FORMER England striker Paul Mariner rejoined the Pilgrims as Head Coach in October 2009.

The unveiling followed Mariner's open support of bringing World Cup football to the Westcountry in 2018.

Mariner took charge of first-team affairs in December 2009 following the departure of manager Paul Sturrock. He reverted to his original role when Peter Reid was appointed as Luggy's successor in June 2010.

As a player, Mariner represented England in qualification for the 1978 and 1982 World Cups and played his part in the '82 finals in Spain, netting in a 3-1 opening victory against France, before two goalless draws saw the Three Lions crash out at the second stage.

In all, Paul scored 13 times in 35 appearances for his country.

Paul Mariner started his career as an amateur player at non-league club Chorley, close to his Lancashire roots, and his style at the helm of their attack caught the attention of Plymouth Argyle, for whom he signed in 1973.

Mariner arrived at the club as a fresh faced 19-year-old in 1973, and he quickly established himself as the main man in the Argyle attack.

His partnership with Billy Rafferty has become legendary, and was arguably the deciding factor in the Pilgrims earning promotion from Division Three in 1976.

He was a big man, but still possessed fantastic ball control and the rare ability to bring others into the game with ease.

Mariner was clearly destined to play at the highest level, and Argyle accepted a bid for his services from Ipswich Town.

Such was his success in his time at Home Park that in 2003-04, Mariner was voted into the Plymouth Argyle team of the century as a strike partner for Tommy Tynan.

Mariner made his Ipswich Town début in September 1976 and quickly settled in as a top pedigree striker. Paul enjoyed possibly his msot successful spell with the Tractor Boys, contributing to one of the most fruitful times in their history.

Paul signed for Arsenal in February 1984 for £150,000. By now Mariner was nearly 31, but he still performed well for Arsenal, scoring seven times in the final fifteen games of the season.

In the summer of 1986 Arsenal's new manager George Graham gave Mariner a free transfer; in all he played 80 times for Arsenal, scoring 17 goals. He signed for Portsmouth, where he spent two seasons. In May 1989, he signed with the Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League.

He returned to the Capitals in 1990 as the team now played in the American Professional Soccer League, formed by the merger of the American Soccer League and Western Soccer League. He played three seasons with the Capitals, where he was named to the leagues Best XI in 1990.

After hanging up his boots, Mariner began his coaching career by returning to the States to coach youth football at S.C. Del Sol in Phoenix, Arizona. In the fall of 2003, he became an assistant coach at Harvard University. In 2004, he was hired by the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer as assistant coach to former Liverpool and Scotland defender Steve Nicol.

Paul Mariner is sponsored by Ken Beale Decorators
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