Paul Farman

Paul David Appleby Farman (born 2 November 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Swansea City.

Farman started playing first-team football for Blyth Spartans of the Conference North during the 2008–09 season. Prior to making his debut for Blyth, he was loaned out to Washington in order to gain first-team experience. He joined Conference Premier club Gateshead ahead of the 2009–10 season, and spent three seasons there. During his time at Gateshead, Farman joined fellow Conference Premier club Lincoln City on a loan deal in November 2011, later signing for the club on a permanent basis in May 2012. Farman spent six seasons at Lincoln, helping them achieve promotion to League Two after winning the National League, as well as winning the EFL Trophy during the 2017–18 season. He signed for Stevenage in June 2018 and spent two seasons there. Farman joined Carlisle United in August 2020, followed by rivals Barrow a year later.

Club career Early career Farman began playing as a goalkeeper at the age of seven after he attended a goalkeeping course in the summer holidays. The course resulted in him being asked to play for North Shields Boys Club.

Gateshead Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Farman signed for Conference Premier club Gateshead. He made his Gateshead debut a month into the new season, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw with Rushden & Diamonds on 22 September 2009. He remained a regular starter for the remainder of the season, making 35 appearances. The form of his replacement, Tim Deasy, meant that Farman was limited to just eight appearances during the season. He was offered a short-term contract extension by manager Ian Bogie in May 2011, who stated Farman would remain at the club if he impressed him in pre-season. His contract was subsequently extended for the remainder of the season on 1 September 2011. Despite having played regularly for Gateshead during the opening months of the season, Farman made his Lincoln debut in a 2–1 home win over Barrow on 5 November 2011, and made eight appearances during the brief loan spell. He made his second debut on the opening day of the club's 2012–13 season as Lincoln secured a 1–0 win over Kidderminster Harriers at Sincil Bank. Farman was Lincoln's first-choice goalkeeper throughout the season, making 47 appearances in all competitions. Farman made 38 appearances during the 2013–14 season. Having played in every one of Lincoln's matches during the campaign,

Farman began the 2014–15 season behind new loan signing, Nick Townsend, who had served as Farman's replacement for the remainder of the previous season. Having not made an appearance during the first month of the campaign, The loan deal was for an initial three-month period. Farman made four appearances in the opening month of the spell before he was recalled by Lincoln after Birmingham City had withdrawn permission for Townsend to play in the FA Cup. He made 32 appearances for Lincoln during the season, Farman cemented his place as Lincoln's first-choice goalkeeper, making 49 appearances in all competitions during the 2015–16 season.

Farman was a mainstay in the side during the 2016–17 campaign as Lincoln won promotion to League Two after securing the National League title as champions. He kept 22 clean sheets in the club's 46 league matches. He was also part of the side that made the FA Cup quarter-finals that season. Farman made 58 appearances during the campaign. Following Lincoln's 4–1 loss away at Notts County on 23 September 2017, Farman was limited to just eight further appearances during the season. Five of these came in the EFL Trophy, which Lincoln would go on to win, He made 18 appearances during the season. He made his Stevenage debut in the club's opening match of the 2018–19 season, a 2–2 draw with Tranmere Rovers at Broadhall Way. Despite starting the season as Stevenage's first choice goalkeeper, Farman lost his place to loanee Seny Dieng in September 2018, although regained the position from December through to the end of the season.

Barrow Having been offered a new contract with Carlisle at the end of the season, Farman instead joined Barrow signing a two-year contract.

On 7 May 2025, Barrow announced the player would be leaving in June when his contract expired. Farman has claimed that it was not his decision to leave the club, and he was disappointed with the news.

Swansea City On August 8th 2025, Farman joined Championship club Swansea City on a one-year contract having left Barrow earlier in the summer.

International career Farman was called up to represent the England C team, who represent England at non-league level, for their fixture against India U23s at Victoria Road in September 2011. He was set to make his debut, but the match was cancelled due to the 2011 England riots. Conference North 17 0 0 0

0 0 17 0 Washington (loan) 2008–09 Northern League Division Two 5 0 0 0

0 0 5 0

209!!0!!25!!0!!0!!0!!16!!0!!250!!0 Boston United (loan) 2014–15 League Two

League Two

League Two

2022–23 League Two

League Two

2024–25 League Two

133 0 7 0 5 0 1 0 146 0

Honours Lincoln City National League: 2016–17 EFL Trophy: 2017–18

Individual Lincoln City Player of the Year: 2014–15