Marc Pugh
Encyclopedia
Marc Anthony Pugh is an English footballer who plays for Bournemouth
. He plays mainly as an attacking midfielder but can also play as a winger and as a striker.
Pugh started his career with Burnley
, where he progressed through the youth system
. He was released by the club having made his first team while on loan at Kidderminster Harriers
and signed a short-term contract with Bury
in 2006. He later signed a professional
contract at the club and after rejecting an extended contract in 2007 he signed for Shrewsbury Town
. He was loaned out to Luton Town
and Hereford United
, joining the latter permanently in 2009 and leaving after a season to sign for Bournemouth.
, Lancashire
and attended All Saints Catholic Language College
in Rawtenstall
. He started his football career with Championship
side Burnley
where, at a young age, he started as a Centre of Excellence player, and gradually worked his way up through the ranks to become an apprentice in 2003. As a first year apprentice he played for the youth
and reserve team
s and due to his great goalscoring record, which led him to be named on the bench for two first team matches in the League Cup
, they decided to keep him on for a third year. As a third year apprentice he scored 15 goals for the club's reserve and youth team. This led to him to being sent out on loan to Kidderminster Harriers
in the Conference National
in November 2005 to play first team football. He made his debut for Kidderminster after coming on as a 86th minute substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Stevenage Borough. He converted a Simon Heslop
cross during a match against Dagenham & Redbridge
to score his first career goal, which helped Kidderminster to a 3–1 victory. Also, during a match he displayed a smart piece of skill which involved flicking the ball over an opponents head with his heel, then crossing the ball in for a teammate to score; this move was featured on Soccer AM
's showboat
ing section. He returned to Burnley on 13 December after picking up a groin
injury, but eventually returned for a second spell on 7 January 2006. This spell ended on 26 January so Pugh could concentrate on his career at Burnley and made 10 appearances and scored one goal while at Kidderminster. He learned that he would not receive a professional contract at Burnley in February, which was partly because both Chris McCann
and Kyle Lafferty
had both already received professional contracts and they were only second year apprentices.
side Bury
on a short-term contract following a three week long trial at the club. Bury were entangled in a relegation
battle and Pugh made his debut after coming on as an 80th minute substitute for Lewis Gobern
in a 2–1 win against Rochdale
on 25 March. He marked his first start for Bury with goal in the 1–1 draw against Lincoln City
on 15 April, after which manager Chris Casper
commented "Mark's a good player and he's got a bright future if he keeps his feet on the ground". He finished the 2005–06 season by playing six games and scoring one goal for the club. As a result of his good performances (and helped by the fact that Bury had survived relegation), Bury manager Chris Casper offered him a new one-year contract at Gigg Lane
; his first professional contract. Pugh was very much a regular first-team player in the 2006–07 season, playing particularly well in the first half of the season and was offered an extended contract at the club, which Pugh rejected, saying he "wanted to keep his options open". Manager Chris Casper revealed his disappointment at this and Pugh later said financial reasons were not behind his motivation to reject a new contract. He was offered renewed contracts throughout the season but still took none of them, with Casper blaming his agent for this.
on 29 May 2007 for a fee that would be decided by a tribunal. Shrewsbury manager Gary Peters
revealed that he had already attempted to sign him earlier in the season as part of a swap deal when striker Glynn Hurst
moved to Bury. He made his debut in a 4–0 victory over Lincoln City, setting up Andy Cooke
for the third goal with a cross. He suffered from an injury in November and underwent a scan, which was believed to be a cartilage
problem. Days after discovering the results of the scan, which revealed he was sufferig from acute tendinitis, he returned to training, and scored his first goal for Shrewsbury on his return in a 4–0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge
. He went on to score a further two goals that season following the arrival of Paul Simpson
as manager, and finished the 2007–08 season with 38 appearances and four goals.
