Mark Bower

Mark Bower
Personal information
Full name Mark James Bower[1]
Date of birth (1980-01-23) 23 January 1980[1]
Place of birth Bradford, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Playing position Defender
Youth career
0000–1997 Bradford City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2009 Bradford City 231 (12)
2000 → York City (loan) 15 (1)
2000–2001 → York City (loan) 21 (1)
2009 → Luton Town (loan) 16 (1)
2009–2010 Darlington 13 (0)
2010–2011 FC Halifax Town
2011–2013 Guiseley 34 (5)
Total 330 (20)
Teams managed
2013–2016 Guiseley
2016- Bradford Park Avenue

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Mark James Bower (born 23 January 1980) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He is currently manager of Bradford Park Avenue in the National League North, having started his managerial career at Guiseley. [2]

Born in Bradford, he played for more than a decade with his hometown club Bradford City until his release in May 2009. He moved to Darlington, where he spent just one season, then dropped into non-League football with FC Halifax Town. Bower has also had loan spells with York City and Luton Town.

Career

Bradford City

Bower was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire and educated at St Bede's Grammar School,[3] before he signed for Bradford City in August 1997 as a trainee. He signed professional forms on 28 March 1998[1] and made his first team debut the following month against Norwich City in a 3–2 victory at Carrow Road on 4 April 1998 at the age of 18.[4] He made two more appearances that season but none in the following season.[5] After City won promotion to the Premier League in May 1999,[6] Bower's first team opportunities were restricted. Instead he spent a period on loan at York City in the 1999–2000 season, after he was signed by the club's new manager Terry Dolan, who had previously managed Bradford City. Dolan made a number of other defensive signings including Alan Fettis, Peter Swan and Peter Hawkins, and with Bower they helped to reduce the number of goals York conceded to help them avoid relegation.[7] Bower made 15 appearances, scoring his first senior goal against Lincoln City during his spell.[8]

Bradford had initially refused Bower to return to York for a second loan spell,[9] but he moved back to Bootham Crescent in November 2000 following a series of injuries for the rest of the 2000–01 season.[10] York again struggled at the bottom of the Third Division, but Bower was praised by Dolan following a long unbeaten run,[11] as the team eventually avoided relegation. Bower made just two cup appearances for Bradford City during that time and never appeared in the club's two-year spell in the Premier League.

His career at Bradford seemed to be over. But he returned from York in 2001 and the following season, he earned a call-up due to injuries. He scored his first Bradford goal during a 4–1 First Division victory against Norwich City on 10 November 2001.[12] Having forced his way into the team, Bower signed a new three-year contract in April 2002 to keep him with the club until the end of the 2004–05 season.[4]

In September 2002, he received the first red card of his career in a league game against Burnley. City striker Danny Cadamarteri was also sent off as City fought back from 2–1 down to draw 2–2 despite playing with nine men for 35 minutes.[13] He soon battled at the Bantams to become a first choice centre back alongside David Wetherall. He was an ever-present during seasons 2004–05 and 2006–07 and now played more than 200 games at Valley Parade.

On 13 February 2007, he was named as Bradford captain by Wetherall, while he was caretaker manager. Bower has regularly picked up gongs at City's annual awards and also writes a column in newspaper the Telegraph & Argus. The following season Bower lost his place to Matthew Clarke before being ruled out due to an injury he sustained in a pre-match warm-up at Accrington Stanley on New Year's Day 2008.[14][15] He returned to action on 8 March 2008, when he came on as a second-half substitute in City's 2–1 at Stockport County.[16] Later that season, he was once again handed the captain's armband in a home game against Morecambe, ten years after he made his debut for the club.[17]

However, Bower was kept out of the team at the start of the 2008–09 season by Graeme Lee and Matthew Clarke. He missed the first four games before he came on as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat to Aldershot Town after Clarke suffered a calf injury.[18] He continued to struggle to break into the first team, and suffered another setback when he injured a thigh in a reserve match.[19]

