| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1974-10-08)8 October 1974 (age 51)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Roehampton, London, England[1] | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Youth career | |||
| 1980–1988 | Wimbledon | ||
| 1988–1993 | Millwall | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1995 | Millwall | 45 | (2) |
| 1995–1998 | Sheffield United | 38 | (0) |
| 1997 | →Southend United (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 1998–2000 | Southend United | 78 | (1) |
| 2000–2001 | Kingstonian | 23 | (0) |
| 2001–2003 | Southend United | 50 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Kingstonian | 35 | (5) |
| 2004–2006 | San Pedro | ||
| 2006–2007 | Stevenage Borough | 39 | (3) |
| 2007 | St Albans City | 10 | (2) |
| 2007–2008 | AFC Wimbledon | 15 | (1) |
| 2008–2010 | Haywards Heath Town | ||
| 2010–2011 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 5 | (1) |
| Total | 327 | (15) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2009–2010 | Haywards Heath Town | ||
| 2010–2011 | Tooting & Mitcham United | ||
| 2015–2017 | Loxwood | ||
| 2023–2024 | Eastbourne Borough | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Mark Beard (born 8 October 1974) is an Englishfootball manager and former professionalfootballer who is a professional development phase coach atEFL Championship clubHull City. He played primarily as acentral midfielder, and was also utilised atright-back earlier in his career.
Beard spent time in the youth systems ofWimbledon andMillwall before making his senior debut for the latter in October 1993. He spent two seasons in the first team, during which he scored in anFA Cup victory away toArsenal in January 1995. Ahead of the1995–96 season, he signed forSheffield United for £117,000, and in 1998 joinedSouthend United, having previously spent time at the club onloan. Named Southend's Player of the Year for the1998–99 season, he made 151 appearances for the club across three spells. In 2004, Beard relocated to Spain to establish a youth academy forUD San Pedro, later joining the club's playing squad.
He returned to England in 2006 withStevenage Borough, winning theFA Trophy as part of thefirst team to win a competitive cup final at the newWembley Stadium in May 2007. He subsequently spent the2007–08 season atAFC Wimbledon, helping the club achievepromotion to theConference South via the play-offs. After retiring, Beard moved into management withnon-League clubsHaywards Heath Town,Tooting & Mitcham United, andLoxwood, before working full-time inBrighton & Hove Albion's academy from 2017 to 2021. He was appointed manager ofEastbourne Borough in June 2023, departing in January 2024, and joined Hull City later that year.
Beard was born inRoehampton, London.[1] His family originates fromSouth London, and he lived on theAylesbury Estate growing up.[2] He joinedWimbledon's youth academy at the age of six, and remained there until he was 14.[2] He is a lifelongMillwall supporter.[2]
At the age of 14, Beard joined Millwall on trial, scoring ahat-trick for the under-14 team againstLeyton Orient in his debut appearance.[2] He subsequently signedschoolboy forms with the club and later progressed to aYouth Training Scheme contract at the age of 16.[2][3] Initially deployed as aright winger, he was converted toright-back by youth coachTom Walley.[2] Beardcaptained the under-18 team in theFA Youth Cup, where they defeated aManchester United team featuringDavid Beckham,Nicky Butt,Gary Neville, andPaul Scholes in the semi-final first leg atOld Trafford, before being eliminated 3–2 onaggregate.[2][3][4] At youth level, he also helped the team win the Southern Junior Cup, as well as finish runners-up in the South East Counties league.[3] He signed his first professional contract under managerMick McCarthy in 1993.[3]
Following injuries to first-teamdefenders,[2] Beard was called up to the senior squad and made his debut aged 18 on 2 October 1993, starting in a 4–1 home victory overWatford.[3][5] He made 15 appearances in all competitions that season, scoring his first senior goal in a 2–2 draw againstBristol City on 13 November 1993.[5] Beard played regularly during the1994–95 season, making 38 appearances in all competitions.[6] He scored twice that season, including the opening goal in a 2–0 win overArsenal in anFA Cup third-round replay atHighbury on 18 January 1995.[2][3][6]
In the final year of his contract at Millwall, Beard expressed a desire to remain at the club.[2] He took part in pre-season ahead of the1995–96 season, but was informed that Millwall had accepted an offer fromFirst Division clubSheffield United.[2] Identified as a transfer target by managerDave Bassett, he joined the club on a three-year contract for a fee of £117,000.[1][7] Beard made his debut as asubstitute in a 2–0 defeat toTranmere Rovers in August 1995. At the start of the1997–98 season, after falling out of favour under new managerNigel Spackman,[7] he was loaned toSouthend United for two months, making his first appearance in a 1–1 draw withOldham Athletic,[8] and playing ten matches during the loan.[8] He returned to Sheffield United in January 1998, making four further appearances in the second half of the season.[8] Beard left the club upon the expiry of his contract in June 1998.[3][7]
After receiving offers fromBrentford andNotts County, Beard rejoined Southend ahead of the1998–99 season on a permanent basis, signing a two-year contract.[7] He was a regular during his debut season, making 40 appearances in all competitions and being named the club's Player of the Year.[9][10] Thefollowing season, he made 42 appearances as Southend finished 16th in Division Three,[11][12] scoring his only goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat toHull City in November 1999.[11] In total, he made 82 appearances during his first spell with the club.[1]
Beard joinedFootball Conference clubKingstonian on a free transfer on 12 July 2000.[13][14] He made his debut in a 1–0 home victory overNorthwich Victoria on 19 August 2000, and went on to play 35 times in a season that ended inrelegation.[15][16] Kingstonian reached thefourth round of the FA Cup that season, losing toBristol City in a replay after a draw atAshton Gate, with Beard featuring in both matches.[7][16][17] He left at the end of the season and rejoined Southend United two months into the2001–02 campaign, making 17 appearances.[18]