After struggling to feature in the team at the start of the 2008–09
season, he joined fellow League Two side Luton Town
on a month's loan on 12 September 2008. His debut came in a 3–1 victory over Aldershot Town
, after which manager Mick Harford
said "He is an out and out winger, and he put in some good crosses. But he hasn't played a lot of football this season and he maybe faded a bit". He returned to Shrewsbury after playing four games in a Luton shirt. He was loaned out to League One
team Hereford United
on 26 March 2009 and made his debut in a 1–0 defeat against Huddersfield Town
. Pugh scored the equalising goal for Hereford against Hartlepool United
on 4 April, making the score 2–2, although Hereford eventually lost 4–2. He finished the loan spell with nine appearances and one goal. He was released by Shrewsbury after having the remaining year of his contract cancelled in June.
season as Hereford's top goalscorer with 13 goals in 46 appearances.
on 4 June 2010 for a fee that would be decided by a tribunal. He made his debut in the opening game of the 2010–11
season, a 1–0 defeat at Charlton Athletic
on 7 August and his first goal of the season came in a 5–1 victory over Peterborough United
on 14 August.
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. He plays mainly as an attacking midfielder but can also play as a winger and as a striker.
Pugh started his career with Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, where he progressed through the youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
. He was released by the club having made his first team while on loan at Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
and signed a short-term contract with Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in 2006. He later signed a professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
contract at the club and after rejecting an extended contract in 2007 he signed for Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
. He was loaned out to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
and Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
, joining the latter permanently in 2009 and leaving after a season to sign for Bournemouth.
Burnley
Pugh was born in BacupBacup
Bacup is a town within the Rossendale borough of Lancashire, England. It is located amongst the South Pennines, along Lancashire's eastern boundary with West Yorkshire. The town sits within a rural setting in the Forest of Rossendale, amongst the steep-sided upper-Irwell Valley, through which the...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and attended All Saints Catholic Language College
All Saints Catholic Language College
All Saints Catholic Language College is a mixed, catholic 11-16 secondary school in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, England...
in Rawtenstall
Rawtenstall
Rawtenstall is a town at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, in Lancashire, England. It is the seat for the Borough of Rossendale, in which it is located. The town lies 18 miles north of Manchester, 22 miles east of the county town of Preston and 45 miles south east of Lancaster...
. He started his football career with Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
where, at a young age, he started as a Centre of Excellence player, and gradually worked his way up through the ranks to become an apprentice in 2003. As a first year apprentice he played for the youth
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
and reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
s and due to his great goalscoring record, which led him to be named on the bench for two first team matches in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, they decided to keep him on for a third year. As a third year apprentice he scored 15 goals for the club's reserve and youth team. This led to him to being sent out on loan to Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in November 2005 to play first team football. He made his debut for Kidderminster after coming on as a 86th minute substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Stevenage Borough. He converted a Simon Heslop
Simon Heslop
Simon James Heslop is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Oxford United in Football League Two.-Barnsley:...
cross during a match against Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
to score his first career goal, which helped Kidderminster to a 3–1 victory. Also, during a match he displayed a smart piece of skill which involved flicking the ball over an opponents head with his heel, then crossing the ball in for a teammate to score; this move was featured on Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
's showboat
Showboat
A showboat, or show boat, was a form of theater that traveled along the waterways of the United States, especially along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers . A showboat was basically a barge that resembled a long, flat-roofed house, and in order to move down the river, it was pushed by a small tugboat...
ing section. He returned to Burnley on 13 December after picking up a groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
injury, but eventually returned for a second spell on 7 January 2006. This spell ended on 26 January so Pugh could concentrate on his career at Burnley and made 10 appearances and scored one goal while at Kidderminster. He learned that he would not receive a professional contract at Burnley in February, which was partly because both Chris McCann
Chris McCann (footballer)
Christopher John "Chris" McCann is an Irish footballer currently playing for Burnley.- Burnley :Brought over to Lancashire from the Irish club Home Farm, Chris progressed through the youth system at Burnley, and made his senior debut in the 2005–06 season, coming onto the pitch as an early...
and Kyle Lafferty
Kyle Lafferty
Kyle Lafferty is an Northern Irishassociation footballer who currently plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team...
had both already received professional contracts and they were only second year apprentices.
