 Bignot playing forQueens Park Rangers in 2005 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marcus Bignot[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1974-08-22)22 August 1974 (age 51)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Right back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Swindon Town (assistant head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Birmingham City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1996 | Telford United | 149 | (14) |
| 1996–1997 | Kidderminster Harriers | 43 | (1) |
| 1997–2000 | Crewe Alexandra | 95 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Bristol Rovers | 26 | (1) |
| 2001–2002 | Queens Park Rangers | 44 | (1) |
| 2002–2004 | Rushden & Diamonds | 68 | (2) |
| 2004–2007 | Queens Park Rangers | 128 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | →Millwall (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Millwall | 15 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Oldham Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| 2010 | Kidderminster Harriers | 5 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Brackley Town | 2 | (0) |
| 2012–2016 | Solihull Moors | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 585 | (19) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997 | England C | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1998–2005 | Birmingham City Ladies | ||
| 2011–2016 | Solihull Moors | ||
| 2016–2017 | Grimsby Town | ||
| 2017 | Barrow (interim assistant) | ||
| 2017–2018 | Chester | ||
| 2018–2022 | Guiseley (joint manager) | ||
| 2021 | Aston Villa Women (interim) | ||
| 2023–2024 | Shrewsbury Town (assistant) | ||
| 2024– | Swindon Town (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Marcus Bignot (born 22 August 1974) is an Englishfootball manager and former professional player. He is assistant head coach ofSwindon Town.
Bignot's playing career spanned nearly 20 years, primarily as aright back, but he has also been used in amidfield role. He began his career atTelford United in 1992 where he spent four years in theFootball Conference there. He then joinedKidderminster Harriers, he was part of the team that won theConference League Cup, also in the 1996–97 season the Harriers came runners-up in the Football Conference. First Division sideCrewe Alexandra paid £100K for him in the summer of 1997, he went on to be the player of the year in the 1997–98 season. Contractual disputes ended with a switch to Second Division side Bristol Rovers taking him on a free transfer for the 2000–2001 season. Management change made way for a move to First Division sideQueens Park Rangers in March 2001 under his previous manager. A successful two-year spell atRushden & Diamonds where he helped them gain promotion to the Second Division in the 2002–03 season as Champions. A move back to QPR in March 2004 where he helped them gain promotion to theChampionship. Further spells atMillwall,Oldham Athletic before ending his playing career in 2012 atSolihull Moors.
A formerEngland semi-pro international, he was capped in May 1997 for theEngland C national football team against the Scottish Highland Football League at Cove Rangers FC, near Aberdeen, where the England C Team won 5–0, with Lee Hughes, a teammate of Bignot's with Kidderminster at that time, andBarry Hayles of Stevenage, both to go on to play in the Premier League, in the England C team that Saturday afternoon in the North of Scotland.
Bignot enjoyed a successful seven-year management career, when he took over atBirmingham City Ladies from 1998, winning theMidland Combination League,AXA Northern Premier League and Runners-up of theFA Women's Premier League Cup. Bignot having managed Solihull Moors for five years, he got them promoted as champions of theNational League North and theBirmingham Senior Cup champions in 2016, for the first time in their entire history.
In June 2024 he became assistant manager at Swindon Town.
Bignot was born inBirmingham[1] and served his apprenticeship withBirmingham City.[citation needed] Having been released in 1992 by the club, he joinedTelford United in theFootball Conference league.[3] After three seasons, a switch to fellow Football Conference sideKidderminster Harriers for a small fee was made in 1996.[4] While with Kidderminster, the team finished the1996–97 season as Runners-up in second place narrowly missing out on promotion by five points.[5] The team that year won theConference League Cup, beatingMacclesfield Town in the final.[6] Bignot made 56 appearances for the club in total.[citation needed]
He was capped once for theEngland C squad in May 1997 against the Scottish Highland Football League at Cove Rangers FC's former ground, Allan Park, near Aberdeen.
