Paul Carden

Born in Liverpool, Merseyside, Carden made his Football League debut as a 17-year-old apprentice for Blackpool in December 1996 in a local derby defeat by Preston North End. That was to be his only first-team action for Blackpool but he enjoyed regular football with Rochdale, who he joined in March 1998. However, after falling out of favour he joined Chester City in March 2000, shortly before they were relegated out of the Football League. It was to be the start of a long association with the Cheshire club. Carden had two spells with Chester (a brief stint at Doncaster Rovers in 2001 falling in between) and was a regular for most of his time there, chalking up more than 200 first-team appearances for the Blues. He captained the side to the Football Conference title in 2003–04 and a return to the Football League for both Carden and the club. The following season saw him named as the club's player of the season, but he was then released by new manager Keith Curle. Carden teamed up with his former boss Mark Wright at Peterborough. His debut ironically came against Chester on the opening day of 2005–06. Later in the season, after Wright had departed, Carden became one of the central characters of the Big Ron Manager documentary series on Sky, with Ron Atkinson drafted in to help new boss Steve Bleasdale. On 18 October 2006 it was announced that Carden had his contract with Peterborough terminated by mutual consent. He promptly registered with Burscough, who his brother Adam…

Carden was appointed Southport manager in January 2015 following the departure of Gary Brabin to Everton. Carden successfully kept Southport in the Conference Premier with some crucial wins against Halifax, Aldershot and Torquay United. However, he left the club in November 2015. He was appointed interim manager of Tranmere Rovers in September 2016 after a spell as assistant manager. On 26 October 2016, Paul Carden was named manager of Warrington Town F.C. On 21 November 2021, National League North side AFC Telford United appointed Carden as their First Team Manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract. The club was rooted to the bottom of the league at Christmas, but their form improved following Carden's appointment and they eventually finished the 2021/22 season in 20th place, above the relegation zone. Carden was sacked on 9 October 2022 with the club rooted to the bottom of the league table. Carden was appointed manager of Nantwich Town in February 2023. Nantwich were relegated from the Northern Premier League on 23 April 2023. On 21 September 2024, Carden returned to former club Warrington Town, now of the National League North. Warrington were relegated from the National League North in April 2025.

Chester City

Football Conference: 2003–04 Player of the Season: 2004–05 Warrington Town

Northern Premier League Play-off Winners: 2018-19