Bury
Having just been released from Burnley, Pugh started looking for a new club, and was eventually offered a place at League TwoFootball League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on a short-term contract following a three week long trial at the club. Bury were entangled in a relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
battle and Pugh made his debut after coming on as an 80th minute substitute for Lewis Gobern
Lewis Gobern
Lewis Thomas Gobern is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger and is currently without a club. He has previously played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hartlepool United, Blackpool, Bury, Colchester United, Milton Keynes Dons, Grimsby Town.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:Gobern, born in...
in a 2–1 win against Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on 25 March. He marked his first start for Bury with goal in the 1–1 draw against Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on 15 April, after which manager Chris Casper
Chris Casper
Christopher Martin "Chris" Casper is an English former footballer and football manager who played in the Premier League for Manchester United and in the Football League for A.F.C. Bournemouth, Swindon Town and Reading...
commented "Mark's a good player and he's got a bright future if he keeps his feet on the ground". He finished the 2005–06 season by playing six games and scoring one goal for the club. As a result of his good performances (and helped by the fact that Bury had survived relegation), Bury manager Chris Casper offered him a new one-year contract at Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
; his first professional contract. Pugh was very much a regular first-team player in the 2006–07 season, playing particularly well in the first half of the season and was offered an extended contract at the club, which Pugh rejected, saying he "wanted to keep his options open". Manager Chris Casper revealed his disappointment at this and Pugh later said financial reasons were not behind his motivation to reject a new contract. He was offered renewed contracts throughout the season but still took none of them, with Casper blaming his agent for this.
Shrewsbury Town
With many clubs interested in his services, Pugh eventually signed for fellow League Two side Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
on 29 May 2007 for a fee that would be decided by a tribunal. Shrewsbury manager Gary Peters
Gary Peters (footballer)
Gary David Peters is an English former professional footballer and now manager. He is currently Director of Football at Hereford United.-Playing career:...
revealed that he had already attempted to sign him earlier in the season as part of a swap deal when striker Glynn Hurst
Glynn Hurst
Glynn Hurst is a former professional footballer who played as a striker.-Early and personal life:Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Hurst moved to South Africa at a young age.-Early career:...
moved to Bury. He made his debut in a 4–0 victory over Lincoln City, setting up Andy Cooke
Andy Cooke
Andrew "Andy" Cooke is an English former professional footballer, who played as a striker for 16 years, from 1992 until he retired in 2008.-Career:...
for the third goal with a cross. He suffered from an injury in November and underwent a scan, which was believed to be a cartilage
Cartilage
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
problem. Days after discovering the results of the scan, which revealed he was sufferig from acute tendinitis, he returned to training, and scored his first goal for Shrewsbury on his return in a 4–0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
. He went on to score a further two goals that season following the arrival of Paul Simpson
Paul Simpson (footballer)
Paul David Simpson is an English former footballer and manager. His son Jake is also a professional footballer.-Manchester City:...
as manager, and finished the 2007–08 season with 38 appearances and four goals.
After struggling to feature in the team at the start of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season, he joined fellow League Two side Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
on a month's loan on 12 September 2008. His debut came in a 3–1 victory over Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
, after which manager Mick Harford
Mick Harford
Michael Gordon "Mick" Harford , is an English former football player turned manager. He is former manager of Rotherham and Luton Town and has also been caretaker manager of Nottingham Forest and QPR...
said "He is an out and out winger, and he put in some good crosses. But he hasn't played a lot of football this season and he maybe faded a bit". He returned to Shrewsbury after playing four games in a Luton shirt. He was loaned out to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
team Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on 26 March 2009 and made his debut in a 1–0 defeat against Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. Pugh scored the equalising goal for Hereford against Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
on 4 April, making the score 2–2, although Hereford eventually lost 4–2. He finished the loan spell with nine appearances and one goal. He was released by Shrewsbury after having the remaining year of his contract cancelled in June.
Hereford United
Four days after his release from Shrewsbury, Pugh re-joined Hereford on a permanent basis following their relegation to League Two, signing a one-year contract on 30 June 2009. He finished the 2009–102009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
season as Hereford's top goalscorer with 13 goals in 46 appearances.
Bournemouth
He left Hereford at the end of the season after rejecting a new two-year contract and joined newly-promoted League One team BournemouthA.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on 4 June 2010 for a fee that would be decided by a tribunal. He made his debut in the opening game of the 2010–11
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
season, a 1–0 defeat at Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 7 August and his first goal of the season came in a 5–1 victory over Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
on 14 August.