Mark Little (footballer)

Mark Daniel Little (born 20 August 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays for Cymru Premier club Penybont as a defender.

Mark Little
Personal information
Full name Mark Daniel Little[1]
Date of birth (1988-08-20) 20 August 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth Worcester, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
Penybont
Number 2
Youth career
2004–2005 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2010 Wolverhampton Wanderers 27 (0)
2008Northampton Town (loan) 17 (0)
2008Northampton Town (loan) 9 (0)
2009–2010Chesterfield (loan) 12 (0)
2010Peterborough United (loan) 9 (0)
2010–2014 Peterborough United 148 (3)
2014–2017 Bristol City 88 (1)
2017–2019 Bolton Wanderers 30 (1)
2019–2021 Bristol Rovers 16 (0)
2021–2022 Yeovil Town 19 (0)
2022– Penybont 27 (0)
International career
2006–2007 England U19 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 June 2023

Career edit

Wolverhampton Wanderers edit

Born in Worcester and educated at Nunnery Wood High School, Little began his career as a youth player in Wolves' Academy and played a major role in the side who made it to the last four of the FA Youth Cup in 2005. He signed a three-year professional contract in August 2005 and had become a regular in the reserve side by the end of the 2005–06 season, and featured as an unused substitute for the first team throughout April 2006.

He made his first team debut in the League Cup at Chesterfield on 23 August 2006.[3] This was followed by his league debut off the bench (on the opposite flank at left-back) at Leeds United on 10 September 2006.[4]

Little went on to feature regularly throughout the season but didn't manage to continue this in the 2007–08 campaign. He was sent out on loan to League One side Northampton Town for a month in January 2008,[5] later extended to three months.[6] After beginning the following season with his parent club, but without breaking into the first team, he again returned to Sixfields on loan until the end of October.[7] In late 2009, Little went out on loan again, this time for two months at League Two side Chesterfield.[8]

Peterborough United edit

In March 2010 Little joined Championship strugglers Peterborough United on loan for the remainder of the season.[9] After he was not offered a new contract at Wolves,[10] Little signed for Peterborough in a three-year deal on 25 May 2010.

Bristol City edit

On 5 June 2014, Little left Peterborough after turning down a new contract offer. On 25 June 2014 it was confirmed Little would join Bristol City on a three-year contract from 1 July 2014.[11] Little was part of the Bristol City squad that won League One (securing promotion to the Championship) and the Football League Trophy (meaning Little had been part of the winning side of the cup competition for two years running), scoring City's second goal and winning man of the match in the final of the latter.[12][13] He was a regular starter in the Championship for Bristol City under Steve Cotterill and later, Lee Johnson.

Bolton Wanderers edit

His contract with Bristol City was not renewed after the 2016–17 season and he joined Bolton Wanderers.[14]

Bristol Rovers edit

On 4 June 2019, Little joined Bristol Rovers on a free transfer.[15] He scored his first goal for Rovers when he scored in an EFL Trophy tie against Swindon Town on 13 November 2019.[16] In February 2021, Little spoke out about racial abuse that he had received in response to a post he made on Instagram, joining a host of footballers to have received racial abuse on social media in early 2021 as there were calls for social media companies to tackle abuse with real-life consequences.[17] It was announced at the end of the 2020–21 season that Little's contract would not be renewed and he would be leaving the club.[18]

Yeovil Town edit

On 25 June 2021, Little agreed a deal to join National League side Yeovil Town.[19] At the end of the 2021–22 season, Little was released by Yeovil following the expiry of his contract.[20]

Penybont edit

On 3 June 2022, Little joined Cymru Premier club Penybont following his release from Yeovil.[21]

