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Marc Bridge-Wilkinson

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Marc Bridge-Wilkinson
Personal information
Full name Marc Bridge-Wilkinson[1]
Date of birth (1979-03-16) 16 March 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Coventry, England
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1997–1998 Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Derby County 1 (0)
1999 → Carlisle United (loan) 7 (0)
2000–2004 Port Vale 124 (31)
2004–2005 Stockport County 22 (2)
2005 → Bradford City (loan) 4 (0)
2005–2007 Bradford City 83 (12)
2007–2011 Carlisle United 90 (11)
2010–2011 → Darlington (loan) 9 (3)
2011–2012 Darlington 46 (12)
Total 386 (71)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (born 16 March 1979) is an English football coach and former player.

A left-sided midfielder and also a winger, he was known for his goal-scoring ability. He started his career at Derby County in 1998 but instead made his name at Port Vale following his transfer to Vale Park in 2000. He made 140 appearances in four years, scoring 36 goals in all competitions and lifting the Football League Trophy in 2001. He spent the 2004–05 season with Stockport County before signing with Bradford City in 2005. He spent two years at Bradford, making 95 total appearances. He signed with Carlisle United in 2007 and went on to pick up a Football League Trophy runners-up medal with the club in 2010. After four years with Carlisle, he joined Darlington in 2011, breaking his run of ten consecutive seasons in the third tier of English football. With Darlington, he lifted the FA Trophy in 2011 before his contract was terminated in January 2012. He was re-signed to Darlington on a non-contract basis until the club folded in the summer of 2012. He went on to coach at Huddersfield Town and Liverpool.

Career

[edit]

Derby County

[edit]

Born in Coventry, Bridge-Wilkinson was a product of the Derby County youth academy. He made his debut for Derby in a 2–1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield on 7 November 1998.[3] This Premier League clash would be his only appearance for the club. He joined Carlisle United of the Third Division, where he played seven games in a six-week loan spell at the end of the 1998–99 season.[3][4] He returned to Derby and scored 11 goals for the reserves, who won the Premier Reserves League (South).[5] He was released by the club at the end of the 1999–2000 season, after which he was given a trial at Port Vale, where chief scout Ray Williams said "he will be another little diamond Port Vale have unearthed".[6][5]

Port Vale

[edit]

Bridge-Wilkinson joined Port Vale on a free transfer following his trial and made his debut in a 4–1 defeat at Oldham Athletic on 12 August 2000. The following week he scored twice in his first Vale start when they defeated Oxford United 3–0.[7] He scored fourteen goals in 52 games throughout his first season at Vale, which included one in the final of the Football League Trophy final – which Vale won 2–1 over Brentford.[8][9] He also scored the winner in the Potteries derby in the Northern Section semi-finals with a 105th minute golden-goal penalty.[10][11]

He spent much of the next season out with a hamstring injury and did not feature between August and late January.[12] His return to the side coincided with Vale's climb up the table, and he consequently signed a new two-year contract with the club.[13] Recovering from a knee injury,[14] his nine goals in 2002–03 were enough to make him the club's top-scorer, as the Second Division club posted a mid-table finish. He struck seven times in 37 games during the 2003–04 campaign, as the club finished outside of the play-offs on goal difference. At the end of the season manager Martin Foyle offered him a new contract at reduced pay due to the club's dire financial situation,[15][16] an offer which Bridge-Wilkinson rejected to sign for League One rivals Stockport County on a two-year contract in June 2004.[17]

Stockport County

[edit]

Bridge-Wilkinson made just 22 starts with Stockport, and in February 2005, joined Bradford City, also of League One, on a month's loan deal to cover for injuries.[18] The loan soon become a permanent transfer.

Bradford City

[edit]

Bridge-Wilkinson made his City debut on 25 February 2005 in a 1–1 draw with Walsall[19] and after four games he signed a two-year deal on transfer deadline day to stay at Valley Parade permanently.[20] He celebrated his new contract with his first Bradford goal in a 1–1 draw with Doncaster Rovers later the same day.[20] He scored another two goals in a 4–1 victory over Brentford,[21] finishing the season with three goals from his 12 games.

