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Bryan Robson led tributes to Paul Mariner on Saturday as English football mourned the passing of a 'terrific player and a wonderful man'.

The former Ipswich and England striker died on Friday at the age of 68 after a battle with brain cancer.

Mariner was a colourful character who scored 139 goals in 339 games for Ipswich in a golden era in which they won the FA Cup in 1978 and UEFA Cup in 1981. His other clubs included Plymouth, Arsenal and Portsmouth while he also earned 35 England caps and scored 13 times including at the 1982 World Cup. 

'He had a terrific attitude to life,' said Robson. 'He was just a great, great laugh and will be so sadly missed. 

'I remember in the tunnel before England games I used to say ''Come on boys, let's go!'' I'd turn round then behind me I'd hear this huge roaring scream of ''Come Onnnn!'' And it would be Paul jumping up and down in the face of the opposition, often with Terry Butcher. You'd look at the other team and see they were scared half to death before they'd even gone out of the tunnel. Yet off the pitch, you could not meet a nicer guy.' 

Tributes have poured in for Paul Mariner after the former footballer died from brain cancer

Mariner, 68, who died on Friday morning, won 35 caps for England and scored 13 goals

Former Liverpool and England captain Phil Thompson shared a similar memory. 'We were at Hampden to play Scotland so it was normally vocal and feisty but Paul, who was 6ft 3ins and Terry, at 6ft 4ins, would take it to another level. They'd be leaping and screaming down the corridor shouting ''Come on! Let's batter these.'' We were frightened and they were on our team.

'We played Italy in the European Championships, up against Claudio Gentile, a hard defender, but Paul held his own. He loved the physical side but he was so good he could have easily fitted into our Liverpool team. He was a special guy. A proper player.'

Mariner's friend Butcher added: 'He was the most unbelievable man. Tough, very much a combination of Van Nistelrooy, Harry Kane and Van Basten, all the great strikers. A big rocker, he loved Iron Maiden and Deep Purple, the singer Ian Gillan was a big friend of his. As a man he was wonderful. So caring, so lovable. Every person he met was better for it. We are all devastated.'

Former team-mates Bryan Robson and Phil Thompson lavished praise on Mariner's character

Mariner was described as a hybrid of Harry Kane (L), Marco van Basten (R) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (not pictured)

Mariner had been an engineering student before turning to football and struck up such a friendship with Gillan that he ended up on stage with Gillan's band playing bongos at the Hammersmith Apollo.

He had playing and coaching spells in the United States and managed Plymouth in 2009-10. He was also assistant to Peter Reid who described him as 'a diamond of a man'. 'I'd known him from his early days at Chorley,' said Reid. 'When Everton won the FA Cup semi final at Highbury in 1984, he ran across the players' lounge and gave me the biggest hug, he was so pleased for me. I'm sick I never got the chance to say goodbye properly to him,' said Reid.

Heartbroken John Wark, the former Ipswich and Liverpool midfielder added: 'He was my best mate. As a person, he was even better than he was as a player and that is saying something. Bobby [Robson] put us together as room-mates and it just went boom from there. He called me his ''brother''. That’s how close we were.'

Their one time manager Robson once said: 'I was lucky to work with great strikers all over the world. Lineker, Romario, Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy, Shearer, Figo and Paul Mariner at Ipswich.'

Mariner leaves behind his partner Val, mum Peggy, and his three sons George, Joe and Dan. 

Terry Butcher (second right) said Mariner (second left) was 'unbelievable' and said 'every person he met was better for it'

Sir Bobby Robson (centre) listed Mariner (right) as one of the best strikers he worked with