His performances didn't go unnoticed, Bignot moved on to newly promotedFirst Division sideCrewe Alexandra in August 1997 for £100,000 – a record fee for Kidderminster Harriers at the time.[7][8] AtGresty Road he was the supporters' player of the season1997–98.[citation needed] After falling into dispute in June 2000 with the club over his contract, Bignot was free to leave under the Bosman ruling.[9]
Bignot signed a two-year deal atBristol Rovers in theSecond Division on afree transfer in August 2000.[8][10][11] At Bristol Rovers he played a key part in his team beatingPremier League sideEverton in theLeague Cup.[12] It was Bignot's equaliser in the second leg that took the match topenalties, which Rovers subsequently won.[13] He had scored his first goal for the club in the previous round against Plymouth Argyle.[14] Bignot also scored a memorable goal in the league against rivals Bristol City after just 28 seconds, but he could not prevent his team losing 3–2.[15]
A change of management prompted a move to First Division sideQueens Park Rangers in March 2001 to rejoin his old manager,Ian Holloway.[citation needed] Bignot scored his first goal for QPR in the 2–1 away defeat toBurnley,Peter Crouch chipping the ball into the box subAndy Thomson to head down into the path of Bignot who shot home from close range after skillfully controlling the ball.[16][17] Bignot turned down a new contract at QPR at the end of the2001–02 season, Holloway stating this was due to QPR working on a reduced wage structure and only offering him 50 per cent of what he earned that year.[18]
Bignot signed forRushden & Diamonds in theThird Division on a short-term deal at the start of2002–03 season, however, having played on the opening day of the season atSwansea City, three days later he sustained a medial knee ligaments only 11 minutes into his home debut againstTorquay United.[19] He returned to training in the second week in September and extended his stay atNene Park for another month.[20] He extended his stay by agreeing a new month's contract in November having taken over the right-back slot for the past couple of games.[21] He turned down a move to an unnamed Second Division side and signed an 18-month contract with Rushden & Diamonds.[22] Bignot played a key role to keep Diamonds in the third division's automatic promotion places, completing the last 16 games since October and earned the official Diamonds player of the month award for his impressive form in December 2002.[23] In April 2003, his side beatCarlisle 1–2 atBrunton Park, having set up one of the goals to seal promotion.[24] A month later his team were crowned champions of the Third Division in the2002–03 season.[25]
Due to a consequence of the financial meltdown at Rushden & Diamonds, Bignot was sold back to QPR in March 2004.[26] QPR finished the2003–04 season in second place, Bignot being part of the team that clinched promotion to theChampionship.[27] He captained a cash-strapped QPR to Championship survival in his final season.[4] Bignot was released in January 2008 after his contract had expired.[28]
Having joinedMillwall on loan in November 2007.[29] Bignot extended his stay at Millwall for a further two months following an injury crisis at the club.[30] On 15 January 2008, Bignot was released by QPR, however, he rejoined Millwall on a permanent basis just a few hours later an 18-month contract.[31] He was drafted in by Millwall to help them avoid the drop into League Two.[32] Having successfully helped the club avoid relegation, his playing time was limited at the start of the2008–09 season due to a knee injury.[33] He was part of the squad that eventually lost 3–2 in the2009 Football League One play-off final againstScunthorpe.[34]
On 1 February 2010, he had his contract cancelled by mutual consent, and rejoined Conference side Kidderminster Harriers on a non contract basis until the end of the season on 17 February 2010.[35] He was released in May 2010, Bignot had a trial atConference North clubGainsborough Trinity in July 2010.[36] Later that month, he joinedSouthern League Premier sideBrackley Town on 30 July 2010.[citation needed] His time at Brackley was limited to just five games, having mainly been on the subs bench.[37][38]
 | This section of abiography of a living persondoes notinclude anyreferences or sources. Please help by addingreliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately, especially if potentiallylibelous or harmful.(November 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Whilst atKidderminster Harriers, Bignot played once for the England semi-pro (nowEngland C) Team in May 1997, against the ScottishHighland Football League atCove Rangers, the Highland Football League Team whoseAllan Park ground is six miles south ofAberdeen, his side won 5–0 that Saturday afternoon, withstrikersBarry Hayles,Lee Hughes, and goalkeeperBilly Stewart in the England team, all three players who subsequently went on to play at high levels in the English Football League.[citation needed]
Bignot at the age of 24 became manager ofBirmingham City Ladies in 1998, and immediately revamped the entire youth structure at the club.[39] He continued his own playing career in theFootball League while managing the side in the newly createdMidland Combination League and in their first season won the league, gaining automaticpromotion into theFA Women's Premier League Northern Division in 2002. Also in 2001–02 Bignots teamupsetDoncaster Belles 4–3 in theFA Women's Premier League Cup semi-final.[40] Having reached the final atAdams Park,Wycombe, Birmingham were thrashed 7–1 by full-timeprofessionalFulham Ladies.[41] After two seasons, Bignot clinched promotion to the top flight of women's football, joining theFA Women's Premier League National Division.[42] He left his post with Birmingham in the 2005 close season after the club ran into financial difficulties.[43]