Having started only one game and restricted to one other league game during the first six months of the 2008–09 season,[20] Bower moved to fellow League Two club Luton Town on a one-month loan deal in January 2009 to cover injuries and suspensions.[21] He made his Luton debut the following day as they drew 1–1 away at Bournemouth, in a game between the league's two bottom sides,[22] both of whom had been deducted points at the start of the season. He played in all six games during the first month of his loan spell which was extended for another month,[23] during which he scored his first goal for Luton to help them defeat fellow relegation-threatened side Grimsby Town 2–1.[24] His loan spell was extended for a second time after becoming a regular in the Luton side.[25] Despite playing 16 games for Luton at centre-back, Bower could not help prevent the inevitable as Luton's 30-point deduction proved too much to overcome, and they were relegated to the Football Conference. As a result, Bower was recalled to Bradford, ending his loan spell,[26] though he was released at the end of the season along with five other senior professionals.[27]

Darlington

Bower trained with Conference National side Chester City and teamed up with his former manager Colin Todd on trial at Darlington.[28][29] After playing in a pre-season friendly with Scottish-side Hamilton Academical, which finished 0–0, Bower signed for Darlington along with fellow Bradford defender Paul Arnison.[30] He played one season with Darlington but the club released him following their relegation from League Two, along with 13 other players.[31]

Halifax Town

In June 2010, Bower returned to West Yorkshire, to sign for FC Halifax Town.[32]

Guiseley

In May 2011, Bower signed for Guiseley as vice-captain and made a strong partnership with Danny Ellis after club captain Simon Ainge left to Luton Town. He became caretaker manager on 11 September 2013 after Steve Kittrick was sacked following a poor start to the season.[33] Despite losing his first two matches in charge, he was appointed permanently on 20 September 2013.[34]

In a match against Braintree Town in February 2016, Bower was involved in a controversial incident described as "disgraceful unsporting behaviour."[35] Recognising that a Guiseley player needed treatment, a Braintree player kicked the ball into touch. Fair play protocol dictates that the ball be passed to the Baintree goalkeeper, Tom King, on resumption of play, but Oliver Norburn instead lobbed the ball past King to score an equalising goal. A fracas resulted but the goal was allowed to stand after security staff separated the players and management, and Bower refused to allow Braintree to walk through and score.[36][37][38][39] Bower went on to defend his decision, stating that King "stood there with his arms in the air and allowed the ball to into the net. It put us in a really difficult position whether we should allow them to score or not but we decided no. I think their keeper was trying to be clever and had simply let the ball go in."[40] King responded that he was "bewildered" by Bower's statement, and speaking on the incident itself said that: "It is one of those things that will be remembered for a long time, I'll be remembered for a long time and it will carry on forever".[41] The following week, Guiseley chairman Phil Rogerson released a statement recognising the fair-play convention had not been followed: "... myself, Mark [Bower] and the club find the situation most regrettable and not in line with the general ethos of Guiseley AFC. Fair play is and always has been at the heart of the club. The decision to continue playing as normal after the goal was taken on the spur of the moment and under extreme pressure, not helped at all by the heated atmosphere."[37] On 21 August 2016, Bower parted company with Guiseley, after the team lost their first five matches of 2016–17.[42]

Bradford Park Avenue

On 22 September 2016, Bower was named manager of National League North side Bradford Park Avenue, replacing previous manager Alex Meechan who had been sacked earlier in the week. [43]


Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bradford City 1997–98[44] First Division 300000—30
1998–99[45] First Division 000000—00
1999–2000[46] Premier League 000000—00
2000–01[47] Premier League 00—101[lower-alpha 1]020
2001–02[48] First Division 1021010—122
2002–03[49] First Division 3701010—390
2003–04[50] First Division 1401000—150
2004–05[51] League One 46210101[lower-alpha 2]0492
2005–06[52] League One 45231202[lower-alpha 2]0523
2006–07[53] League One 463301000503
2007–08[54] League Two 273001000283
2008–09[55] League Two 3000001[lower-alpha 2]040
Total 23112101805025413
York City (loan) 1999–2000[46] Third Division 151———151
2000–01[47] Third Division 21130—1[lower-alpha 2]0251
Total 36230—10402
Luton Town (loan) 2008–09[55] League Two 161———161
Darlington 2009–10[56] League Two 13000101[lower-alpha 2]0150
Guiseley 2011–12[57] Conference North 11020—1[lower-alpha 3]0140
2012–13[58] Conference North 21530—00245
2013–14[58] Conference North 2000—0020
Total 34550—10405
Career total 33020181908036521
  1. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Intertoto Cup
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  3. ↑ Appearance in FA Trophy

Managerial statistics

As of 21 August 2016
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
PWDLWin %
Guiseley 11 September 2013 21 August 2016 153 65 37 51 42.5 [33][42][59]
Total 153 65 37 51 42.5 —

