Steve Mardenborough
Encyclopedia
Stephen Alexander "Steve" Mardenborough (born 11 September 1964 in Birmingham
) is a former English
professional footballer.
but was released after finishing his apprenticeship, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
. He struggled to make an impact on the first team, although his one and only league goal for the club came at Anfield
against Liverpool
in January 1984. Liverpool were the country's top side at the time and who were in the process of winning their 15th First Division title (as well as their fourth European Cup and fourth successive Football League Cup
) that season, and, after a loan spell at Cambridge United
, he joined Swansea City
in July 1984. He was a popular figure in his single season at the club but was allowed to leave in a mass clear-out of players at the end of the year, staying in Wales
to sign for Newport County
.
After two seasons in Newport he joined his third Welsh club in Cardiff City
. He struggled to reproudce the same form he had previously shown, scoring just once in a 3-1 win over Torquay United
, and was allowed to join Hereford United
after one season. After leaving Hereford he spent time playing in Sweden
for IFK Östersund
before returning to England with Cheltenham Town
. In 1990 he signed for Darlington
where he held a regular first team place for several years, playing over 100 times for the club and helping them gain promotion back into The Football League
.
Leaving Darlington in 1993, he spent one year at Lincoln City
before having a short spell at Colchester United
and non-contract terms at Scarborough
and Swansea. His second spell at Swansea would be his last in the Football League before dropping into non-league, playing in the Welsh Premier League for nearly ten years.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
) is a former English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer.
Career
A much travelled player during his career, Mardenborough's first club was Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
but was released after finishing his apprenticeship, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. He struggled to make an impact on the first team, although his one and only league goal for the club came at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in January 1984. Liverpool were the country's top side at the time and who were in the process of winning their 15th First Division title (as well as their fourth European Cup and fourth successive Football 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...
) that season, and, after a loan spell at Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, he joined Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in July 1984. He was a popular figure in his single season at the club but was allowed to leave in a mass clear-out of players at the end of the year, staying in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
to sign for Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
.
After two seasons in Newport he joined his third Welsh club in 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...
. He struggled to reproudce the same form he had previously shown, scoring just once in a 3-1 win over Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, and was allowed to join 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',...
after one season. After leaving Hereford he spent time playing in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
for IFK Östersund
IFK Östersund
IFK Östersund is a Swedish football club located in Östersund in Jämtland.-Background:Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Östersund were founded on 7 March 1906 at the Café Temperance in Östersund...
before returning to England with 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...
. In 1990 he signed for Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
where he held a regular first team place for several years, playing over 100 times for the club and helping them gain promotion back into The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Leaving Darlington in 1993, he spent one year at 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....
before having a short spell at Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
and non-contract terms at Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
and Swansea. His second spell at Swansea would be his last in the Football League before dropping into non-league, playing in the Welsh Premier League for nearly ten years.