At the start of the following season, he missed more than two months after sustaining a knee injury in training.[22][23][24][25] He finished the season with six goals in forty games. On 16 September 2006, he scored against his former club Port Vale,[26] but it was just one of four goals for Bridge-Wilkinson that season, as Bradford were relegated into League Two.[27] He was one of many players released by Bradford in May 2007.[28]

Carlisle United

[edit]

In June 2007, Bridge-Wilkinson rejoined Carlisle United.[4] He played 52 games in his first full season at the club, including both legs of the League One play-off semi-final with Leeds United. He scored Carlisle's second at Elland Road to give his side a 2–1 first leg victory.[29] However, in the second leg he could not help his side avoid a 2–0 defeat.[30]

A regular in 2008–09, he picked up a toe injury in January, which ended his contribution to the campaign.[31] The problem was a floating bone in his big toe.[32] He made 26 appearances in 2009–10, as Carlisle posted a mid-table finish. He also made an appearance at Wembley Stadium in the Football League Trophy final, which ended in a 4–1 defeat to Southampton.[33]

Darlington

[edit]

Searching for first-team football,[34] in October 2010 he joined Conference National club Darlington on loan for one month.[35] After the midfielder impressed manager Mark Cooper,[36] this one month then got extended until January.[37][38]

On 18 January 2011, he signed for Darlington on a permanent basis after he was released from Carlisle United two days earlier.[39] He scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 6–1 victory against Eastbourne Borough on 12 February.[40][41] All Bridge-Wilkinson's goals, which included two penalties, came in the first half and within the space of 14 minutes.[42] At the end of the campaign he picked up the second significant honour of his career, as Darlington lifted the 2011 FA Trophy with a 1–0 victory over Mansfield Town at Wembley.[43] Darlington suffered financial difficulties during Bridge-Wilkinson's time at the club and his contract was terminated on 16 January 2012, along with the rest of the playing squad and caretaker manager Craig Liddle; he stated that "to say I feel sick is an understatement".[44] However, a surprise decision meant that the club would continue to complete their remaining fixtures, and Bridge-Wilkinson returned to Darlington on a non-contract basis.[45] Darlington were relegated at the end of the 2011–12 season, having been deducted ten points for entering administration and as the club reformed to Darlington 1883 in the Northern Football League, Bridge-Wilkinson left the club and had a trial at League Two club Accrington Stanley.[46]

Style of play

[edit]

Bridge-Wilkinson was a good technical midfielder with an eye for goal.[47][48] He had good composure, movement and possession skills.[49]

"He's always got a chance of creating you something. He'll give balls away sometimes, but you have to put up with that because he's a clever player."

— Darlington manager Mark Cooper speaking on Bridge-Wilkinson in March 2011.[50]

Coaching career

[edit]

Bridge-Wilkinson spent three years as a coach at the Academy at Huddersfield Town, before he was appointed under-14 coach at Liverpool's Academy in 2015.[51] He was promoted to under-16 coach in July 2018 and then to under-18 coach in May 2020.[52]

Career statistics

[edit]
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Derby County 1997–98[53] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1998–99[54] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1999–2000[55] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Carlisle United (loan) 1998–99[54] Third Division 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Port Vale 2000–01[56] Second Division 42 9 2 1 1 1 7[a] 3[a] 52 14
2001–02[57] Second Division 19 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 6
2002–03[58] Second Division 31 9 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 33 9
2003–04[59] Second Division 32 7 2 0 1 0 1[a] 0 36 7
Total 124 31 4 1 3 1 9 3 140 36
Stockport County 2004–05[60] League One 22 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 25 2
Bradford City 2004–05[60] League One 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 3
2005–06[61] League One 36 5 2 0 1 1 1[a] 0 40 6
2006–07[62] League One 39 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 43 5
Total 87 12 5 1 2 1 1 0 95 14
Carlisle United 2007–08[63] League One 45 6 2 0 1 0 4[a][b] 2[a][b] 52 8
2008–09[64] League One 23 5 3 0 2 0 0 0 28 5
2009–10[65] League One 19 0 0 0 2 0 5[a] 1[a] 26 1
2010–11[66] League One 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
Total 90 11 5 0 6 0 9 3 110 14
Darlington 2010–11[66] Conference National 27 9 3 1 0 0 6[c] 1[c] 36 11
2011–12[67] Conference National 28 6 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 29 6
Total 55 15 3 1 0 0 7 1 65 17
Career total 386 71 19 3 12 2 26 7 443 83
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.
  2. ^ a b Appearance/s and goal/s in the play-offs.
  3. ^ a b c Appearance/s and goal/s in the FA Trophy.

