Mark Bonner
Encyclopedia
Mark Bonner is an English
former professional footballer
.
, where he progressed through the youth ranks under Jimmy Mullen and Graham Carr
, and became a regular in the first team under Billy Ayre
during the latter's final two years with the Tangerines.
After seven years and four managers in his time at Bloomfield Road
, Bonner moved south to join Cardiff City
in 1998 on a free transfer. He was reunited with Ayre at Ninian Park
, where he was assistant manager to Frank Burrows
. He soon established himself in the side but after suffering from injury he was unable to reclaim his place and was allowed to join Hull City
on loan. Bonner enjoyed a dream debut for the club, scoring the winning goal against Rotherham United
, but the loan spell was cut short when he suffered an ankle injury in training and was sent back to Cardiff.
After recovering from the injury he managed to force his way back into the side and played a key role in the clubs promotion to Division Two. Over the next few years he played key roles in avoidung relegation back to Division Three and the eventual promotion to Division One, but niggling injuries took their toll on him and he left the club to join Oldham Athletic
in 2004 before retiring from injury in 2006.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
Career
Bonner began his career in 1991 at BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, where he progressed through the youth ranks under Jimmy Mullen and Graham Carr
Graham Carr
William Graham Carr is an English former professional footballer and football club manager. He is currently Head Scout at Newcastle United.-Club career:...
, and became a regular in the first team under Billy Ayre
Billy Ayre
William "Billy" Ayre was an English footballer who played for three different clubs in a sixteen-year professional career, making over three hundred League appearances in the process. After retiring from the playing side of the game, he became a manager, and took the helm at five different clubs...
during the latter's final two years with the Tangerines.
After seven years and four managers in his time at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
, Bonner moved south to join Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in 1998 on a free transfer. He was reunited with Ayre at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
, where he was assistant manager to Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows is a Scottish soccer manager, and former player.-Biography:Frank Burrows began his football career at Scottish club Raith Rovers. In 1965 he moved south to England and joined Scunthorpe United. Impressive performances as a defender for Scunthorpe led to him being signed by Swindon...
. He soon established himself in the side but after suffering from injury he was unable to reclaim his place and was allowed to join Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on loan. Bonner enjoyed a dream debut for the club, scoring the winning goal against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, but the loan spell was cut short when he suffered an ankle injury in training and was sent back to Cardiff.
After recovering from the injury he managed to force his way back into the side and played a key role in the clubs promotion to Division Two. Over the next few years he played key roles in avoidung relegation back to Division Three and the eventual promotion to Division One, but niggling injuries took their toll on him and he left the club to join Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in 2004 before retiring from injury in 2006.
Honours
Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
- Football League Division Two play-off winner: 1
-
- 2002-03The Football League 2002-03The 2002–2003 season was the 103rd completed season of The Football League.-Football League First Division:Portsmouth won the First Division by some distance, passing manager Harry Redknapp’s old club, West Ham on the way down. Leicester City earned a somewhat controversial promotion, as...
- 2002-03