Mark Draper
Encyclopedia
Mark Draper is an English
former footballer who played as a midfielder
and represented England at under-21 level
. He currently works as the Kit Man at Notts County.
, making his professional debut in December 1988. A talented midfielder, he became recognized by County supporters as one of the greatest young players ever developed at the club. After attracting the attention of a number of bigger clubs Draper was finally sold during the 1994 close season to Leicester City
for £1.25 million - a record fee for the club at the time.
Draper spent the entire 1994–95 season
at Filbert Street
, playing 39 times in the Premier League (to which they had just been promoted) and scoring five goals, though it was not enough to prevent relegation for a side who were never out of the bottom two after November.
His form attracted the attention of Aston Villa
, who paid £3.25 million to keep him in the Premier League. Over the next four seasons Draper became a regular in the Aston Villa starting line-up, helping them to a League Cup
win in 1996, and being called up to the England squad
.
Draper fell out of favour in the 1999–2000 season
, appearing in only one game to bring his Villa total up to 120 league appearances (7 goals), and was loaned to Rayo Vallecano
in Spain
. He was sold during that close season to Southampton
for £1.5 million. By then approaching veteran stage, Draper added another 24 top flight appearances (with one goal against Middlesbrough) for the Saints before leaving the game.
He is currently involved in property development.
Draper made a brief playing comeback in 2009, signing for non-league side Dunkirk
.
In 2009 Mark rejoined the Notts County Team as their Kit Man.
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 footballer who played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and represented England at under-21 level
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
. He currently works as the Kit Man at Notts County.
Career
Draper began his career as a product of the youth system at Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, making his professional debut in December 1988. A talented midfielder, he became recognized by County supporters as one of the greatest young players ever developed at the club. After attracting the attention of a number of bigger clubs Draper was finally sold during the 1994 close season to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
for £1.25 million - a record fee for the club at the time.
Draper spent the entire 1994–95 season
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
at Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
, playing 39 times in the Premier League (to which they had just been promoted) and scoring five goals, though it was not enough to prevent relegation for a side who were never out of the bottom two after November.
His form attracted the attention of Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, who paid £3.25 million to keep him in the Premier League. Over the next four seasons Draper became a regular in the Aston Villa starting line-up, helping them to a 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...
win in 1996, and being called up to the England squad
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Draper fell out of favour in the 1999–2000 season
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
, appearing in only one game to bring his Villa total up to 120 league appearances (7 goals), and was loaned to Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He was sold during that close season to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
for £1.5 million. By then approaching veteran stage, Draper added another 24 top flight appearances (with one goal against Middlesbrough) for the Saints before leaving the game.
He is currently involved in property development.
Draper made a brief playing comeback in 2009, signing for non-league side Dunkirk
Dunkirk F.C.
Dunkirk Football Club is a football club established in 1946 and based in the Nottingham residential area of Dunkirk, England. The club plays in the Midland Alliance, having joined from the East Midlands Counties League at the end of the 2009-10 season....
.
In 2009 Mark rejoined the Notts County Team as their Kit Man.