on the pitch in the foetal position, frozen with shock, totally unaware that my life had changed forever.''
Then it happened.
Intercepting a pass to Cascarino, I jumped in and clipped the ball to my team-mate Mark Brennan. As I did so my right boot got stuck in the turf, my body twisted awkwardly and, with an almighty crunch, I landed in a heap on the ground. As I hit the deck I felt a weird clunk in my knee, followed by a sharp, searing pain.
I lay on the pitch in the foetal position, frozen with shock, totally unaware that my life had changed forever.''
(From I'm Not Really Here, the autobiography of Paul Lake)
This the was the beginning of the end for Paul Lake, having been made captain of his beloved Manchester City at the beginning of the 90/91 season by manager Howard Kendall, 'the best manager I ever played for', after narrowly missing out on England's 1990 World Cup squad, he was making a name for himself as one of his country's brightest young talents.
However after rupturing his Anterior Cruciate Ligament against Aston Villa, he would endure a battle with his injuries that would last over 5 years. Despite numerous operations to reconstruct his knee to return as a regular to City's first team and help arrest the club's steep decline in the 1990's. Lake would go on to have multiple failed comebacks, more setbacks and injuries to his knee and a battle with depression. 'Lakey' retired in January of 1996, aged 27.
A testimonial was arranged by City for Lake, in October 1997 against neighbours United. That finished 2-2, with both sides opting to start full strength sides. Lake, however, was unable to take part due to extensive damage to his right knee, having to wear a knee brace in order to hold everything in place.
Post retirement Lake opted to become a physio, and began working at City in 1997. Even helping Richard Edghill recover from the same injury that ended his own career. In 1998 he moved on to Burnley, subsequently having spells at Altrincham, Oldham Athletic, Macclesfield Town and Bolton Wanderers. He went on to leave Bolton in 2008 and start his own physiotherapy practice in Greater Manchester until 2010 when he became an ambassador for City in the Community. In June 2013 he stepped down from his role.
Paul Lake - Manager
After 8 years out of football, Paul Lake has taken the vacant managerial position at Grimsby Town. Following Paul Hurst's departure and subsequent appointment at Shrewsbury Town. After guiding Grimsby to promotion via a 3-1 play-off victory over Forest Green at Wembley. Narrowly beating out Marcus Bignot to the hot seat at Blundell Park. As the Mighty Mariners go back into the football league for the first time in 6 years.
