Position : Forward
Played : 1997-98
Appearances : 11
Goals : 2
Mark was veteran number 2 signed at 36 from Bury on a free. Mark was a very late starter in professional football having been the most feared striker in the Conference during the 80s with Runcorn. He is the record goalscorer for the England semi-pro team with 13 goals in 11 appearances. In 1991 Barnet manager Barry Fry signed him for £40,000 to give the final push to the Conference title and then persuaded him to go full time at the age of 30. He scored 30 goals in 82 appearances then moved to Bury for £6,000 in 1993. In four seasons at Gigg Lane he scored 62 goals in 134 appearances.
For all his pedigree a 36 year old is still a 36 year old and laughably in some of his games Barrow expected him to lead the line on his own. Even my fiance could tell he was struggling. There were occasional glimpses of quality and he bagged a couple of goals but by the end of October he was finished. He went on loan to Gateshead for a couple of months then saw out his contract in the reserves.
He moved on to Ashton United then returned to Runcorn as player-manager in 1999-2000. He was subsequently a scout for Accrington and now works as a press officer for both Merseyside clubs. He still plays for Aintree Valentine Over-40s.
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