Honours

[edit]

Port Vale

Carlisle United

Darlington

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Marc Bridge-Wilkinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Name: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson". stockportcounty.com. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Marc Bridge-Wilkinson". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Bridge-Wilkinson joins Carlisle". BBC Sport. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  5. ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (3 June 2024). "Making the right calls in a busy Vale summer". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Trialist at Vale Park". BBC Sport. 5 July 2000. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  7. ^ "Port Vale 3–0 Oxford". BBC Sport. 19 August 2000. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  8. ^ "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  9. ^ "Vale deal Brentford killer blow". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  10. ^ Westbrook, Ian (18 April 2001). "Port Vale's route to Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  11. ^ "Port Vale 2–1 Stoke". BBC Sport. 5 March 2001. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  12. ^ "Vale savour derby win". BBC Sport. 11 February 2002. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Bridge-Wilkinson signs deal". BBC Sport. 15 July 2002. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  14. ^ "Bridge-Wilkinson not ready yet". BBC Sport. 25 September 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Bridge-Wilkinson in talks". BBC Sport. 12 March 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  16. ^ "Foyle hopes stars will sign". BBC Sport. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  17. ^ "Bridge-Wilkinson makes move". BBC Sport. 8 June 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  18. ^ "Bantams bring in Bridge-Wilkinson". BBC Sport. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  19. ^ "Walsall 1–1 Bradford". BBC Sport. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  20. ^ a b "Looking to the future". Telegraph & Argus. 25 March 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  21. ^ "Bradford 4–1 Brentford". BBC Sport. 16 April 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  22. ^ "Bridge-Wilkinson ordered to rest". BBC Sport. 8 October 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  23. ^ "Todd dilemma over Bridge-Wilkinson". Telegraph & Argus. 15 November 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  24. ^ "Bridge-Wilkinson back in training". BBC Sport. 16 November 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  25. ^ "Bridge-Wilkinson blow for Bantams". BBC Sport. 19 October 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  26. ^ "Bradford 2–0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 16 September 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  27. ^ Parker, Simon (28 April 2007). "Woeful City relegated". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  28. ^ "Bradford player exodus continues". BBC Sport. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  29. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (12 May 2008). "Leeds 1–2 Carlisle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  30. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (15 May 2008). "Carlisle 0–2 Leeds (agg 2–3)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  31. ^ "Carlisle man reveals fitness goal". BBC Sport. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  32. ^ "Double injury blow for Cumbrians". BBC Sport. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  33. ^ Shemilt, Stephan (28 March 2010). "Carlisle 1 - 4 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  34. ^ "Darlington extend Marc Bridge-Wilkinson loan spell". BBC Sport. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  35. ^ "Darlington sign Carlisle United's Marc Bridge-Wilkinson". BBC Sport. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  36. ^ "Darlington hope to extend Marc Bridge-Wilkinson loan". BBC Sport. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  37. ^ "Bridge-Wilkinson joins on loan". The Northern Echo. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  38. ^ "Darlington face battle to sign Marc Bridge-Wilkinson". 6 January 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  39. ^ "Marc Bridge-Wilkinson leaves Carlisle for Darlington". BBC Sport. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  40. ^ "Darlington 6-1 Eastbourne Boro". BBC Sport. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  41. ^ Stoddart, Craig (14 February 2011). "A first hat-trick of his career for Marc". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  42. ^ "Darlington 6-1 Eastbourne Boro". BBC Sport. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  43. ^ "FA Trophy final: Darlington 1-0 Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  44. ^ "Darlington axe manager Craig Liddle and players". BBC Sport. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  45. ^ Stoddart, Craig (19 January 2012). "Quakers need reinforcements". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  46. ^ Flanagan, Chris (4 July 2012). "Trialists on show as Accrington Stanley return for pre-season". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  47. ^ Pope, Tom (8 March 2019). "Happy memories of the Port Vale team that won in the LDV at Stoke City". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  48. ^ "Port Vale pen pictures". BBC Sport. 18 April 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  49. ^ Baggaley, Michael (26 April 2020). "Tom Pope - Why Port Vale LDV winners were heroes to this 15-year-old". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  50. ^ "Darlington boss Mark Cooper hails Bridge-Wilkinson". BBC Sport. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  51. ^ "Marc Bridge-Wilkinson". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  52. ^ Smith, Peter (29 May 2020). "Port Vale favourite lands Liverpool coaching role". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  53. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. ^ a b "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  55. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  56. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  57. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  58. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  59. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  60. ^ a b "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  61. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  62. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  63. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  64. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  65. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  66. ^ a b "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  67. ^ "Games played by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  68. ^ "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  69. ^ Shemilt, Stephan (28 March 2010). "Carlisle United 1–4 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
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