Mark Salmon (footballer)

Mark Maurice Salmon (born 31 October 1988) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He previously played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Port Vale, Drogheda United, Athlone Town, Longford Town and Bray Wanderers. He helped Longford Town to finish as champions of the League of Ireland First Division in 2014.

Mark Salmon
Salmon with Longford Town in 2014
Personal information
Full name Mark Maurice Salmon[1]
Date of birth (1988-10-31) 31 October 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (0)
2007–2008Port Vale (loan) 9 (0)
2009 Drogheda United 2 (0)
2009 Athlone Town
2010–2015 Longford Town 136 (21)
2016–2018 Bray Wanderers 53 (4)
Total 200 (25)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Salmon is a product of the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy, but after signing his first professional contract in February 2007,[3] failed to make a first-team appearance for the club. He joined League One Port Vale on loan in November 2007,[4] and made his debut on 24 November as a substitute, replacing Marc Laird 87 minutes into a 3–1 defeat by Doncaster Rovers at Vale Park. His first senior start came ten days later at Elland Road, as Leeds United played out a comfortable 3–0 win.[5] He played in Vale's infamous 1–0 defeat FA Cup to Chasetown,[6] though remained in the first XI until returning to Molineux in January.

Wolves released him in early 2009, and he soon returned to his native Ireland to join League of Ireland side, Drogheda United. In the summer of 2009, he switched to Athlone Town of the First Division. He joined Longford Town in February 2010. He scored two goals in 32 league games in 2010.[7] He scored eight goals in 28 appearances for the club in 2011.[7] He scored three goals in 38 appearances in 2012, as Tony Cousins's Longford reached the play-off semi-finals following a third-place finish in the league.[7] He scored two goals in 14 appearances in 2013, as Longford finished second and reached the play-off finals, where they were beaten by Bray Wanderers.[7]

In his fifth year at the club, he finally got to enjoy success with "De Town" at the end of the 2014 season as the club won promotion as champions of the First Division. Salmon lifted the cup as club captain following the title being secured. Longford also reached the final of the Leinster Senior Cup, losing 2–1 to St Patrick's Athletic at Strokestown Road.[8]

Salmon signed for Bray Wanderers on a two-year contract in November 2015 after being released by Longford.[9] Harry Kenny's "Seagulls" finished sixth in 2016, with Salmon making 28 appearances and scoring four goals. Bray again finished sixth in the 2017 season, with Salmon scoring one goal from 29 matches.

Career statistics

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As of 14 May 2018.
Club Season Division League FA Cup
FAI Cup
League Cup
LOI Cup
Scottish Challenge Cup
Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2006–07[10] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007–08[11] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008–09[12] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Port Vale (loan) 2007–08[11] League One 9 0 1 0 0 0 10 0
Drogheda United 2009[7] LOI Premier Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Longford Town 2010[7] LOI First Division 32 2 0 0 0 0 32 2
2011[7] LOI First Division 28 8 1 0 0 0 29 8
2012[7] LOI First Division 28 3 0 0 1 0 29 3
2013[7] LOI First Division 14 2 0 0 0 0 14 2
2014[7] LOI First Division 21 5 0 0 1 0 22 5
2015[7] LOI Premier Division 13 1 2 0 1 0 16 1
Total 136 21 3 0 3 0 142 21
Bray Wanderers 2016[7] LOI Premier Division 26 3 0 0 2 1 28 4
2017[7] LOI Premier Division 27 1 0 0 2 0 29 1
2018[7] LOI Premier Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 53 4 0 0 4 1 57 5
Career total 200 25 4 0 7 1 211 26

Honours

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Longford Town

References

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  1. ^ "Mark Salmon". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2007/08". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Academy stars rewarded by Wolves". BBC Sport. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Wolves young duo sent out on loan". BBC Sport. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Salmon delighted with Vale debut". BBC Sport. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  6. ^ "Chasetown 1-0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 11 December 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mark Salmon at Soccerway
  8. ^ a b "Longford Town 1-2 St Patrick's Athletic: Saints lift Leinster Senior Cup - Goal.com". Goal.com. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  9. ^ Kelly, Ryan. "Mick Cooke has bolstered his squad ahead of the 2016 season with the addition of two new players". goal.com. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Games played by Mark Salmon in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Games played by Mark Salmon in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Games played by Mark Salmon in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.