Mark Bailey (footballer)

Mark Bailey (born 12 August 1976) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Mark Bailey
Personal information
Full name Mark Bailey[1]
Date of birth (1976-08-12) 12 August 1976 (age 47)
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1992–1994 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Stoke City 0 (0)
1996–1999 Rochdale 67 (1)
1999–2000 Winsford United
1999–2000 Lancaster City
1999–2001 Northwich Victoria 61 (2)
2001–2004 Lincoln City 98 (1)
2004–2006 Macclesfield Town 26 (2)
2006–2007 Peterborough United 0 (0)
2006–2007 Stafford Rangers 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He notably played in the Football League for Rochdale, Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town as well as spells with Stoke City and Peterborough United that yielded no appearances. He also spent time in Non-league football with Winsford United, Lancaster City, Northwich Victoria and Stafford Rangers.

Career edit

Early career edit

Bailey began his career as a trainee with his home town club Stoke City before moving to Rochdale on a free transfer in October 1996. He made his Football League debut for the club in the 1–0 away victory over Torquay United on 3 December 1996 and by the end of March had secured a regular birth in the first team. The 1997–98 season saw Bailey maintain his presence in the team, making 24 league starts with a further nine appearances from the substitutes bench. He began the 1998–99 season as a regular member of the first team but dropped to the bench at the beginning of October and drifted out of the first team picture in mid-December. In January 1999, he attracted the attention of Northwich Victoria's manager Mark Gardiner but a proposed loan move was thwarted by Bailey sustaining a minor hamstring injury.[2] He managed to break back into the Rochdale team in March 1999, making his first league start in nearly four months in the 0–0 home draw with Barnet on 20 March 1999. However, he made only three further appearances before being released by the club at the end of the season.

He commenced the 1999–2000 season training with Northwich Victoria from where he was recommended to Winsford United,[3] debuting for the club in the 0–0 Northern Premier League draw at Spennymoor United on 21 August 1999,[4] scoring his first goal for the club in the 2–2 draw at Whitby Town a week later. He moved on to join Lancaster City in November 1999,[5] debuting in the 4–1 away Northern Premier League defeat to Hyde United on 12 November 1999.[6]

Northwich Victoria edit

Bailey continued to attract the attention of Northwich Victoria's manager Mark Gardiner and having turned down one offer to join the Vics to remain at the Giant Axe, Gardiner came back with an improved pay offer which coupled with the lure of moving nearer to home in the Stoke area proved too much for Bailey and he departed Lancaster City in January 2000.[7] He made his Football Conference debut for the club in the 2–0 defeat at Altrincham on 3 January 2000[8] scoring his first goal for the club in the 3–1 victory at Welling United on 8 January 2000.

Lincoln City edit

In October 2001, Bailey joined Lincoln City signing a contract that would keep him at Sincil Bank until the summer of 2004.

Macclesfield Town edit

In June 2004, Macclesfield Town's manager Brian Horton announced that the club had agreed terms to sign Bailey[9] with Bailey signing a one-year contract with the club following the end of his contract with Lincoln City.[10] He debuted for the club in the 3–1 victory at Leyton Orient on 7 August 2004 and was an ever-present member of the side until he sustained a peroneal tendon tear[11] in the 1–1 home draw with Cambridge United on 19 October 2004.[12] The injury would keep Bailey out of action until the 2–0 away defeat to Swansea City on 25 March 2005 but after that he remained in the first team picture for the remainder of the season as Macclesfield reached the play-offs, losing out to his former club Lincoln City in the semi-finals. He agreed a new one-year contract[13] for the 2005–06 season but a series of injuries, particularly to his achilles, restricted his appearances and in April 2006 he left the club by mutual consent.[14]

Peterborough United and Stafford Rangers edit

In August 2006 he joined up with Keith Alexander for a third time, signing a month-to-month contract with Peterborough United.[15]

Personal life edit

He is the son of the former Port Vale player Terry Bailey.

Career statistics edit

Source:[16]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke City 1994–95 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rochdale 1996–97 Third Division 15 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 17 0
1997–98 Third Division 33 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 37 0
1998–99 Third Division 19 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 22 1
Total 67 1 1 0 4 0 4 0 76 1
Northwich Victoria 1999–2000 Football Conference 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 1
2000–01 Football Conference 31 2 4 0 0 0 2 0 37 2
2001–02 Football Conference 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Total 59 3 4 0 0 0 2 0 65 3
Lincoln City 2001–02 Third Division 18 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 21 0
2002–03 Third Division 45 0 1 0 1 0 3 1 50 1
2003–04 Third Division 35 1 1 0 0 0 4 2 40 3
Total 98 1 4 0 1 0 8 3 111 4
Macclesfield Town 2004–05 League Two 21 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 25 2
2005–06 League Two 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 7 0
Total 26 2 1 0 1 0 4 0 32 2
Career total 250 7 10 0 6 0 18 3 284 10

References edit

  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 31. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. ^ "Northwich Vics Manager Mark Gardiner Has Acted Quickly To Avoid A Selection Crisis". Knutsford Guardian. 6 January 1999. Retrieved 30 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Macc lad signs". Knutsford Guardian. 25 August 1999. Retrieved 30 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Blues Off The Mark". Knutsford Guardian. 25 August 1999. Retrieved 30 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Big game on for the Blues". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 12 November 1999. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Match Report: Hyde United 4–1 Lancaster City". Hyde United F.C. Official Website. 12 November 1999. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Blues news". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 7 January 2000. Archived from the original on 3 January 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  8. ^ "Courageous Cooke Battles on in Vain". Knutsford Guardian. 3 January 2000. Retrieved 30 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Bailey Confirmed". Macclesfield Town F.C. Official Website. 4 June 2004. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  10. ^ "Bailey Signs Up". Macclesfield Town F.C. Official Website. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  11. ^ "Injury Update". Macclesfield Town F.C. Official Website. 28 October 2004. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  12. ^ "Brian Horton Interview". Macclesfield Town F.C. Official Website. 23 October 2004. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  13. ^ "Bailey signs". Macclesfield Town F.C. Official Website. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  14. ^ "Mark Bailey to leave the Moss Rose". Macclesfield Town F.C. Official Website. 19 April 2006. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  15. ^ "Bailey Signs on Month To Month Contract". Peterborough United F.C. Official Website. 4 August 2006. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  16. ^ Mark Bailey at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

External links edit