Paul Lake grew up supporting Manchester City and is still revered by our fans for his brief but brilliant career at Maine Road. Lake, from Denton, was so highly regarded at City that he is rated by many as one of the club's greatest-ever players. And yet the former Blues skipper's fledgling career was effectively over by the age of 21. That 'Lakey' is often classed in the same bracket as Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell and Francis Lee says everything about one of the best players of his generation. Certainly, as the Eighties turned into the Nineties there were few finer young footballers anywhere in this country than Lake. After being forced to hang up his boots after a torturous and ultimately unsuccessful battle against injury, Lake embarked on a career in physiotherapy, he enjoyed spells working at Altrincham, Burnley, Oldham and Macclesfield before he joined Bolton last season.
Now 39, Lake's own story is a tragic one. he made his first-team debut for City aged 18 against Wimbledon on January 1987. Lake and number of other promising young homegrown players like Andy Hinchcliffe, Paul Moulden, David White, Steve Redmond and Ian Brightwell had helped City to win the 1986 FA Youth Cup. Lake's class and potential were never in doubt and he could fill a number of roles - full-bacl, centre-back, midfield - with ease and would still walk off with the man of the match honours in whatever role he was asked to play.
As season 1990-91 approached Lake had the world at his feet and was tipped to make the step up from the England Under-21 side to the senior side. He had already been named by then England manager Bobby Robson in the provisional squad for the 1990 World Cup finals only to just miss out on the final cut for the tournament in Italy. Certainly City had no doubts about his leadership qualities after handing Lake the skippers's armband at the start of that 90-91 season to make him one of the youngest players ever to lead out a team at top flight level. lake's services were being coveted by Alex Ferguson, George Graham and Kenny Dalglish said everything about his rich promise. At just 21, Lake had it all. Then, in only the third match of that season against Aston Villa at maine Road, came the moment that was to change Lake's career - and life - for ever.
Lake's foot got stuck in the turf after challanging for the ball with Villa's Tony Cascarino and twisted his right knee, sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury and put him out of football for 3 years. At the start of the 1992/93 season Lake made his long awaited comeback playing in midfield for the inaugural Premiership campaign, his return described by manager Peter Reid as "like having a brand new £3,000,000 signing". However, after eight minutes of his second game since returning - away at Middlesbrough - the ligament snapped again. After a long struggle with injury, including 14 operations and only four reserve team appearances, Lake retired from playing in 1996. Lake then undertook a four-year physiotherapy course at Salford University which has seen him reaquainted with ex-City team-mate Gary Megson.
Many a fine footballer has graced the sky blue shirt of Manchester City over the years, but none have worn the shirt with more pride than Paul Lake. The versatile midfielder only made 110 appearances before his career was cruelly cut short by injury. During this brief time, City fans took him to their hearts and proclaimed him as one of their all time greatest players.
IMO Lake's best position was centre midfield and was the nearest player Ive seen in a blue shirt to Colin Bell, would have loved to seen Paul Lake's career flourish although I very much doubt it would have been with us unfortunately, one the most naturally gifted footballers I have seen and he would have been amazing in today's game.
