Mark Little (footballer) explained

Mark Little
Full Name:Mark Daniel Little[1]
Birth Date:20 August 1988
Height:1.85m (06.07feet)[2]
Position:Right back
Currentclub:Penybont
Clubnumber:2
Youthyears1:2004–2005
Youthclubs1:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Years1:2005–2010
Caps1:27
Goals1:0
Years2:2008
Clubs2:Northampton Town (loan)
Caps2:17
Goals2:0
Years3:2008
Clubs3:Northampton Town (loan)
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Years4:2009–2010
Clubs4:Chesterfield (loan)
Caps4:12
Goals4:0
Years5:2010
Clubs5:Peterborough United (loan)
Caps5:9
Goals5:0
Years6:2010–2014
Clubs6:Peterborough United
Caps6:148
Goals6:3
Years7:2014–2017
Clubs7:Bristol City
Caps7:88
Goals7:1
Years8:2017–2019
Clubs8:Bolton Wanderers
Caps8:30
Goals8:1
Years9:2019–2021
Clubs9:Bristol Rovers
Caps9:16
Goals9:0
Years10:2021–2022
Clubs10:Yeovil Town
Caps10:19
Goals10:0
Years11:2022–
Clubs11:Penybont
Caps11:51
Goals11:0
Nationalyears1:2006–2007
Nationalteam1:England U19
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:22 April 2024

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

Career

Wolverhampton Wanderers

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

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

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

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

Bristol Rovers

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

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

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

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers2006–07Championship260301010310
2007–08Championship10000010
2008–09Championship00000000
2009–10Premier League00000000
Total270301010320
Northampton Town (loan)2007–08League One170000000170
2008–09League One90002010120
Total260002010290
Chesterfield (loan)2009–10League Two120100010140
Peterborough United (loan)2009–10Championship90000090
Peterborough United2010–11League One350401041441
2011–12Championship3511020381
2012–13Championship4011020431
2013–14League One381402070511
Total1573100701111854
Bristol City2014–15League One371300031432
2015–16Championship2302000250
2016–17Championship2802040340
Total8817040311022
Bolton Wanderers2017–18Championship2811020311
2018–19Championship20101040
Total3012030351
Bristol Rovers2019–20League One110300021161
2020–21League One5000101070
Total160301031231
Yeovil Town2021–22National League1900010200
Career total37552601802134408

Honours

Peterborough United

2011

2013–14[22]

Bristol City

2014–15[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Bolton Wanderers . English Football League . 7 . 16 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Mark Little player profile . . 24 April 2020 . 26 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126191713/https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/mark-little/ . dead .
  3. News: Chesterfield 0–0 Wolves. BBC Sport . 23 August 2006.
  4. News: Leeds 0–1 Wolves. BBC Sport . 10 September 2006.
  5. News: Northampton sign Wolves defender. BBC Sport . 10 January 2008.
  6. News: Wolves defender stays at Cobblers. BBC Sport . 11 February 2008.
  7. News: Little leaves Wolves for Cobblers. BBC Sport . 22 August 2008.
  8. News: Chesterfield sign Wolves defender. BBC Sport . 5 October 2009.
  9. News: Peterborough United loan Wolves defender Mark Little. BBC Sport . 2 March 2010.
  10. News: Wolverhampton Wanderers release trio of squad players. BBC Sport . 14 May 2010.
  11. News: Bristol City: Mark Little and Wade Elliott agree deals. BBC Sport. 25 June 2014. 4 July 2014.
  12. Web site: Football League Trophy final: Bristol City 2-0 Walsall. 22 March 2015. BBC Sport.
  13. Web site: Bristol City 0-0 Coventry City. 18 April 2015. BBC Sport.
  14. Web site: Mark Little: Bolton Wanderers agree two-year deal for former Bristol City right-back. 16 June 2017. BBC Sport.
  15. Web site: Mark Little: Bristol Rovers sign Bolton Wanderers right-back on free transfer. BBC Sport. 4 June 2019. 4 June 2019.
  16. Web site: Bristol Rovers 1-0 Swindon Town RECAP: Reaction as Gas qualify from EFL Trophy group stage . 14 November 2019 . bristolpost.co.uk . 14 November 2019.
  17. Web site: Bristol Rovers: Police investigate Mark Little racist abuse on social media. BBC Sport. 8 February 2021. 7 March 2021.
  18. Web site: Retained List for 2021/22 Season Announced. Bristol Rovers F.C.. 13 May 2021.
  19. Web site: Experienced Little boosts the backline. Yeovil Town F.C.. 25 June 2021.
  20. Web site: Club News Released/retained list . Yeovil Town F.C. . 3 June 2022 . 3 June 2022 .
  21. ✍️ 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. 3 June 2022. 6 June 2022. PenybontFC_. Penybont F.C.. 1532784722887290886.
  22. Web site: M.Little . Soccerway . 7 June 2023.