Thanks to Dave Rowntree for many of the player images after 1984.
Can you help? This page is the result of the best endeavours of all concerned. If you spot a mistake or know of facts to add, or have a better photo, please get in touch using 'Contact Us' (top, right).
PAUL PATON
Full Name: Paul Raymond Paton
Born: 18 April 1987
Came from: Unattached Went to: Released
First game: 17 March 2018 Last game: 21 April 2018
Appearances: 3 (1/2) Goals: 0
Born in Paisley, near Glasgow, Paton began his career as a youngster with Rangers, and in 2001 played against Barcelona and Lionel Messi in an under-15 tournament in the Netherlands. In 2005 the 18-year-old joined Queen’s Park, playing 106 times and helping the club to promotion, usually as right-back. In 2008 he moved to Partick Thistle, where he clocked up 167 appearances in five successful years, including, in his final season, promotion to the Scottish Premiership as club captain.
Paton then moved to Dundee United, where he made 95 appearances in three seasons in the Scottish top tier, before another move, this time to Perth to join Premiership side St Johnstone in the summer of 2016. After 53 games, he was surprisingly released, having been a first-team regular until Christmas 2017.
At 30, Paton had his first taste of football south of the border when he was snapped up by Derek Adams in mid-March 2018 to boost Argyle's push for the League One play-offs. As well as his considerable experience in Scottish football - 15 goals in 421 games - the tough-tackling midfielder had been capped five times by Northern Ireland, for whom he qualified through his Larne-born father.
Paton made just three appearances in green (the first two from the bench), and he had little chance to shine in the final weeks of the season. His only start was spoiled by an injury that forced him to be substituted early in the second half of the away defeat at Northampton in late April, the incident finishing his season. He was released by Argyle at the end of the campaign and in June 2018 he returned north to sign for Scottish Championship side, Falkirk.
After 35 appearances and two goals for the Bairns, he moved to Dunfermline Athletic in June 2019, and was made club captain. He was released in May 2020 and joined Lowland League side East Kilbride, but with the Lowland League suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Paton joined Airdrieonians on loan in March 2021, and then moved to Dumbarton that summer, where he scored three goals in 26 matches. A year later he signed for West of Scotland Football League side, Glenafton Athletic.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION
If you can add to this profile, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, please contribute here.
APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
Greens on Screen is run as a service to fellow supporters, in all good faith, without commercial or private gain. I have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material used on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of each page.