Mark Marshall Explained

Mark Marshall
Fullname:Mark Anthony Marshall[1]
Birth Date:5 May 1987
Birth Place:Manchester, Jamaica[2]
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Dulwich Hamlet
Youthyears1:?–2005
Youthclubs1:Carshalton Athletic
Years1:2005–2007
Caps1:?
Goals1:?
Years2:2007–2008
Clubs2:Grays Athletic
Caps2:11
Goals2:0
Years3:2007–2008
Clubs3:Eastleigh (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:3
Years4:2008
Clubs4:Eastleigh
Caps4:10
Goals4:2
Years5:2008–2010
Clubs5:Swindon Town
Caps5:19
Goals5:0
Years6:2009
Clubs6:Hereford United (loan)
Caps6:8
Goals6:0
Years7:2010–2012
Clubs7:Barnet
Caps7:71
Goals7:7
Years8:2014
Clubs8:Coventry City
Caps8:14
Goals8:0
Years9:2014–2015
Clubs9:Port Vale
Caps9:46
Goals9:7
Years10:2015–2017
Clubs10:Bradford City
Caps10:73
Goals10:6
Years11:2017–2019
Clubs11:Charlton Athletic
Caps11:49
Goals11:2
Years12:2019–2020
Clubs12:Gillingham
Caps12:18
Goals12:0
Years13:2020–2021
Clubs13:Northampton Town
Caps13:36
Goals13:1
Years14:2021–2022
Clubs14:Crawley Town
Caps14:18
Goals14:0
Years15:2023
Clubs15:Maidstone United
Caps15:11
Goals15:0
Years16:2023–2024
Caps16:34
Goals16:4
Years17:2024–
Clubs17:Dulwich Hamlet
Caps17:0
Goals17:0
Club-Update:17:10, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

Mark Anthony Marshall (born 5 May 1987) is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Dulwich Hamlet.

Marshall began his career with non-League sides Carshalton Athletic, Grays Athletic and Eastleigh, before winning a move into the English Football League with Swindon Town in August 2008. He was loaned out to Hereford United in September 2009, before he joined Barnet in July 2010. He was a first-team regular for the club before he received a two-year ban from football after he was found to have the stimulant Methylhexanamine in his system following a routine drug test on Boxing Day 2011. He returned to the game with Coventry City in February 2014 and signed with Port Vale in July 2014. A year later, he switched clubs to Bradford City and became the club's Player of the Season for the 2016–17 campaign. He joined Charlton Athletic in June 2017, and after two seasons with the club, he moved on to Gillingham in July 2019. He signed with Northampton Town in January 2020. He helped the club to win promotion out of League Two via the play-offs in 2020. He signed with Crawley Town in September 2021 after being released following Northampton's relegation and remained with Crawley until December 2022. He joined Maidstone United in February 2023. He then returned to his first club, Carshalton Athletic, for the start of the 2023–24 season. He joined Dulwich Hamlet in July 2024.

Career

Early career

Marshall's early career saw him come through the ranks at Isthmian League side Carshalton Athletic before he joined Conference Premier club Grays Athletic for the 2007–08 season after unsuccessful trials with Premier League club Reading and League One side Yeovil Town.[3] He was loaned out to Eastleigh of the Conference South in January 2008, and joined the club permanently before the end of the month.[3]

Swindon Town

During the pre-season of 2008–09 he joined Swindon Town on trial,[4] but was originally not offered a deal as Town continued their pursuit of winger Kevin Betsy.[5] A subsequent loan offer from Bournemouth was rejected.[6] However, Swindon's move for Betsy failed as the player joined League One rivals Southend United and Marshall finally joined Swindon in early August 2008 on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[7] [8] [9] His debut for the "Robins" came in a 2–0 defeat away to Cheltenham Town on 16 August.[10] He continued to make some cameo appearances from the substitute bench under manager Maurice Malpas, but his involvement with the first-team ended at the same time as Malpas' departure in November 2008. New manager Danny Wilson accepted an offer from Bournemouth to take the winger on a one-month loan in January 2009, but Marshall rejected the move.[11] He later made a few substitute appearances as the season drew to a close. Marshall's first season at Swindon saw him make 15 appearances in all competitions, all but one as a substitute.[12]

In September 2009, Marshall joined League Two side Hereford United on a one-month loan.[13] The loan was later extended into a second month after he impressed in his early appearances at Edgar Street.[14] He played a total of ten games for the "Bulls". He failed to establish himself in the first-team back at Swindon, despite the departure of Anthony McNamee, new loan signing Frank Nouble was preferred.[12] Swindon released him in May 2010 after struggling for a first-team place under manager Danny Wilson.[15]

Barnet

Marshall joined Barnet as one of manager Mark Stimson's 14 new signings in July 2010.[16] He played all 46 of the "Bees" League Two games of the 2010–11 campaign, contributing six league goals to help the club to stay one point above the relegation zone by the end of the season.

