Paul Parry
A speedy winger whose direct runs and Welsh international caps defined a solid 16-year career across England's lower leagues.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Welsh footballer·Birthday: August 19·Generation X
Biography
Paul Parry's football journey began in Hereford before a pivotal move to Cardiff City in 2004, where he truly made his name. At Ninian Park, his pace and willingness to take on defenders made him a fan favorite, a key component of the side that reached the 2008 FA Cup Final. His performances in the Championship earned him the ultimate honor: 11 caps for Wales, a testament to his consistent threat on the wing. After Cardiff, he provided veteran savvy for Preston North End and Shrewsbury Town before retiring in 2016. Never a global star, Parry carved out a respected career defined by reliability and moments of thrilling flank play, and has since moved into coaching in the Welsh football system.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Paul was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paul Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Paul's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned 11 senior caps for the Wales national football team.
- Played for Cardiff City in the 2008 FA Cup Final against Portsmouth.
- Made over 200 appearances for Cardiff City, becoming a key player during their Championship era.
Did You Know?
He scored on his debut for the Wales national team in a 2-0 victory over Hungary in 2004.
Parry was originally a trainee at Hereford United and began his career as a part-time professional while working as a painter and decorator.
He played in both the Football League and the Welsh football league system during his career.
“I just put my head down and ran at them; that was my game.”
