Mark Beard (footballer)
Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:11:52 PM Wikipedia source
Mark Beard (born 8 October 1974) is an English football manager and former professional footballer who is a professional development phase coach at EFL Championship club Hull City. He played primarily as a central midfielder, and was also utilised at right-back earlier in his career. Beard spent time in the youth systems of Wimbledon and Millwall before making his senior debut for the latter in October 1993. He spent two seasons in the first team, during which he scored in an FA Cup victory away to Arsenal in January 1995. Ahead of the 1995–96 season, he signed for Sheffield United for £117,000, and in 1998 joined Southend United, having previously spent time at the club on loan. Named Southend's Player of the Year for the 1998–99 season, he made 151 appearances for the club across three spells. In 2004, Beard relocated to Spain to establish a youth academy for UD San Pedro, later joining the club's playing squad. He returned to England in 2006 with Stevenage Borough, winning the FA Trophy as part of the first team to win a competitive cup final at the new Wembley Stadium in May 2007. He subsequently spent the 2007–08 season at AFC Wimbledon, helping the club achieve promotion to the Conference South via the play-offs. After retiring, Beard moved into management with non-League clubs Haywards Heath Town, Tooting & Mitcham United, and Loxwood, before working full-time in Brighton & Hove Albion's academy from 2017 to 2021. He was appointed manager of Eastbourne Borough in June 2023, departing in January 2024, and joined Hull City later that year.
Infobox
1997
→ Southend United (loan)
2007
St Albans City
Date of birth
(1974-10-08) 8 October 1974 (age 51)
Place of birth
Roehampton, London, England
Position(s)
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Right-backmidfielder
1980–1988
Wimbledon
1988–1993
Millwall
Years
Team
1993–1995
Millwall
1995–1998
Sheffield United
1998–2000
Southend United
2000–2001
Kingstonian
2001–2003
Southend United
2003–2004
Kingstonian
2004–2006
San Pedro
2006–2007
Stevenage Borough
2007–2008
AFC Wimbledon
2008–2010
Haywards Heath Town
2010–2011
Tooting & Mitcham United
2009–2010
Haywards Heath Town
2015–2017
Loxwood
2023–2024
Eastbourne Borough
Tables
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition · Career statistics
Division
Division
Club
Division
Season
Apps
League
Goals
League
Apps
League
Goals
FA Cup
Apps
FA Cup
Goals
League Cup
Apps
League Cup
Goals
Other
Apps
Other
Goals
Millwall
Millwall
Club
Millwall
Season
1993–94
League
First Division
League
14
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
1
League Cup
0
Other
—
Other
15
Total
1
1994–95
1994–95
Club
1994–95
Season
First Division
League
31
League
1
League
4
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
3
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
38
Other
2
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
45
League
2
League
4
League
0
FA Cup
4
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
53
Other
3
Sheffield United
Sheffield United
Club
Sheffield United
Season
1995–96
League
First Division
League
Season statistics not known
1996–97
1996–97
Club
1996–97
Season
First Division
League
16
League
0
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
17
Other
0
1997–98
1997–98
Club
1997–98
Season
First Division
League
2
League
0
League
2
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
—
Other
5
Other
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
18
League
0
League
3
League
0
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
22
Other
0
Southend United (loan)
Southend United (loan)
Club
Southend United (loan)
Season
1997–98
League
Second Division
League
9
League
0
FA Cup
—
FA Cup
—
League Cup
1
League Cup
0
Other
10
Other
0
Southend United
Southend United
Club
Southend United
Season
1998–99
League
Third Division
League
37
League
0
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
0
League Cup
1
League Cup
0
Other
1
Other
0
Total
40
Total
0
1999–2000
1999–2000
Club
1999–2000
Season
Third Division
League
41
League
1
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
0
Other
42
Total
1
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
78
League
1
League
2
League
0
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
0
League Cup
1
League Cup
0
Other
82
Other
1
Kingstonian
Kingstonian
Club
Kingstonian
Season
2000–01
League
Football Conference
League
23
League
0
FA Cup
6
FA Cup
0
League Cup
—
League Cup
6
Other
0
Other
35
Total
0
Southend United
Southend United
Club
Southend United
Season
2001–02
League
Third Division
League
14
League
0
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
2
Other
0
Total
17
Total
0
2002–03
2002–03
Club
2002–03
Season
Third Division
League
36
League
0
League
4
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
1
Other
0
Other
42
Total
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
50
League
0
League
5
League
0
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
0
League Cup
3
League Cup
0
Other
59
Other
0
Kingstonian
Kingstonian
Club
Kingstonian
Season
2003–04
League
Isthmian League Premier Division
League
35
League
5
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
0
League Cup
—
League Cup
7
Other
0
Other
43
Total
5
San Pedro
San Pedro
Club
San Pedro
Season
2004–05
League
Primera Andaluza
League
Season statistics not known
2005–06
2005–06
Club
2005–06
Season
Regional Preferente de Andalucía
League
