Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
302	287	15	86	0	0	258

Paul Coventry was one of those players about whom fans were divided about which was his best position.  There was no doubting that he was a talented footballer with a good pair of hands, side step, swerve, speed and bravery which made him a good finisher – and a solid defence! But from his first season, the arguments raged and continued for thirteen seasons.  Signed from Fryston Juniors in 1970, Paul made an early entry on the senior stage playing as substitute at home to Hull on 19 September 1970 and Dewsbury (also at home) on 23 September, when he scored his first try. His first full match was, however, on 25 September 1970 at Salford (in the centre). In his first season he made nine appearances in the centre and three on the wing and in only his eighth appearance he was a substitute in the Yorkshire Cup final with Leeds on 21 November 1970.

From then the pattern varied as he alternated between wing and centre from season to season and he even threw in a few appearances at number 6 in the latter stages of his career.  Whichever position he played, he certainly gave pleasure and value for money. Naturally, he scored many tries in his long career.  He had the satisfaction of scoring against most of the top wingers in the game. His best haul was four tries against Leigh (at home) in March 1974, and he scored a hat-trick of tries on four occasions v Keighley (at home) in October 1977, v Leigh (away) in February 1977, v Wakefield (at home) in April 1979 and v Halifax (at home) in October 1980. His best season was 1972/73, when he scored 14 tries at the end of which he played on the wing against Bradford in the Wembley Cup Final. He was all set to return the following year as the Rovers won through to another Wembley appearance against Warrington but a month before the final he broke his arm scoring against Salford.

That injury ruled him out of most of the 1974/75 season, and the following season, he reverted to centre and with 36 appearances, only missed three games. Injuries were prevalent in 1976/77, when he only made 17 appearances but he was able to share in Rovers success as First Division Champions.  Back on the wing the following season, he had a barren period of tries for most of the season, but then scored six in the last four games.

There were disappointments in defeats in the Captain Morgan Trophy final v Warrington in January 1974 (wing), and the Yorkshire Cup final v Leeds in October 1976 (centre). He never gained representative honours but there are those who consider that if he had remained on the wing, he could have. He had the misfortune to break his arm against York in October 1981, which meant an 11-month absence.  During this time he was granted a testimonial.  He returned to the senior team in September 1982 and after playing at Hull on 10 November (at centre), he was transferred to Wakefield for £10,000.

Irrespective of the position in which he played, Paul Coventry made a significant contribution to the major achievements in the 1970s.  However, it didn’t stop there.  He served as both Director and Chairman, and was the driving force behind the “Stand Gang” volunteers who erected two new stands at the ground in 2015.  Just as he did as a player, Paul Coventry made an enormous contribution off the field.