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Nineteen year old Paul Emson arrived at the Baseball Ground in September
1978. Frank Blunstone, assistant to County manager Tommy Docherty, had
seen the pacey winger playing for non league side Brigg Town and a £5000
deal was agreed between the clubs. Emson appeared in six of Derby's
last seven 1978/79 First Division fixtures, his display in a 2-1 home
defeat by Nottingham Forest suggesting that he had enormous potential.
When County completed their campaign in nineteenth place Docherty
resigned and was replaced by Colin Addison who came to Derby from West
Bromwich Albion. Emson waited until the first weekend of October 1979
for another first team call up, and when it came he seized the
opportunity.
County demolished Bolton Wanderers 4-0, Emson netting a
brace of goals alongside two more from John Duncan. Although he netted a
marvellous diving header in a 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa, Paul lost his
place in the side to Gordon Hill and did not start another game until
Boxing Day '79. By the time he returned, this time as a regular choice,
poor form meant Derby were a side destined for relegation. Paul made
thirty-six appearances, plus two as a substitute in 1980/81, County
finishing in sixth place in the Second Division. He scored four goals
including back to back markers in the home draws with Queens Park
Rangers and Bristol City. Emson remained in the side the following
season and tallied five goals, including a neat strike in a 2-2 draw
with Newcastle United at the Baseball Ground.
County, though, were again
on the slide, a 3-2 last day of the the season win against Watford
producing a sixteenth place finish. With John Newman having replaced
Addison in the managers chair in January 1982, Emson found himself back
on the bench at the start of the 1982/83 season. He made sixteen
appearances throughout the campaign, including five as a substitute.
Although Peter Taylor returned to the club to replace Newman in November
1982, goals were again in short supply and Derby climbed just three
places on the previous season. Paul moved to Grimsby in the close
season, having made a total of 138 appeareances for the "Rams",
including twenty-one as a substitute. He netted thirteen goals and
whilst at his best he was a potential match winner, inconsistency
prevented him from being an automatic choice in the side. (Mike Cockayne).
1978–1983 Derby County 127 (13)
1983–1986 Grimsby Town 97 (15)
1986–1988 Wrexham 49 (5)
1988–1991 Darlington 48 (5)
1991 Kettering Town 15 (2)
1991 Gateshead 4 (1)
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