FACT FILE PAUL MASON

Born September 3, 1963

A product of Liverpool Schoolboys, Liverpudlian Mason joined Everton at the age of 16 but was released a year later.

He moved on to Tranmere Rovers, playing in the youth and reserve teams, but went parttime after his release from Rovers, working full-time as a labourer while playing for amateur side Port Sunlight.

He broke his leg in a cup

semi-final while playing for Cheshire and the injury kept him out of the game for six months.

Convinced his chance of full-time football had gone Mason followed his eldest brother in moving to the Netherlands where there was a demand for labouring jobs and while based in Groningen, Mason started playing for a local amateur team where a scout from Groningen spotted him.

He was eventually offered a 12-month reserve contract by the club and after impressing he was offered a threeyear professional deal.

Mason went on to become an established first team player at his club, but when Aberdeen gave him the chance to return to Britain in 1988 he jumped at the chance and joined the Dons in a £400,000 transfer.

Mason became a key player at Pittodrie, scoring both goals in the 1989

League Cup final win for the Dons against Rangers at Hampden.

He went on to make it a cup double after playing for Alex Smith’s Dons in the Scottish Cup win against Celtic in May 1990.

Following five years with the Dons Mason returned to England where he joined Ipswich Town before retiring in 1999 at the age of 35.

Following his retirement Mason moved to Southport where he owns a guest house.