Season statistics not known
Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough
Club
Stevenage Borough
Season
2006–07
League
Conference National
League
39
League
3
FA Cup
2
FA Cup
0
League Cup
—
League Cup
8
Other
0
Other
49
Total
3
St Albans City
St Albans City
Club
St Albans City
Season
2007–08
League
Conference South
League
10
League
2
FA Cup
—
FA Cup
—
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
10
Other
2
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
Club
AFC Wimbledon
Season
2007–08
League
Isthmian League Premier Division
League
15
League
1
FA Cup
—
FA Cup
—
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
15
Other
1
Haywards Heath Town
Haywards Heath Town
Club
Haywards Heath Town
Season
2008–09
League
Sussex County League Division Three
League
Season statistics not known
2009–10
2009–10
Club
2009–10
Season
Sussex County League Division Three
League
Season statistics not known
Tooting & Mitcham United
Tooting & Mitcham United
Club
Tooting & Mitcham United
Season
2010–11
League
Isthmian League Premier Division
League
5
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
—
League Cup
0
Other
0
Other
5
Total
1
2011–12
2011–12
Club
2011–12
Season
Isthmian League Premier Division
League
0
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
—
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
0
Other
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
5
League
1
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Other
5
Other
1
Career total
Career total
Club
Career total
Season
327
League
15
League
23
League
1
FA Cup
7
FA Cup
0
League Cup
26
League Cup
0
Other
383
Other
16
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Millwall | 1993–94 | First Division | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 1 | |
| 1994–95 | First Division | 31 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 38 | 2 | ||
| Total | 45 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 3 | ||
| Sheffield United | 1995–96 | First Division | Season statistics not known | |||||||||
| 1996–97 | First Division | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| 1997–98 | First Division | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| Southend United (loan) | 1997–98 | Second Division | 9 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Southend United | 1998–99 | Third Division | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| 1999–2000 | Third Division | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | |
| Total | 78 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 82 | 1 | ||
| Kingstonian | 2000–01 | Football Conference | 23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Southend United | 2001–02 | Third Division | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | Third Division | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 59 | 0 | ||
| Kingstonian | 2003–04 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 35 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | 43 | 5 | |
| San Pedro | 2004–05 | Primera Andaluza | Season statistics not known | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | Regional Preferente de Andalucía | Season statistics not known | ||||||||||
| Stevenage Borough | 2006–07 | Conference National | 39 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | 49 | 3 | |
| St Albans City | 2007–08 | Conference South | 10 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
| AFC Wimbledon | 2007–08 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 15 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| Haywards Heath Town | 2008–09 | Sussex County League Division Three | Season statistics not known | |||||||||
| 2009–10 | Sussex County League Division Three | Season statistics not known | ||||||||||
| Tooting & Mitcham United | 2010–11 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2011–12 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 327 | 15 | 23 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 383 | 16 | ||
References
- Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
- One appearance in Conference Shield; three appearances in FA Trophy; one appearance in Surrey Senior Cup; one appearance
- Two appearances in FA Trophy; three appearances in Surrey Senior Cup; two appearances in 2004 Isthmian League play-offs
- Appearances in FA Trophy
- Soccerbasehttp://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=521
- YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhljHOUxXZU
- Stevenage F.C. Historyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20130807131531/http://stevenagefchistory.com/?page_id=345
- "Down memory lane – Class of 93 reunited for Dockers Day"https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2013/april/down-memory-lane/
- Millwall Historyhttp://www.millwall-history.org.uk/Millwall-Stats9394-1.htm
- Millwall Historyhttp://www.millwall-history.org.uk/Millwall-Stats9495-1.htm
- Spotifyhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/cathedralofsport/episodes/MARK-BEARD-THE-INTERVIEW-ei2f4u/a-a5g0os
- Soccerbasehttps://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=521&season_id=127
- Soccerbasehttps://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=521&season_id=128
- Gazette Newshttps://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/5481209.soccer-beard-hopes-to-grow-on-blues/
- Soccerbasehttps://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=521&season_id=129
- Statto.comhttp://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-three/1999-2000
