12-07-2021, 05:27 PM
(10-07-2021, 03:10 PM)Pompey_in_Derby Wrote: My best memories of Paul Mariner didn't actually involve what he did on the pitch for Pompey.
Went to my first FA Cup Final in 1978 when Ipswich beat Arsenal and remember being amused by a banner in the crowd: "Whymark Mariner when Woods will Wark it in"
Was at Wembley in a crowd of 100,000 when Mariner scored the only goal against Hungary. This guaranteed England a place at the 82 World Cup - first time we'd made it through the qualification group in 20 years - and was by far and away the loudest atmosphere I've ever experienced watching England!
Remember when Bally's Pompey had won promotion to the old first division despite losing the final game against Sheffield United and Mariner went absolutely mental in his celebrations - as well as celebrating Pompey's success he'd also just heard that Burnley had stayed in the football league in their final game of the season.
RIP Paul Mariner
I was at that Hungary game too, PiD, and it certainly was a great atmosphere. Hardly imagined he would ever play for us, since we were in Div 3 at the time, and I'm sorry to say I'd forgotten he was in our promotion side of 86-87. I think for England he was effectively replaced by Mark Hately, whose first England appearance (my second and last England game) I also saw in 1984 against the Soviet Union, a pretty rare achievement even then for a Second Division player. Mark Chamberlain also played that day, one of his few England caps, and another player it was hard to imagine signing for us.