| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1975-11-26)26 November 1975 (age 49) | ||
| Place of birth | Crewe, England | ||
| Position | Winger/Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1983–1993 | Crewe Alexandra | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–2001 | Crewe Alexandra | 202 | (42) |
| 1994 | →Sarpsborg (loan) | ||
| 2001–2004 | Norwich City | 74 | (10) |
| 2004–2006 | Crewe Alexandra | 51 | (10) |
| 2006 | Carlisle United | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 331 | (62) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:54, 17 May 2021 (UTC) | |||
Mark Rivers (born 26 November 1975) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as aforward from 1994 until 2006 notably forCrewe Alexandra andNorwich City.
Mark Rivers was a product of theCrewe Alexandra F.C. Academy, signing his first professional contract in May 1994.[1] At the same time, he was loaned out to Norwegian2. divisjon clubSarpsborg FK, and made his debut in thecup againstVålerenga.[2] He was diagnosed withmononucleosis and left Sarpsborg in late June.[3]
Rivers made his Crewe debut on 4 October 1995 coming on as a substitute in anEFL League Cup second round tie againstSheffield Wednesday atHillsborough.[1] He scored his first Crewe goal, again after coming on as a substitute, in Crewe's 8–0 win overHartlepool United atGresty Road.[1] On his first league start, he scored twice in Crewe's 3–1 win overBrentford.[1] During the 1995–1996 season, he scored 14 goals in all competitions for his home town club.[1] The following season he helped Crewe to aSecond Division play-off final victory over Brentford that saw the club promoted to the second tier for the first time in its history. In the First Division, Rivers scored eight goals in 37 appearances for the Railwaymen during the1997-98 season, and then scored ten goals in 48 appearances the following season. During the1999–2000 season, he netted nine times in 36 appearances, followed by ten goals in 38 appearances in2000–01. To this point, 25-year-old Rivers had scored 58 goals in 239 games for Crewe.[4]
In June 2001, Crewe and Norwich agreed a deal with an initial fee of around £500,000 for his transfer with Rivers signing a four year contract.[5] Rivers made 37 appearances during Norwich's2001–02 campaign as Norwich reached the play off final that season which was held at theMillennium Stadium inCardiff. Rivers had scored in the first leg of their play off semi-final againstWolves in a 3-1 win atCarrow Road.[6] After the disappointment of losing the play off final toBirmingham City on penalties,[7] the2002-03 season saw Rivers finish the campaign with 32 appearances and four goals. Rivers won theFootball League First Division title with Norwich in the2003-04 season, sealing promotion to thePremier League. At the end of the season it was announced that Rivers had left the club by mutual consent. Norwich managerNigel Worthington said that Rivers had been frustrated by a lack of first team opportunities and needed a move to get first team football.[8]
After leaving Norwich, Rivers initially trained with their local rivalsIpswich Town, however a move didn't materialise and in the end he signed a two-year deal with his former club Crewe.[9][10] Over the next one and a half seasons, he made 56 appearances for the Cheshire side, scoring 11 times.[4]
On 23 January 2006, Rivers signed forCarlisle United until the end of their2005–06 season, making six appearances.[4] He left by mutual consent on 28 April 2006.
It was reported in 2012 that Rivers was setting up achaffeur business.[11]