He remained a key player at Underhill for new manager Lawrie Sanchez during the first half of the 2011–12 season. However, Marshall tested positive for the stimulant Methylhexanamine following a routine drug test on Boxing Day 2011 when Barnet lost 3–0 at Dagenham & Redbridge; he claimed "to have unwittingly taken a banned substance in a supplement".[17] The Football Association later confirmed Marshall would serve a two-year ban from all football activity, which started from the date of his provisional ban on 20 January 2012.[18] Marshall was released by Barnet following the expiry of his contract in May 2012.[19] [20]

Coventry City

Following the expiry of his ban, Marshall was signed by Coventry City on a short-term contract in February 2014 after impressing manager Steven Pressley on trial.[21] [22] He made his first competitive appearance in two years on 4 February, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Carl Baker in a 2–1 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate Stadium.[23] In total he made 14 League One appearances during the 2013–14 season, but despite being popular with fans he was not offered a fresh contract in the summer by manager Steven Pressley.[24]

Port Vale

In July 2014, Marshall signed a one-year deal for League One side Port Vale.[25] He scored his first goal for the "Valiants" on 30 August, in a 2–1 defeat to Chesterfield at Vale Park.[26] He scored his third goal for the club on 1 November, and also set up the winning goal in a 2–1 victory at Colchester United, and was named on that week's Football League Team of the Week.[27] He scored seven goals in 49 appearances in the 2014–15 campaign, and it was reported in The Sentinel that his "combination of skill, pace and work rate made him a favourite among supporters".[28] He was voted as the Away Travel Player of the Year by the club's supporters.[29] He left the club after he rejected the offer of a new contract in the summer, a decision that chairman Norman Smurthwaite described as "silly".[30]

Bradford City

In July 2015, Marshall signed a two-year contract with League One side Bradford City.[31] He made 38 appearances across the 2015–16 campaign, but started just eight league games, and was an unused substitute as Bradford were beaten by Millwall in the play-off semi-finals.[32]

He was nominated for the EFL League One Player of the Month award for January 2017, which was won by Bury striker James Vaughan.[33] In April 2017 he was named Bradford City's Player of the Year for the 2016–17 season.[34] Manager Stuart McCall praised Marshall's consistency and versatility, saying that "he crosses and shoots equally as well with both feet" and "is one of the highest for assists in the league".[35] He helped the "Bantams" to reach the League One play-off final against Millwall at Wembley Stadium, and was described by the BBC as "particularly influential" in the match; he provided a goalscoring opportunity to Billy Clarke, but Clarke's shot was saved and Bradford lost the game 1–0.[36] Marshall was reported to have made 261 crosses and 285 completed dribbles in League One in 2016–17, ahead of any other player in the division.

Charlton Athletic

On 17 June 2017, Marshall signed a two-year contract with League One club Charlton Athletic; "Addicks" manager Karl Robinson said he was "one of our main targets" alongside former Bradford teammate Billy Clarke.[37] However, he missed much of the opening three months of the 2017–18 season after picking up an injury during pre-season.[38] He went on to score two goals in 31 games to help Charlton qualify for the play-offs under new manager Lee Bowyer.[39] However, he did not feature in the play-offs as Charlton secured promotion with a 2–1 victory over Sunderland.[40] He was released by Charlton at the end of the 2018–19 season.[41]

Gillingham

After his release from Charlton, Marshall signed for Gillingham on 25 July 2019, shortly after the club's signing of Sheffield United winger Nathan Thomas fell through.[42] He made 23 appearances in the first half of the 2019–20 season, though started just three league games, before leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract on 23 January 2020; "Gills" manager Steve Evans said Marshall was "unlucky at times" and cited budget constrains for his decision not to offer Marshall a contract extension.[43]

