Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 33
Birth Date: Dec 13, 1976
Birth Place: Hastings, New Zealand
Height: 6' 5" (1.95m)
Weight: 198 lbs (90 kg)
Club: Wellington Phoenix (NZL)
International Caps: 23
Club History
Wellington Phoenix (NZL): 2007-
New Zealand Knights FC (NZL): 2006-2007
St. Johnstone (SCO): 2005-2006
Walsall (ENG): 2004-2005
Bradford City (ENG): 2003-2004
Napier City Rovers (NZL): 1997-2003
from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Paston, having represented New Zealand at Under-23 level, made his full All Whites debut at the age of 20 in a 5–0 loss to Indonesia on 21 September 1997, but did not feature in another full international until 2003, Jason Batty, Michael Utting and later Ross Nicholson being preferred choices. Since returning to the international side in 2003, Paston has competed with former Wellington Phoenix team-mate Glen Moss for the goalkeeper position.
He was named as part of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup New Zealand squad to travel to South Africa, where he was second choice as Moss played in all three games. However, Moss's suspension from international football for improper conduct meant that Paston played in the World Cup Qualification playoff against Bahrain. On 10 October 2009 Paston kept a clean sheet in the first leg in Riffa, and in the return leg on 14 November 2009 he was Man of the Match, saving a penalty from Sayed Mohamed Adnan in the 51st minute which was enough to secure New Zealand a 1-0 win in Wellington, enabling them to qualify for the World Cup for only the second time in their history. Paston's fractured leg had threatened to harm his World Cup chances, but the goalkeeper has since made a good recovery and has been named in New Zealand's training squad for the tournament. With Moss's suspension running into the first two games of the World Cup, Paston, if fit, is expected to play as Ricki Herbert's first-choice goalkeeper.
On 10 May 2010, Paston was named in New Zealand's final 23-man squad to compete at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
from ESPN SoccerNet
This highly-competent keeper who played a key role in the Bahrain double-header, notably saving a penalty in the second-leg that secured his nation an appearance in this World Cup party. Paston was once declared surplus to requirements by UK professional outfits Bradford City, Walsall and St Johnstone and claims that those rejections continue to motivate him. "When you have been told you are not up to the job, it gives you a drive to prove a few people wrong," says Paston. "My performances in the qualifiers for this World Cup proved I can do a job when the pressure is applied." He has been involved in a long-standing battle with Glen Moss for the number one role for the national team and Wellington Phoenix and both will be desperate to claim the jersey in South Africa.
from FIFA.com
Regardless of what happens at South Africa 2010, the name Mark Paston will forever be intertwined with New Zealand’s FIFA World Cup™ history, thanks to his heroics against Bahrain in the play-off last November. Early in the second-half in front of a record domestic crowd in Wellington, Paston dived low to his right to save Sayed Mohamed Adnan’s penalty ensuring the All Whites edged past Bahrain who would have otherwise advanced on away goals.
A well-regarded shot-stopper Paston has long been considered New Zealand's best goalkeeper by many observers. However despite debuting for the national team 13 years ago as a 20-year-old, opportunities have been limited due to injury and unavailability.
In recent years Paston has interchanged the No1 shirt with Glen Moss who has constantly challenged for a starting berth. Paston though played in all of New Zealand's 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and six of their eight qualifiers in the current campaign.
The 33-year-old though was forced to watch from the bench during the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 with long-term All Whites goalkeeping rival Glen Moss preferred by Herbert. With Moss suspended for the first two matches at South Africa 2010, Paston seems certain to be unchallenged for a place in the starting line-up.
Though extremely athletic injury has curtailed Paston's domestic career, most notably during the several seasons he spent in England with Bradford City and Walsall.
Paston is another that now seems happily entrenched with Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League with Ricki Hebert his coach for both club and country. Paston though fractured his tibia just four weeks after his heroics in Wellington, missing the remainder of the A-League season, and with it valuable game time leading into South Africa 2010.
FIFA 2010 World Cup South Africa Headband for New Zealand
New Zealand's World Cup: The inside story
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