#1 Mark Paston Country: New Zealand Height: 1.92 m6-4 Birthdate: 13/12/1976 Position: Goalkeeper Weight: 90 kg198 lbs Birthplace: Hastings, New Zealand Team: Wellington Phoenix League: Australia A

Bio

Paston is the No. 1 goalkeeper for the All Whites and has made 23 appearances for his country since making his senior team debut Sept. 21, 1997, in a 5-0 loss to Indonesia. He was beaten out by Glen Moss for the No. 1 slot, but Moss is halfway through a four-match suspension for swearing at a referee in the final match of Oceania qualification. That means Paston will be the starter for the first two matches in South Africa against Slovakia and Italy. Paston's size and athleticism are major factors in his success. He began his professional career with the Napier City Rovers in New Zealand before he spent 2003-06 in England and Scotland playing for Bradford City, Walsall and St. Johnstone. Paston played sparingly with those clubs before he finally found a niche as a regular with the Wellington Phoenix once Moss left to join the Melbourne Victory. He helped Wellington go unbeaten at home in 2009-10 before he fractured his tibia. Paston made his mark for the All Whites in the two-legged playoff with Bahrain for entry into the World Cup. He kept clean sheets in both legs and saved a penalty shot in the 1-0 victory that gave New Zealand a ticket to South Africa.

Player Stats