Mark Wallington (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Wallington (born 17 September 1952) is a former English
footballer where he enjoyed a long career as a goalkeeper. He currently teaches PE at St. George's Academy, Sleaford
. He is also known to have taught Sleafordian legend David Tuck.
He began his career on schoolboy forms with Lincoln City
whilst also making occasional appearances for hometown club Sleaford Town
before playing for Heckington United in the Grantham League.
After winning England caps at Schoolboy and Youth levels, Wallington signed for Walsall, turning professional in October 1971. After just 11 league appearances, Leicester City
manager Jimmy Bloomfield
paid £30,000 to secure his services.
Wallington began his time at Leicester as understudy to Peter Shilton
and it was not until Shilton departed to Stoke City
in 1974 that Wallington was able to establish himself. However, once recognised as the first-choice goalkeeper, Wallington was rarely out of the team for the next ten seasons, being an ever-present for six successive seasons from 1975–1981 and establishing a club record of 331 consecutive appearances. His long-service to the Foxes was recognised with a testimonial season, the highlight being a testimonial match with Nottingham Forest
on the 20 October 1982. He went on to make 460 appearances in all competitions for Leicester City
, placing him equal third on their all time appearance records.
With Ian Andrews emerging as the number one choice at Leicester, Wallington moved on to Derby County
in the summer of 1985, a fee of £25,000 securing his services. In his first season, he helped the Rams secure promotion from the then Third Division before winning the Second Division title in 1986-87. Wallington would play no part in Derby's return to the top-flight as his place was taken by new-signing Peter Shilton
whom Wallington had understudied at Leicester at the start of his career.
In the summer of 1988, just a few weeks short of his 36th birthday, Wallington signed for Lincoln City
, nearly twenty years after his initial association with the club as a schoolboy. He would remain at Lincoln for three seasons, being named "Player Of The Season" in 1989/90 and elected number 64 in Lincoln's 100 league legends in 2006, before making his 577th and final league appearance against Blackpool
in April 1991 at the age of 38 years and 201 days. At the time, this made him the second oldest player to appear for Lincoln in the league though he has now slipped to fifth position.
He then returned to his home town of Sleaford to become a secondary school teacher whilst he also spent time coaching with the England U18 set-up. In September 1994 he came out of retirement to assist Grantham Town
on a couple of occasions, before moving up to the role of Assistant Manager in January 1995, leaving the club at the end of the season.
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...
footballer where he enjoyed a long career as a goalkeeper. He currently teaches PE at St. George's Academy, Sleaford
Sleaford
Sleaford is a town in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is located thirteen miles northeast of Grantham, seventeen miles west of Boston, and nineteen miles south of Lincoln, and had a total resident population of around 14,500 in 6,167 households at the time...
. He is also known to have taught Sleafordian legend David Tuck.
He began his career on schoolboy forms with 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....
whilst also making occasional appearances for hometown club Sleaford Town
Sleaford Town F.C.
Sleaford Town F.C. is a football club based in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England.-History:Sleaford Town were founded in 1968. They joined the Lincolnshire League, where they were generally successful, being a regular top-ten team. In 2003, Town announced plans to seek a higher level of football in...
before playing for Heckington United in the Grantham League.
After winning England caps at Schoolboy and Youth levels, Wallington signed for Walsall, turning professional in October 1971. After just 11 league appearances, 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...
manager Jimmy Bloomfield
Jimmy Bloomfield
James Henry "Jimmy" Bloomfield was an English football player and manager.Born in Notting Hill, North Kensington, London, Bloomfield started his career at non-league Hayes before joining Second Division side Brentford in October 1952...
paid £30,000 to secure his services.
Wallington began his time at Leicester as understudy to Peter Shilton
Peter Shilton
Peter Leslie Shilton OBE is a former English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for England than anyone else, earning 125 caps....
and it was not until Shilton departed to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in 1974 that Wallington was able to establish himself. However, once recognised as the first-choice goalkeeper, Wallington was rarely out of the team for the next ten seasons, being an ever-present for six successive seasons from 1975–1981 and establishing a club record of 331 consecutive appearances. His long-service to the Foxes was recognised with a testimonial season, the highlight being a testimonial match with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on the 20 October 1982. He went on to make 460 appearances in all competitions for 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...
, placing him equal third on their all time appearance records.
With Ian Andrews emerging as the number one choice at Leicester, Wallington moved on to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in the summer of 1985, a fee of £25,000 securing his services. In his first season, he helped the Rams secure promotion from the then Third Division before winning the Second Division title in 1986-87. Wallington would play no part in Derby's return to the top-flight as his place was taken by new-signing Peter Shilton
Peter Shilton
Peter Leslie Shilton OBE is a former English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for England than anyone else, earning 125 caps....
whom Wallington had understudied at Leicester at the start of his career.
In the summer of 1988, just a few weeks short of his 36th birthday, Wallington signed for 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....
, nearly twenty years after his initial association with the club as a schoolboy. He would remain at Lincoln for three seasons, being named "Player Of The Season" in 1989/90 and elected number 64 in Lincoln's 100 league legends in 2006, before making his 577th and final league appearance against Blackpool
Blackpool 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...
in April 1991 at the age of 38 years and 201 days. At the time, this made him the second oldest player to appear for Lincoln in the league though he has now slipped to fifth position.
He then returned to his home town of Sleaford to become a secondary school teacher whilst he also spent time coaching with the England U18 set-up. In September 1994 he came out of retirement to assist Grantham Town
Grantham Town F.C.
Grantham Town F.C. is a football club, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They are nicknamed The Gingerbreads and they play their home matches at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium . They were established in August 1874...
on a couple of occasions, before moving up to the role of Assistant Manager in January 1995, leaving the club at the end of the season.