Northampton Town

Marshall joined League Two side Northampton Town on a short-term deal on 25 January 2020.[44] Manager Keith Curle said he was please to bring in "a player with pace, trickery, a strong work ethic" despite "really strong competition" from other clubs.[45] The season was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England and Northampton went on to qualify for the play-offs; Marshall played as a 31st-minute substitute for Nicky Adams in the behind closed doors Wembley final as the "Cobblers" recorded a 4–0 victory over Exeter City to secure promotion into League One. Marshall provided the assist for Sam Hoskins for the third goal.[46]

He scored his first goal for Northampton in a 2–1 win at Shrewsbury Town on 19 September 2020.[47] He barely featured towards the end of Curle's reign as he chose to play without wingers before Marshall returned to the first-team after Jon Brady took charge in February.[48] He scored two goals in 33 games in the 2020–21 season and was not offered a new contract when the club's retained list was published in May following Town's relegation out of League One.[49]

Crawley Town

On 21 September 2021, it was announced that Marshall had joined League Two club Crawley Town on a one-month rolling contract, having been on trial at the club since the start of the season.[50] Manager John Yems said: "I've known Mark for many years, he will be a great asset for the team".[51] He made his debut four days later, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 win over former club Bradford City at the Broadfield Stadium.[52] He featured 20 times in the 2021–22 campaign, though started just one league match, and entered contract talks with the club in the summer.[53] However, he left the club upon the expiry of his contract in December 2022, having been limited to four cup appearances in the first half of the 2022–23 season.[54]

Non-League

On 17 February 2023, Marshall signed with National League club Maidstone United.[55] The following month he stated his intention to continue playing into his 40s.[56] He made eleven appearances as Maidstone were relegated at the end of the 2022–23 season before being released.[57] He rejoined Carshalton Athletic in the Isthmian League Premier Division for the 2023–24 season and went on to score five goals from 41 appearances. On 30 July 2024, Marshall joined Dulwich Hamlet, also of the Isthmian League Premier Division.[58]

Style of play

Marshall is known for his pace.[59] Former teammate Tom Pope stated that Marshall has "terrific self-belief" and will continue to try to beat his marker even if he is struggling to find success in the match.[60]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Grays Athletic2007–08[61] Conference Premier110202[62] 1151
Eastleigh (loan)2007–08[63] Conference South53002[64] 073
Eastleigh2007–08Conference South1020000102
Total1550020175
Swindon Town2008–09League One12010002[65] 0150
2009–10League One7000200090
Total190102020240
Hereford United (loan)2009–10League Two80000020100
Barnet2010–11League Two466201011507
2011–12League Two251202052343
Total7174030638410
Coventry City2013–14League One140000000140
Port Vale2014–15League One467101010497
Bradford City2015–16League One310501010380
2016–17League One42610106[66] 0506
Total736602070886
Charlton Athletic2017–18League One271210020312
2018–19League One22131103[67] 0292
Total492521050604
Gillingham2019–20League One180101030230
Northampton Town2019–20League Two7000001[68] 080
2020–21League One291101021332
Total361101031412
Crawley Town2021–22League Two180000020200
2022–23League Two0000103141
Total180001051241
Maidstone United2022–23National League110001[69] 0120
Carshalton Athletic2023–24[70] Isthmian League
Premier Division
344512[71] 0415
Dulwich Hamlet2024–25[72] Isthmian League
Premier Division
00000000
Career total4233226312041650241

Honours

Charlton Athletic

2019[73]

