Nicky Marker
Encyclopedia
Nicky Marker born 3 May 1965 was a defender who played for Blackburn Rovers
during their Premiership
winning years at the height of his career. The other clubs he played for included Sheffield United
, Plymouth Argyle
, Exeter City
, Cheltenham
and Tiverton
.
Born in the Devon
town of Budleigh Salterton
, Marker was tipped for the top from a very young age. The classy defender immediately impressed with his unflappable style and versatility as a teenager with Exeter City
. Dave Smith managed to lure Marker to Home Park
in 1987, and the Green Army immediately took the new man to their hearts. Within two years, Marker was club captain and player of the year - he was commanding in the air, comfortable on the ball and an intelligent passer from the back. Marker was destined for the top-flight of English football, and Blackburn Rovers snapped him up in 1992 for £200,000 plus Keith Hill
and Craig Skinner. He later joined Sheffield United
and Cheltenham Town
, but injuries forced his premature retirement.
After retiring from the professional game Marker was involved with Plymouth amateur and youth club Tamarside FC from 2003 to 2009. He joined the club in 2003 to initially help coach his son's(Sam Marker) team, later getting involved in the club's senior team and was appointed club Chairman in 2006. He combined the role of Reserve Team manager and Youth Manager until leaving the club at the end of the 2008-09 season.
In October 2010 it was announced that Marker had been appointed first team coach of Ivybridge Town
who play in the Premier Division of the South West Peninsula League
, but left the club before the end of the season.
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
during their Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
winning years at the height of his career. The other clubs he played for included Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
, Cheltenham
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
and Tiverton
Tiverton Town F.C.
Tiverton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Tiverton. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League South & West Division and play at Ladysmead.-History:...
.
Born in the Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
town of Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton is a small town on the south coast of Devon, England 15 miles south of Exeter. It is situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designated East Devon AONB.- Features :...
, Marker was tipped for the top from a very young age. The classy defender immediately impressed with his unflappable style and versatility as a teenager with Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. Dave Smith managed to lure Marker to Home Park
Home Park
Home Park is an all-seater football stadium in the Central Park area of Plymouth, England, and is the home of Football League Two club Plymouth Argyle. The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Greens by the club's supporters, has been Argyle's permanent residence since 1901...
in 1987, and the Green Army immediately took the new man to their hearts. Within two years, Marker was club captain and player of the year - he was commanding in the air, comfortable on the ball and an intelligent passer from the back. Marker was destined for the top-flight of English football, and Blackburn Rovers snapped him up in 1992 for £200,000 plus Keith Hill
Keith Hill
Trevor Keith Hill is a politician in the United Kingdom who served in a variety of Government roles as a Whip and a junior minister....
and Craig Skinner. He later joined Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
, but injuries forced his premature retirement.
After retiring from the professional game Marker was involved with Plymouth amateur and youth club Tamarside FC from 2003 to 2009. He joined the club in 2003 to initially help coach his son's(Sam Marker) team, later getting involved in the club's senior team and was appointed club Chairman in 2006. He combined the role of Reserve Team manager and Youth Manager until leaving the club at the end of the 2008-09 season.
In October 2010 it was announced that Marker had been appointed first team coach of Ivybridge Town
Ivybridge Town F.C.
Ivybridge Town Football Club is a football club based in Ivybridge, Devon, England. Established in 1925, the club was a founder member of the Devon County League in 1992....
who play in the Premier Division of the South West Peninsula League
South West Peninsula League
The South West Peninsula League is a league of football clubs in England, which was formed in 2007 from the merger of the Devon County League and the South Western League...
, but left the club before the end of the season.