Career statistics edit

As of end of 2021–22 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2006–07[22] Championship 26 0 3 0 1 0 1[a] 0 31 0
2007–08[23] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2008–09[24] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009–10[25] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 27 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 32 0
Northampton Town (loan) 2007–08[23] League One 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
2008–09[24] League One 9 0 0 0 2 0 1[b] 0 12 0
Total 26 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 29 0
Chesterfield (loan) 2009–10[25] League Two 12 0 1 0 0 0 1[b] 0 14 0
Peterborough United (loan) 2009–10[25] Championship 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Peterborough United 2010–11[26] League One 35 0 4 0 1 0 4[c] 1 44 1
2011–12[27] Championship 35 1 1 0 2 0 38 1
2012–13[28] Championship 40 1 1 0 2 0 43 1
2013–14[29] League One 38 1 4 0 2 0 7[d] 0 51 1
Total 157 3 10 0 7 0 11 1 185 4
Bristol City 2014–15[30] League One 37 1 3 0 0 0 3[b] 1 43 2
2015–16[31] Championship 23 0 2 0 0 0 25 0
2016–17[32] Championship 28 0 2 0 4 0 34 0
Total 88 1 7 0 4 0 3 1 102 2
Bolton Wanderers 2017–18[33] Championship 28 1 1 0 2 0 31 1
2018–19[34] Championship 2 0 1 0 1 0 4 0
Total 30 1 2 0 3 0 35 1
Bristol Rovers 2019–20[35] League One 11 0 3 0 0 0 2[b] 1 16 1
2020–21[36] League One 5 0 0 0 1 0 1[b] 0 7 0
Total 16 0 3 0 1 0 3 1 23 1
Yeovil Town 2021–22[37] National League 19 0 0 0 1[e] 0 20 0
Career total 375 5 26 0 18 0 21 3 440 8
  1. ^ Appearance in the Championship play-offs
  2. ^ a b c d e Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  3. ^ One appearance in the Football League Trophy and three in the League One play-offs
  4. ^ Five appearances in the Football League Trophy and two in the League One play-offs
  5. ^ Appearance in FA Trophy

Honours edit

Peterborough United

Bristol City

References edit

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Bolton Wanderers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 7. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Mark Little player profile". Bristol Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Chesterfield 0–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 23 August 2006.
  4. ^ "Leeds 0–1 Wolves". BBC Sport. 10 September 2006.
  5. ^ "Northampton sign Wolves defender". BBC Sport. 10 January 2008.
  6. ^ "Wolves defender stays at Cobblers". BBC Sport. 11 February 2008.
  7. ^ "Little leaves Wolves for Cobblers". BBC Sport. 22 August 2008.
  8. ^ "Chesterfield sign Wolves defender". BBC Sport. 5 October 2009.
  9. ^ "Peterborough United loan Wolves defender Mark Little". BBC Sport. 2 March 2010.
  10. ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers release trio of squad players". BBC Sport. 14 May 2010.
  11. ^ "Bristol City: Mark Little and Wade Elliott agree deals". BBC Sport. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Football League Trophy final: Bristol City 2-0 Walsall". BBC Sport. 22 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Bristol City 0-0 Coventry City". BBC Sport. 18 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Mark Little: Bolton Wanderers agree two-year deal for former Bristol City right-back". BBC Sport. 16 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Mark Little: Bristol Rovers sign Bolton Wanderers right-back on free transfer". BBC Sport. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Bristol Rovers 1-0 Swindon Town RECAP: Reaction as Gas qualify from EFL Trophy group stage". bristolpost.co.uk. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Bristol Rovers: Police investigate Mark Little racist abuse on social media". BBC Sport. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Retained List for 2021/22 Season Announced". Bristol Rovers F.C. 13 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Experienced Little boosts the backline". Yeovil Town F.C. 25 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Club News | Released/retained list". Yeovil Town F.C. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  21. ^ @PenybontFC_ (3 June 2022). "✍️ We're glad to announce the signing of Mark Little who will join us upon expiry of his contact at @YTFC. Mark is an experienced defender with over 200 appearances in the EFL for Bristol Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Bristol City, Peterborough and Wolves Welcome Mark! #BONT🟦" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 June 2022 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Games played by Mark Little in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by Mark Little in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  25. ^ a b c "Games played by Mark Little in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  27. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  28. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  29. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  30. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  31. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  32. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  33. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  34. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  35. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  36. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  37. ^ "Games played by Mark Little in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  38. ^ a b c "M.Little". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

External links edit