Northampton Town

2020[74]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Northampton Town . English Football League . 46 . 23 September 2020.
  2. Web site: FootballSquads — Port Vale - 2014/2015 . www.footballsquads.co.uk . 1 February 2021 . 4 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210204221914/http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2014-2015/fltwo/portv.htm . dead .
  3. Web site: Profile: Mark Marshall, #17 (Released – January 2008). graysath-online.com. 2 July 2014.
  4. Web site: Manchester United starlet invited for Town trial. 25 June 2008. Swindon Advertiser. 1 August 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100719202112/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/search/2361788.Manchester_United_starlet_invited_for_Town_trial/. 19 July 2010. dead.
  5. Web site: Marshall will make his mark. 6 August 2008. Swindon Advertiser. 1 August 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007111203/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/search/2418703.Marshall_will_make_his_mark/. 7 October 2011. dead.
  6. News: Cherries bid for Marshall fails. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 9 August 2008.
  7. Web site: Marshall signs for Town. 13 August 2008. Swindon Advertiser. 1 August 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007111514/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/search/2424431.Marshall_signs_for_Town/. 7 October 2011. dead.
  8. Web site: Baird backing Town new boy Marshall to deliver on league stage. 16 August 2008. Swindon Advertiser. 1 August 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007111720/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/search/2426673.Baird_backing_Town_new_boy_Marshall_to_deliver_on_league_stage/. 7 October 2011. dead.
  9. News: Swindon sign Eastleigh's Marshall. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 14 August 2008.
  10. News: Cheltenham 2–0 Swindon. BBC Sport. 16 August 2008. 17 August 2008.
  11. Web site: Marshall rejects Bournemouth loan move. 30 January 2009. Swindon Advertiser. 1 August 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007111830/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/search/4088372.Marshall_rejects_Bournemouth_loan_move/. 7 October 2011. dead.
  12. Web site: Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk - Mark MARSHALL - Player Profile . www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk . 2 November 2022.
  13. News: Hereford bring in three on loan. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 17 September 2009.
  14. News: Hereford pair extend loan deals. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 20 October 2009.
  15. News: Swindon Town release Kurt Hammonds and Mark Marshall. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 2 June 2010.
  16. News: Barnet boss Mark Stimson moves for Mark Marshall. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 30 July 2010.
  17. Web site: Barnet's Mark Marshall suspended after failed drug test. 31 January 2012. BBC Sport. 15 February 2012.
  18. Web site: Barnet winger Mark Marshall gets two-year ban for failed drugs test. 10 May 2012. BBC Sport. 10 May 2012.
  19. News: McLeod, Brill lead Bees exodus. 22 May 2012. Sky Sports. 22 May 2012.
  20. News: Izale McLeod among seven players released by Barnet. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 21 May 2012.
  21. News: Mark Marshall: Coventry City sign midfielder following drugs ban. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 4 February 2014.
  22. Web site: Sky Blues seal Marshall deal . Coventry City FC . 3 February 2014.
  23. News: Connoll. Nick. Sky Blues lead with first half double. 2 July 2014. ccfc.co.uk. 4 February 2014.
  24. News: McCartney. Aidan. Coventry City winger Mark Marshall signs for Port Vale. 2 July 2014. Coventry Telegraph. 2 July 2014.
  25. News: Mark Marshall: Port Vale sign Coventry City winger. 2 July 2014. BBC Sport. 2 July 2014.
  26. News: Port Vale 1 – 2 Chesterfield. 1 September 2014. BBC Sport. 30 August 2014.
  27. News: Mark Marshall makes Football League team of the week. 4 November 2014. The Sentinel. 3 November 2014.
  28. News: Baggaley. Mike. Port Vale 1–2 Fleetwood: Star man and player ratings. 4 May 2015. The Sentinel. 3 May 2015.
  29. News: Baggaley. Mike. Michael O'Connor dominates Vale's awards night. 5 May 2015. The Sentinel. 3 May 2015. 4 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150504211531/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Michael-O-Connor-dominates-Vale-s/story-26436146-detail/story.html. dead.
  30. News: Norman Smurthwaite says 'silly' Mark Marshall was offered great deal at Vale. 12 July 2015. The Sentinel. 12 July 2015.
  31. News: Sharpe. Rich. Mark Marshall signs for Bradford City after turning down Valiants. 13 July 2015. The Sentinel. 13 July 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714062649/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Mark-Marshall-signs-Bradford-City/story-26892783-detail/story.html. 14 July 2015.
