T is for Trollope
Paul Trollope’s playing career began at hometown club Swindon Town, where his father John made 770 league appearances between 1960 and 1980.
Trollope didn’t follow his dad’s footsteps into the Robins’ first team but he has gone on to work for 13 different clubs as a player, coach, and manager, in addition to featuring for the Wales national team.
The midfielder made his professional breakthrough at Torquay United, signing permanently after a successful two-month loan from Swindon in 1992. He made 132 appearances for Torquay, which he then followed with another 74 for Derby County.
Trollope joined the Rams after impressing during a loan deal and helped the club secure runners-up spot and promotion to the Premier League in 1995/96. It was while plying his trade in the top flight that Trollope made the first of nine Wales appearances.
After further loan spells at Grimsby Town and Crystal Palace, he moved to Fulham in 1997 and played his part in the Cottagers’ rise from the third tier to the Premier League.
Via a short stint at Coventry City, Trollope later arrived at the Cobblers and made 100 appearances in two seasons. In 2003/04 he was a key figure in the club’s best FA Cup run in 14 years and a sixth-place finish in League Two, while continuing to be selected for the Wales squad.
Trollope finished his playing days at Bristol Rovers, where he became caretaker manager and eventually took the role on permanently, spending five years in the hotseat and winning the League Two Play-Off Final in 2007.
The 48-year-old has also coached with Birmingham City, Norwich City, the Wales national team, Cardiff City, where he also briefly managed, and Brighton & Hove Albion. He is often appointed as the trusted assistant to manager Chris Hughton, who Trollope currently works alongside at Championship club Nottingham Forest.