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "Mark Bower is new Bradford Park Avenue manager". Telegraph & Argus. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Parker, Simon (17 April 2008). "Childhood pals battling for pride". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  4. 1 2 "Bower commits to Bantams". BBC Sport. 30 April 2002. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  5. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  6. ↑ "Fantastic! Dream comes true for City". Telegraph & Argus. 10 May 1999. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  7. ↑ "No joy for Minstermen". BBC Sport. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  8. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  9. ↑ "York sign Hobson". BBC Sport. 5 July 2000. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  10. ↑ "Bower back at Bootham". BBC Sport. 29 November 2000. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  11. ↑ "York not resting on their laurels". BBC Sport. 27 March 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  12. ↑ "Norwich 1–4 Bradford". BBC Sport. 10 November 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  13. ↑ "Bradford 2–2 Burnley". BBC Sport. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  14. ↑ Crowther, Mike (21 November 2007). "McCall's faith in Clarke is rewarded". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  15. ↑ Parker, Simon (9 January 2008). "Bower loss leaves City depleted". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
  16. ↑ Parker, Simon (12 March 2008). "McCall confident of victory". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
  17. ↑ Parker, Simon (4 April 2008). "Bower reaches double figures". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  18. ↑ Parker, Simon (1 September 2008). "City playing pain game". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  19. ↑ Parker, Simon (18 October 2008). "Thigh injury terrible timing for Bower". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  20. ↑ Parker, Simon (26 January 2009). "Bower heads to Luton". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "Luton sign Bradford City defender". BBC Sport. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  22. ↑ "Bournemouth 1–1 Luton". BBC Sport. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  23. ↑ "Defender Bower extends Luton loan". BBC Sport. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  24. ↑ "Luton Town vs Grimsby Town". Luton Town F.C. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  25. ↑ "Bower extends loan deal". Luton Town F.C. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  26. ↑ "Match preview: Dagenham & Redbridge". Bradford City A.F.C. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  27. ↑ Parker, Simon (9 May 2009). "No rift between McCall and Bower". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  28. ↑ "Chester look at Bower and Murray". BBC Sport. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  29. ↑ Fraser, Paul (22 July 2009). "Chadwick and Bower in for Quakers". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  30. ↑ Fraser, Paul (23 July 2009). "Quakers recruit Arnison and Bower". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  31. ↑ "Darlington released player tally rises to 14". BBC Sport. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  32. ↑ "Aspin gets his man". FC Halifax Town. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  33. 1 2 Heppenstall, Ross (11 September 2013). "Guiseley sack manager Kittrick". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  34. ↑ Whiting, Ian (20 September 2013). "Guiseley sack manager Kittrick". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  35. ↑ Ward, David (28 February 2016). "Braintree boss describes Guiseley incident as the 'worst thing he's seen' on a football pitch". Green 'Un 24. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  36. ↑ Harris, Matt (29 February 2016). "Braintree Town NEWS: Guiseley AFC chairman says controversial Norburn goal was 'most regrettable'". Essex Chronicle. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  37. 1 2 Shepka, Phil (29 February 2016). "Guiseley v Braintree events around Ollie Norburn goal 'regrettable'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  38. ↑ Spurgeon, Simon (27 February 2016). "Guiseley boss Bower explains why his team didn't allow Braintree Town a walk-in goal as game ends in controversy". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  39. ↑ Spurgeon, Simon (27 February 2016). "Unpalatable ending for Braintree as controversial Guiseley goal denies them eighth away victory". Braintree and Witham Times. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  40. ↑ Ward, David (29 February 2016). "Guiseley 1-1 Braintree Town MATCH REPORT: Iron boss -". Essex Chronicle. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  41. ↑ "Braintree Town NEWS: Millwall loanee Tom King baffled by claim he could have stopped Guiseley goal". Essex Chronicle. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  42. 1 2 "Mark Bower: Guiseley sack manager after five consecutive defeats". BBC Sport. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  43. ↑ "Mark Bower is new Bradford Park Avenue manager". Telegraph & Argus. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  46. 1 2 "Games played by Mark Bower in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  47. 1 2 "Games played by Mark Bower in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  55. 1 2 "Games played by Mark Bower in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Mark Bower in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  57. ↑ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2012). Non-League Club Directory 2013. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 214–215. ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0.
  58. 1 2 "M. Bower". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  59. ↑ "Guiseley AFC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
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