  32. News: Millwall 1–1 Bradford City (4–2 agg). 25 April 2017. BBC Sport. 20 May 2016.
  33. News: Parker. Simon. McCall: I was right to make Marshall stick with Bantams. 25 April 2017. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 10 February 2017. en.
  34. Web site: Marshall named Player of the Year. 24 April 2017. 25 April 2017. Bradford City A.F.C..
  35. News: Parker. Simon. Marshall wings it to Bantams top prize. 25 April 2017. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 25 April 2017. en.
  36. News: Hunt. Josh. Bradford City 0–1 Millwall. 20 May 2017. BBC Sport. 20 May 2017.
  37. News: DONE DEAL: Charlton to sign winger Mark Marshall. 16 June 2017. Charlton Athletic official website. 16 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170616192955/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/charlton-athletic-football-club-new-signing-mark-marshall-3731133.aspx. 16 June 2017. dead.
  38. News: Mark Marshall excited to be back after 'devastating' injury. 12 May 2018. cafc.co.uk. 5 October 2017. en.
  39. News: Cawley. Richard. Mark Marshall wants to end play-off misery – and reveals extra training at Charlton Athletic after being dropped – South London News. 12 May 2018. www.londonnewsonline.co.uk. 30 April 2018.
  40. News: Law . James . League One play-off final: Charlton Athletic 2-1 Sunderland . 27 May 2019 . BBC Sport . 26 May 2019.
  41. Web site: Charlton Athletic offer Patrick Bauer and Joe Aribo new contracts. 30 May 2019. 31 May 2019. BBC Sport.
  42. Web site: Gills clinch signing of Mark Marshall . . 25 July 2019.
  43. Web site: Mark Marshall leaves Gillingham FC . . 23 January 2020.
  44. News: Mark Marshall: Northampton Town sign winger from Gillingham until end of season . . 25 January 2020.
  45. News: Winger Mark Marshall joins Northampton Town . 29 January 2020 . www.ntfc.co.uk . 25 January 2020 . en-gb.
  46. News: Harris . Daniel . Exeter City 0-4 Northampton Town: League Two play-off final – as it happened . 10 December 2020 . The Guardian . 29 June 2020.
  47. Web site: Shrewsbury 1-2 Northampton . 19 September 2020 . BBC. 7 October 2020.
  48. News: Heneghan . James . Marshall happy to have 'new beginning' at Cobblers after being 'frozen out' under Curle . 13 May 2021 . Northampton Chronicle . 18 February 2021 . en.
  49. News: Crook . Charles . Northampton Town released club's retained list, with six to leave club . 13 May 2021 . CitiBlog . 11 May 2021 . en.
  50. News: Pole . Matt . 21 September 2021 . Former Charlton Athletic, Coventry City and Bradford City winger joins Crawley Town . en . Crawley & Horley Observer . 21 September 2021.
  51. News: Crawley bring in midfielder Marshall . 27 May 2022 . BBC Sport . 21 September 2021.
  52. News: Crawley Town 2-1 Bradford City . 27 May 2022 . BBC Sport . 25 September 2021.
  53. News: 2021/22 RELEASED AND RETAINED LIST . 27 May 2022 . www.crawleytownfc.com . 20 May 2022 . en-gb.
  54. News: Mark Marshall To Leave The Club . 17 January 2023 . www.crawleytownfc.com . 9 December 2022 . en-gb.
  55. News: Elokobi marshals new signing . 17 February 2023 . Maidstone United FC . 17 February 2023.
  56. News: Tucker . Craig . Marshall: You're a long time retired . 3 May 2023 . Kent Online . 17 March 2023 . en.
  57. Web site: Player update. maidstoneunited.co.uk. 2 May 2023. 4 May 2023.
  58. News: Ward . Kian . Meet Mark Marshall the Hamlets newest signing. . 31 July 2024 . Dulwich Hamlet FC . 30 July 2024 . en-gb.
  59. News: Swindon sign up Eastleigh flying winger Marshall. 2 July 2014. Bristol Post. 15 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923231546/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Swindon-sign-Eastleigh-flying-winger-Marshall/story-11252703-detail/story.html. 23 September 2015. dead.
  60. News: Baggakey. Mike. Tom Pope: Port Vale scrapping with 10 other clubs. 24 February 2017. Stoke Sentinel. 24 February 2017. en.
  61. Web site: Games played by Mark Marshall in 2007/2008. Grays Athletic F.C.. 27 June 2014.
  62. Two appearances in the Essex Senior Cup
  63. Web site: Games played by Mark Marshall in 2007/2008 for Eastleigh. Eastleigh F.C.. 27 June 2014.
  64. One appearance in the FA Trophy, one appearance in the Hampshire Senior Cup
  65. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  66. Three appearances in EFL Trophy, three appearances in the League One Play-Offs
  67. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  68. Appearance/s in the League Two play-offs
  69. Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
  70. Web site: Carshalton Athletic Appearances Mark Marshall Football Web Pages . www.footballwebpages.co.uk . 24 November 2023.
  71. 1 appearance in the FA Trophy and 1 appearance in the Surrey Senior Cup
  72. Web site: Dulwich Hamlet Appearances Mark Marshall Football Web Pages . www.footballwebpages.co.uk . 21 August 2024.
  73. News: Charlton Athletic 2–1 Sunderland . James . Law . BBC Sport . 26 May 2019 . 26 May 2019.
  74. News: Exeter City 0–4 Northampton Town . Brent . Pilnick . BBC Sport . 29 June 2020 . 29 June 2020.