Mark Beard (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 8 October 1974 | ||
Place of birth | Roehampton, London, England[1] | ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1991–1993 | Millwall | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1993–1995 | Millwall | 52 | (3) |
1995–1998 | Sheffield United | 56 | (0) |
1997 | → Southend United (loan) | 9 | (0) |
1998–2000 | Southend United | 78 | (1) |
2000–2001 | Kingstonian | 23 | (0) |
2001–2003 | Southend United | 50 | (0) |
2003–2004 | Kingstonian | 40 | (6) |
2004–2006 | San Pedro | 32 | (4) |
2006–2007 | Stevenage Borough | 39 | (3) |
2007–2008 | AFC Wimbledon | 17 | (1) |
2008–2010 | Haywards Heath Town | 56 | (6) |
2010–2011 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 3 | (1) |
Total | 455 | (25) | |
Managerial career | |||
2008–2010 | Haywards Heath Town | ||
2010–2011 | Tooting & Mitcham United | ||
2015–2017 | Loxwood | ||
2023–2024 | Eastbourne Borough | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Mark Beard (born 8 October 1974) is an English football manager and former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He was most recently manager of National League South club Eastbourne Borough.
Beard began his career in the youth academy at Millwall in 1991. He signed his first professional contract in 1993, and made his first-team debut later that year. He spent two years at the club; scoring a goal against Arsenal in an FA Cup victory in January 1995. He was transferred to Sheffield United ahead of the 1995–96 season. In 1998, he joined Southend United, who he had also spent time on loan at in 1997. He played regularly for the Essex club over two spells, as well as spending time at Kingstonian.
He moved to Spain to set up a youth academy for Spanish team
After retiring from playing, Beard made the transition into coaching and management; taking on the role of first-team manager at Haywards Heath Town, Tooting & Mitcham and Loxwood respectively. He combined his role at Loxwood alongside working in the academy at Brighton & Hove Albion, before he left the Surrey club in order to take up the under-18 academy coach role at Brighton on a full-time basis in May 2017. He remained in the academy role at Brighton for four years before being appointed assistant manager at Stockport County in July 2021. Beard was appointed head of coaching at Dorking Wanderers in November 2021, a position he held until his appointment as manager of Eastbourne Borough in June 2023. On the 1st January 2024 Eastbourne Borough Football Club announced they had parted company with Mark Beard.
Playing career
Millwall
Beard started his career with Millwall, joining the club's youth academy in 1991 "straight from school".[2] He was captain of the youth team that won the FA Youth Cup, beating Sheffield Wednesday in the final.[2] During his time at youth level, he also helped the team win the Southern Junior Cup, as well as finishing runners-up in the South East Counties league.[2] After playing regularly in the youth team, Millwall manager Mick McCarthy offered Beard his first professional contract in 1993, which he signed.[2] He made his debut as an 18-year-old, playing in Millwall's 4–1 victory against Watford.[2] Beard went on to make 18 appearances that season, scoring one goal. During the 1994–95 season, he scored in Millwall's 2–0 victory against Arsenal in an FA Cup third round replay at Highbury in January 1995.[2]
Sheffield United
In the summer of 1995, Beard was transferred to Sheffield United for a fee of £117,500, with Dave Bassett signing him.[3] He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in August 1995,[4] and made 56 appearances during his time at the club.[2] At the start of the 1997–98 season, Beard was loaned out to Southend United for two months, making his debut in a 1–1 draw against Oldham Athletic.[5] He made ten appearances during the loan agreement.[5] He returned to his parent club in January 1998, making four appearances during the second half of the season.[5]
Southend United
Ahead of the 1998–99 season, Beard signed for Southend on a permanent basis. He was a regular during the season, making 40 appearances in all competitions, and earned the Player of the Year award at the end of the season.[6][7] He remained at Southend for the 1999–2000 season, starting in the club's first game of the season, a 2–1 home victory against Plymouth Argyle.[8] He made 42 appearances during the season as Southend finished in 16th position in Division Three,[9] scoring what turned out to be his only goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Hull City in November 1999.[8] During his first spell at Southend, he made 82 appearances.[3]
Beard then signed for
Stevenage Borough
After spending two years playing and coaching in Spain, Beard signed for
Later career
Following his release from Stevenage, Beard joined
Coaching career
Early coaching career
Beard gained his UEFA coaching badges in 2007, and already had previous experience of coaching in both Spain and Cyprus.[29] He was appointed Director of Youth at Spanish Third Division club UD San Pedro, combining the position alongside his playing duties. With the aid of Vinny Samways, Beard watched over seven academy teams before returning to the England when he signed for Stevenage Borough.[29] He was brought in to set up a youth academy at Sussex County League club Haywards Heath Town in 2008, and ultimately ended up managing the side during the 2009–10 season.[2][33]
He was appointed manager of
Management
Beard was appointed as youth team coach at League One club Crawley Town in February 2012.[35][36] He spent two years coaching in the youth set-up at Crawley, before starting up his own academy in 2014, creating the Love The Ball (LTB) Sussex Academy.[37] The LTB Sussex Academy joined with Southern Combination Premier Division club Loxwood ahead of the 2014–15 season, providing a direct route for academy players to play first-team semi-professional football.[37][38] After a year serving as head coach at the LTB Sussex Academy, Beard took over as manager of the Loxwood first-team in 2015.[37] Half of his academy players were subsequently promoted to the Loxwood first-team.[39]
Brighton & Hove Albion
