Introducing the Wellington Academy Director

Carlton Palmer (born 5th December 1965 in Rowley Regis) is an English former professional footballer, manager and football television pundit. In recent years, Carlton has worked in Shanghai as the Director of the Wellington Academy Programme. In June 2018, Carlton launched the Wellington Academy Programme in Hangzhou, and regularly attends Wellington College Hangzhou to provide professional football coaching and training to pupils and members of the Hangzhou community.

As a player, Carlton was a defender and midfielder from 1984 to 2005, playing in the English Premier League for Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Coventry City. He also played for West Bromwich Albion, Watford and Dublin City. Carlton was a member of the Leeds United team that won what is now the Premiership in 1991-1992, and also played in both the FA Cup final and the League Cup final (twice). He was capped 18 times by England, and went into management in 2001 when he was appointed player/manager of Stockport County, later holding the same position at Mansfield Town from 2004 to 2005.

Carlton was a member of the England squad that went to the 1992 European Championships in Sweden. He was also capped 5 times for the England B team.

Palmer took on a career in television following his retirement from the game. He was a pundit for the BBC on their flagship football programme, Match of the Day, and Final Score. He has also provided match analysis for the Football Channel alongside fellow England international midfielder, Peter Reid. He is currently a resident pundit alongside host Joe Morrison and John Burridge on TEN Sports and TEN Action, analysing UEFA Champions League and Premiership matches broadcasting to Asia from Dubai. While in Dubai he has established the Elite Football Academy, coaching boys and girls from age six up to sixteen. Several of his boys have already attended trials with top professional clubs in England.

In recent years, Carlton has become a TV celebrity in his own right. He starred in a highly popular Paddy Power TV advert in 2009, which involved him being in a bath with a football fan. A year later he appeared in a one-off football special; Come Dine With Me, where the dinner he cooked was judged in first place, winning him £1000 for charity. But, as Carlton himself admitted, he does own a top restaurant in Sheffield, where he went for intensive training!

Wellington College International Hangzhou

Wellington College International Hangzhou officially opened its doors to pupils in September 2018, offering a world-class international education for children of expatriate families from the ages of 5 to 18. In Pre-Prep and Prep-School, the College follows the English National Curriculum, which is enhanced through the cross-curricula International Primary Curriculum. In Senior School, pupils will complete the IGCSE and then choose to follow either the IB Diploma Programme or A Levels, depending on their needs. As with all Wellington College schools, the Wellington Values and Identities form the core of the holistic education provided by Wellington College International Hangzhou.

To register the Open Sports Afternoon with Carlton Palmer!