For the2011 FA WSL season Bignot returned to Birmingham Ladies as a Football Consultant.[44]
Bignot initially joined Conference North clubSolihull Moors as assistant manager towards the end of the 2010–11 season. On 27 June 2011, following the resignation of Micky Moore for the 2011–12 season, Bignot was appointed manager.[45]
Bignot's team won an impressive 60% of their games during the2015–16 season.[4] This clinched theNational League North title and secured promotion in that season with three games still left to play. It was the very first time Solihull Moors had reachedNational League level.[46] In May 2016, Bignot reached the final and won theBirmingham Senior Cup with Solihull Moors also for the first time in their history, they beatBirmingham City 2–1 atSt Andrew's stadium.[47]
Bignot made his National League managerial debut with the club on 6 August 2016, Solihull Moors beating last seasonsNational League South championsSutton United 3–1 at theirGander Green Lane stadium in the opening game of the2016–17 season.[48] Solihull Moors season started reasonably well with his team winning three of their first five games.[49][50] On 5 November 2015, in theFA Cup first round, Bignots side came up against League Two opposition in the form ofYeovil Town away, they beat the odds and drew 2–2 having been two goals down to earn a replay.[51]
During his time at Solihull Moors, the setup consisted of just a first team and an under-18 team; within 5 years, his additional role asdirector of football enhanced the structure of the club, creating 30-odd youth and junior teams, reserves, anacademy and a disability section, as well as three girls teams and a ladies team, forming a community interest club within the surrounding areas ofSolihull.[4]
On 2 November 2016 Solihull Moors issued a statement that the board of League Two clubGrimsby Town had made an official legal approach to them, and that they had granted permission for Bignot to speak to Grimsby about their vacant managerial position.[52][53] On 7 November 2016, he was officially announced as the new Grimsby Town manager, along with the appointment of Micky Moore as his assistant.[54][55]
Bignot made his full Grimsby Town managerial debut on 9 November 2016, in theEFL Trophy, losing 4–2 at home toSheffield United.[56] Bignot made his league managerial debut with Grimsby Town on 12 November 2016 at home againstBarnet, drawing 2–2.[57] Bignot's first league win came the next week, when Grimsby played first-placePlymouth Argyle, winning 3–0.[58] The performance led to Bignot winning theEnglish Football League team manager of the week.[59]
On 10 April 2017, Bignot was dismissed by Grimsby, along with Michael Moore and Gary Whild.[60]
On 5 September 2017, Bignot was appointed interim assistant manager of National League sideBarrow to assist caretaker manager Micky Moore, following the resignation of managerPaul Cox.[61]
On 20 September 2017, Bignot was appointed as manager of National League clubChester.[62] At the end of March 2018, the board confirmed that his contract would not be renewed for the following season.[63] Once relegation was confirmed, they "[saw] little value in him remaining in the position", and he left the club on 11 April 2018.[64]
Bignot and formerAlfreton Town manager Russ O'Neil were appointed joint managers ofGuiseley in May 2018 following the team's relegation from the National League to the National League North.[65] He left the club in April 2022.[66]
On 2 September 2019, Bignot was named as a coach for theEngland U18s as part of theFootball Association's 2019–20 Elite Coach Placement Programme.[67]
On 25 January 2021 it was confirmed that Bignot would take over as an interim coach at Aston Villa Women. He departed the club on 10 May 2021 having steered Villa to safety.[68]
On 26 August 2021, Bignot was confirmed as the assistant coach of England U19s alongside Ian Foster.[69]
On 21 November 2021, Bignot returned toBirmingham City Women to assist interim head coachDarren Carter.[70]
In July 2022, Bignot was sacked by Birmingham after he was found guilty of homophobic abuse. Bignot denied the charges fromThe FA but his defence was seen as "not credible" and it was decided that "on the balance of probabilities" Bignot had made the comment during their game againstTottenham Hotspur Women on 13 February 2022. He was also given a seven-match touchline ban, as well as being ordered to attend a face-to-face education course.[71]
On 26 July 2022, Bignot was appointed first-team coach of League One clubCheltenham Town. The club said that they had given very careful consideration to the appointment having held discussions with a number of different club stakeholders including representatives of the Proud Robins LGBTQ+ supporters network.[72]
In July 2023, Bignot was appointed assistant head coach ofShrewsbury Town.[73]
In June 2024, Bignot was appointed assistant head coach of League Two sideSwindon Town.[74]
Bignot has been a fan ofBirmingham City football club since boyhood, having been brought up supporting them.[4] Bignot's younger brotherPaul Bignot was also a professional footballer.[75]
In June 2013 Bignot marriedArsenal Ladies andIreland goalkeeperEmma Byrne.[76] They have since divorced.
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Solihull Moors | 28 June 2011 | 7 November 2016 | 249 | 100 | 60 | 89 | 040.2 | [77] |
| Grimsby Town | 7 November 2016 | 10 April 2017[60] | 27 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 033.3 | [77] |
| Chester | 20 September 2017 | 11 April 2018[64] | 35 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 017.1 | [78] |
| Guiseley | 15 May 2018 | 12 April 2022 | 149 | 45 | 39 | 65 | 030.2 | |
| Aston Villa Women (Interim) | 25 January 2021 | 10 May 2021 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 007.7 | |
| Total | 473 | 161 | 120 | 192 | 034.0 | — | ||
Kidderminster Harriers
Rushden & Diamonds
Queens Park Rangers
Millwall
Birmingham City Ladies
Solihull Moors