He combined the role of first-team manager at Loxwood alongside coaching the under-15 and under-16 teams at Brighton & Hove Albion.[37] In March 2017, Beard left his role at Loxwood with immediate effect, due to a change in coaching responsibilities at Brighton.[37] Two months later, in May 2017, he was promoted to under-18 academy coach at Brighton.[40] Brighton's under-17 team won the under-17 Premier League Cup under Beard's management, winning the final 2–0 against the under-17 team of Middlesbrough on 5 May 2021.[41][42]
Stockport County
After four years in his under-18 academy coach role at Brighton, Beard was appointed assistant manager at National League club Stockport County on 6 July 2021.[43] He left his role at Stockport in October 2021, having struggled to relocate away from his family.[44]
Dorking Wanderers
Beard was appointed as head of coaching at National League South club Dorking Wanderers on 12 November 2021.[45] He combined the role alongside returning to Brighton as a youth coach.[46]
Eastbourne Bororugh
Beard was appointed as manager of National League South club Eastbourne Borough on 8 June 2023.[46]
Personal life
Beard was born in Roehampton.[1] He is a Millwall supporter.[2] His son Sam Beard is currently playing for his father at Eastbourne.
Honours
Millwall
Stevenage Borough
- 2006–07[26]
AFC Wimbledon
- Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs: 2007–08[47]
Individual
- Southend United Player of the Year: 1998–99[7]
References
- ^ a b c "Mark Beard – Profile". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Mark Beard – SFC History". Stevenage F.C. History. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Mark Beard – Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Mark Beard – Sheffield United". Sporting-Heroes. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Mark Beard in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Mark Beard in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Soccer: Beard hopes to grow on Blues". Gazette News. 21 October 2001. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Games played by Mark Beard in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "English Division Three 1999–2000 : Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "K's make double swoop". BBC Sport. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Kingstonian keen to sign Simba". BBC Sport. 28 July 2000. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "English Conference 2000–2001 : Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Games played by Mark Beard in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Kingstonian 0–1 Bristol City". Kingstonian F.C. 7 February 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Mark Beard in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Games played by Mark Beard in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Southend cull continues". BBC Sport. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Stevenage swoop to capture Beard". BBC Sport. 11 September 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Stevenage 6–0 Stafford Rangers". BBC Sport. 9 September 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Stevenage 1–0 Weymouth". BBC Sport. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Stimson encouraged by Beard goal". BBC Sport. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Stevenage Player: Mark Beard profile". BoroGuide. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ "Stevenage 4–1 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 20 January 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Stevenage 3–1 Southport". BBC Sport. 13 March 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
- ^ "Stevenage Borough 2006-7: Results, rollcall and league table". BoroGuide. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ a b Hughes, Ian (12 May 2007). "Kidderminster 2–3 Stevenage". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Henry the first". The Football Association. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Stimson commences summer clearout". BBC Sport. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Beard aiming to make Mark". St Albans & Harpenden Review. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "St Albans dismiss manager Hanlon". BBC Sport. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Wimbledon chase FA Trophy dream". BBC Sport. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Gayle quits as Dons rebuild squad". BBC Sport. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Player profile at Haywards Heath Town FC – Mark Beard". The Argus. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Beard sacked by Tooting & Mitcham". Your Local Guardian. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Exciting times for Crawley's head of youth". Crawley Observer. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ "Under-18's 1–2 Southend United". Crawley Town F.C. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Beard Quits Loxwood After Four Years In Charge". Non-League Pitchero. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ "Ex-Crawley Town youth boss Mark Beard sets up Loxwood academy". Crawley Observer. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ "Mark Beard – LTB". Love The Ball. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ "Beard promoted to under-18 role at Albion and Stygal leaves Loxwood". West Sussex County Times. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ "Beard: We're going there to win". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ "Albion win Under-17s Premier League Cup!". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ "Beard appointed as part of new backroom staff". Stockport County F.C. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ "Club statement: Mark Beard". Stockport County F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "Mark Beard joins Wanderers as new head of coaching". Dorking Wanderers F.C. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Eastbourne Borough welcome Mark Beard as the new manager". Eastbourne Borough F.C. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "Isthmian League 2007–08". FCHD. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
External links
- Mark Beard at Soccerbase