- BBC Sporthttps://web.archive.org/web/20000902161726/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/football/teams/k/kingstonian/newsid_830000/830042.stm
- BBC Sporthttps://web.archive.org/web/20000817202749/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/football/teams/k/kingstonian/newsid_856000/856077.stm
- Statto.comhttp://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/conference/2000-2001
- Soccerbasehttps://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=521&season_id=130
- "Kingstonian 0–1 Bristol City"http://www.kingstonian.net/report.jsp?20002001/BristolH
- Soccerbasehttps://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=521&season_id=130
- Soccerbasehttps://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=521&season_id=130
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/3011047.stm
- "Fixture List – 2003/2004"https://web.archive.org/web/20040807034738/http://www.kingstonian.net/fixtures.jsp?20032004
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/5334136.stm
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/5308118.stm
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/5351720.stm
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/5364054.stm
- BoroGuidehttps://www.boroguide.co.uk/players/644/
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/6258527.stm
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6437343.stm
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6649807.stm
- "Henry the first"https://web.archive.org/web/20110606213953/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFATrophy/NewsAndFeatures/2009/Trophy_MatchReaction2.aspx
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stevenage/6668689.stm
- St Albans & Harpenden Reviewhttp://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/1485768.beard_aiming_to_make_mark/
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7012131.stm
- St Albans City F.C. History & Archiveshttps://www.saintsstatistics.co.uk/index.php/city-statistics/seasonsquads/team/721
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/7182717.stm
- football.mitoo.co.ukhttps://football.mitoo.co.uk/FixtResMonth.cfm?TblName=Matches&DivisionID=2292&LeagueCode=ISTH2007&MonthNo=12
- BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/7398351.stm
- The Argushttp://www.theargus.co.uk/communitypages/haywardsheath/3686366.Player_profile_at_Haywards_Heath_Town_FC___Mark_Beard/
- football.mitoo.co.ukhttps://football.mitoo.co.uk/FixtResMonth.cfm?TblName=Matches&DivisionID=11723&LeagueCode=isth2010&MonthNo=8
- Non-League Pitcherohttps://web.archive.org/web/20171108094953/http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/beard-quits-loxwood-after-four-years-in-charge/
- fchd.infohttps://www.fchd.info/HAYWARHT.HTM
- fchd.infohttps://www.fchd.info/TOOTINMU.HTM
- Your Local Guardianhttp://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/9403746.Beard_sacked_by_Tooting___Mitcham/
- Crawley Observerhttps://web.archive.org/web/20160305221010/http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/sport/crawley-town-fc/crawley-town-news/exciting-times-for-crawley-s-head-of-youth-1-3772934
- "Under-18's 1–2 Southend United"https://archive.today/20130628233751/http://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/article/youth-a-southend-502072.aspx
- Crawley Observerhttps://web.archive.org/web/20171108094719/http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/sport/football/ex-crawley-town-youth-boss-mark-beard-sets-up-loxwood-academy-1-6225051
- Love The Ballhttps://web.archive.org/web/20171108151819/https://www.lovetheball.com/about/coaches.html
- West Sussex County Timeshttp://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/sport/football/local/beard-promoted-to-under-18-role-at-albion-and-stygal-leaves-loxwood-1-7963696
- "Beard: We're going there to win"https://web.archive.org/web/20210505124013/https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2129444/beard-were-going-there-to-win
- "Albion win Under-17s Premier League Cup!"https://web.archive.org/web/20210506042042/https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2129848/albion-win-under-17s-premier-league-cup
- "Beard appointed as part of new backroom staff"https://www.stockportcounty.com/beard-appointed-as-part-of-new-backroom-staff/
- "Club statement: Mark Beard"https://www.stockportcounty.com/club-statement-mark-beard/
- "Mark Beard joins Wanderers as new head of coaching"https://www.stockportcounty.com/beard-appointed-as-part-of-new-backroom-staff/
- "Eastbourne Borough welcome Mark Beard as the new manager"https://ebfc.co.uk/2023/06/eastbourne-borough-welcome-mark-beard-as-the-new-manager/
- "Club Statement"https://ebfc.co.uk/2024/01/club-statement-3/
- "Beard joins PDP Coaching Staff"https://www.wearehullcity.co.uk/news/2024/november/22/beard-joins-pdp-coaching-staff/
- Echo Newshttps://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/23361986.mark-beard-relishing-sons-clash-southend-united/
- Soccerbasehttps://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=521&season_id=126
- "Fixture List – 2000/2001"https://web.archive.org/web/20040813173508/http://www.kingstonian.net/fixtures.jsp?20002001
- "Mark Beard – Aylesbury United Archive"https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/mark-beard
- football.mitoo.co.ukhttps://football.mitoo.co.uk/FixtResMonth.cfm?TblName=Matches&DivisionID=16763&LeagueCode=ISTH2011&MonthNo=9
- fchd.infohttp://fchd.info/lghist/isth2008.htm