Paul Bastock

Paul Anthony Bastock (born 19 May 1970) is an English professional football manager and former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. His last job was assistant manager for King's Lynn Town, alongside Ian Culverhouse.

He previously held the record for the most competitive club appearances in world football, having played more than 1,299 times in league and cup competitions, primarily across the English lower leagues, (Paul Bastock is often credited with 1,280 club appearances in the news instead of 1,299 because he is credited with 677 appearances for Boston United instead of 679, He also played once for the England National Game XI (England C) in an unofficial game against a Highland League selection.) He was released by Coventry and signed his first professional contract in 1988 with Cambridge United where he stayed for one season during which he also played once on loan for Bath City in October 1988, a 1–1 draw against VS Rugby. He then moved to Malaysia to play in the Malaysian Super League where he spent six months with Sabah FA. He then moved back to England, where he spent time on trial with Newcastle United and Leyton Orient, and played a single match for Cheltenham Town in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup in return for a pair of gloves, he impressed and was snapped up by Boston United in 1992. His next 12 years with the Lincolnshire club were to prove the best of his footballing career. His first season with Boston was a disaster, with the club finishing bottom and being relegated from the Football Conference to the Northern Premier League. However, despite conceding 69 goals in 42 games, Bastock was still voted Player of the Season by supporters. He started to concede less goals the season after and Boston had a string of respectable league positions from 1993 to 1998 when they were moved to the Southern Premier League and their fortunes took an upturn. Bastock helped them to a second-place finish in the 1998–99 season and the team won the league and were promoted back to the Conference in 2000. He spent two seasons in the Conference before Boston were promoted to the Football League Third Division, Bastock missing just one game all season as Boston won the Conference. In the summer of 2004, Boston signed Nathan Abbey and Bastock was unable to regain his first-team place. Whilst playing for Boston, he also worked as a care assistant in a nursing home.

He was awarded a testimonial match for his great service to the club before leaving to join Scarborough in October 2004. However, he stayed with Scarborough for just one week, before leaving due to family and travelling issues.

He signed for Dagenham & Redbridge later the same month. He stayed there for two months, making just one appearance, before he was signed by then Conference South side St Albans City in November 2004. continuing to play for St Albans until May 2007 when he joined Rushden & Diamonds after St Alban's relegation from the Conference. However, he was released by Rushden in February 2008 and rejoined St Albans City the following month. Within six games of returning was named Conference South Player of the Month He left the club at the end of the season.

After spending the 2012–13 season at Worksop Town, it was announced he would be rejoining St Albans City for a third time for the 2013–14 season.

After one season with St Albans City, Bastock joined Royston Town in the summer of 2014, linking up with ex-St Albans manager Steve Castle.

Bastock moved up a division to sign for St Neots Town in October 2014 where he would go on to play his 1,000th game in senior football. However, despite being a regular for St Neots Town, Bastock was released by the club along with Matt Spring in 2015.

Bastock then moved to league counterparts Dunstable Town in the summer of 2015.

He joined Corby Town prior to the 2017–18 season, making his debut in a 5–1 win at home to Romulus on 12 August. He signed for Wisbech Town on dual registration terms on 21 September 2017. On 2 October 2017 he announced that his stay at Corby Town had ended. In March 2018, he returned to Kettering Town on dual registration.

Bastock announced his retirement from playing at the end of the 2017–18 season at the age of 48 and joined the coaching staff of Grantham Town but was called upon at short notice to come out of retirement for one final league game due to injury, playing in the Northern Premier League fixture away to Basford United on 27 August 2018. He was named as one of the substitutes for a further 11 games that season but was not called upon to play. On 18 October 2018, Bastock signed for Pinchbeck United, and some days later made an appearance with the club on a UCL League Cup game. On 1 November 2018, Bastock joined King's Lynn Town as assistant manager. Eighteen days later, he turned out for the team in their Norfolk Senior Cup tie against the University of East Anglia. He appeared on the bench on subsequent other occasions, with the latest being on 25 May 2021.

Bastock left King's Lynn Town on 10 December 2021.

On 13 August 2022, Bastock returned to playing for a United Counties League Premier Division North match for Deeping Rangers.

On 4 October 2022, Bastock was an unused substitute for Boston United in the FA Cup tie against Basford United.

International career Bastock also played once for the England National Game XI (England C) in a game against a Highland League selection.

Managerial career On 1 November 2018, Bastock joined King's Lynn Town as assistant manager, He left the club, along with Culverhouse, on 15 May 2022.

In September 2022, Bastock returned to Boston United for the role of the assistant manager, once again to Ian Culverhouse. He left Boston on 28 October 2024 after Ian Culverhouse was sacked.

On 28 November 2024, Bastock was appointed as assistant manager at National League South club St Albans City, once again alongside Ian Culverhouse, and they both left on 28 October 2025 in order to re-join King's Lynn Town.

On 29 October 2025, Bastock joined King's Lynn Town as assistant manager to Ian Culverhouse and they departed on 4 March 2026.

Career statistics Club

Honours Coventry City FA Youth Cup Winners: 1986–87

Boston United Southern Football League Premier Division Champions: 1999–2000 Football Conference Champions: 2001–02

St Albans City Conference South Play-off Winners: 2005–06