He remained at Southend for the2002–03 season, adding a further 42 appearances before departing in May 2003.[19][20] Beard returned to Kingstonian for the2003–04 season in theIsthmian League Premier Division, where he made 43 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals.[21] This included the onlybrace of his career in a 4–0 away victory againstMaidenhead United on 19 August 2003.[21] At the end of the season, while holidaying inMarbella, he interviewed for a role establishing a youth academy atUD San Pedro in Spain'sPrimera Andaluza.[7] He coached across multiple age groups within the academy and also played for the club during his two years there.[3][7]
Beard signed forConference National clubStevenage Borough on 11 September 2006.[22] The move followed an approach by his brother,Matt Beard, to several managers in England.[3] ManagerMark Stimson, a former teammate at Southend, invited him for a one-week trial before offering a contract, describing the need to add "grit" to the midfield.[3] Beard initially played without pay and made his debut as a substitute in a 6–0 home victory overStafford Rangers on 9 September 2006, the club's first win of the season.[3][23] He scored his first goal ten days later in a 1–0 victory againstWeymouth atBroadhall Way.[24][25] Beard was a regular during the2006–07 season, making 49 appearances in all competitions and scoring three goals.[26][27][28] This included eight appearances in theFA Trophy, playing every minute in the club's run that season as Stevenage defeatedKidderminster Harriers 3–2 in thefirst competitive final at the newWembley Stadium before a competition record crowd of 53,262.[26][29][30] He was released at the end of the season,[31] with Stimson opting to signJohn Martin as his replacement; Beard later expressed disappointment at the decision.[3]
Following his release from Stevenage, Beard joinedConference South clubSt Albans City as player-assistant manager on 20 June 2007.[32] He worked under first-time managerRitchie Hanlon, who described Beard as a trusted figure with the relevant coaching qualifications and experience to guide younger players.[32] Beard scored twice in 10 appearances, but left the club after Hanlon's dismissal on 25 September 2007.[33][34] He subsequently signed for Isthmian League Premier Division clubAFC Wimbledon later in 2007, making 15 appearances and scoring once as the team securedpromotion to the Conference South.[3][35][36] He departed at the end of the season.[37] Beard then spent two years atHaywards Heath Town in theSussex County League, serving in a player-manager role during the2009–10 season.[38] He briefly returned to playing during the2010–11 season while manager ofTooting & Mitcham United, making five appearances and scoring one goal following injuries to first-team players.[39]
Beard gained initial coaching experience while playing at UD San Pedro in Spain and also coached in Cyprus.[32] He obtained hisUEFA B Licence in August 2007 and later earned hisUEFA A Licence.[32][40] In 2008, he established a youth academy at Sussex County League Division Three club Haywards Heath Town, while also managing the first team to a third-place finish during the 2009–10 season.[3][38][7][41]
In July 2010, he was appointed manager of Isthmian League Premier Division club Tooting & Mitcham United.[7] The move came about after his brother, Matt Beard, manager ofChelsea Ladies, contacted the club chairman to express Beard's interest in the vacant position; Chelsea Ladies played their home matches at Tooting & Mitcham's ground at the time.[7] The club finished 14th inhis first season in charge.[42] Ahead of the2011–12 season, the club altered its transfer strategy, leading to significant squad turnover; Beard used 40 players during the first four months of the season.[7][43] He was dismissed on 6 December 2011 after a run of seven defeats in 10 league matches.[3][43] Following his departure, Beard acknowledged that poor results and off-field issues at the club had contributed to the decision, as well as the high number of player changes during the season.[7][43]
Beard was appointed youth team coach atLeague One clubCrawley Town in February 2012, spending two years in the club's youth set-up.[44][45] In 2014, he established the Love The Ball (LTB) Sussex Academy,[40] which partnered withSouthern Combination Premier Division clubLoxwood ahead of the2014–15 season to provide a pathway for academy players into senior football.[40][46] After a year as head coach at the academy, he became manager of Loxwood's first team in 2015,[40] with several academy players promoted to the senior squad during his tenure.[47]
He combined his role at Loxwood with coachingBrighton & Hove Albion's under-15 and under-16 teams.[40] In March 2017, Beard left Loxwood due to changes in his coaching responsibilities at Brighton,[40] and two months later was promoted to under-18 academy coach.[48] Under his management, Brighton's under-17 team won the Premier League Cup on 5 May 2021, defeatingMiddlesbrough 2–0 in the final.[49][50]
After four years as under-18 academy coach at Brighton, Beard was appointed assistant manager toSimon Rusk atNational League clubStockport County on 6 July 2021.[51] He left in October 2021, citing difficulties relocating away from his family.[52] The following month, on 12 November 2021, he became head of coaching atNational League South clubDorking Wanderers,[53] a position he combined with a return to youth coaching at Brighton.[54]
Beard was named manager of National League South clubEastbourne Borough on 8 June 2023.[54] He oversaw the club's transition from part-time to full-time status, but was dismissed on 1 January 2024 after six wins in 24 league matches.[55] He was appointed professional development phase coach for theHull City's under-18 team on 22 November 2024, working alongsideDavid Meyler.[56]
Beard began his career as a right winger at Millwall before being converted to right-back by youth coach Tom Walley, who focused on developing his defensive skills through regular one-on-one drills.[2] He was also deployed as acentral midfielder, which became his primary position during the latter part of his career.[2][26][32] A combative player, Beard was praised for his work ethic.[2][32]
Beard's son, Sam, is also a footballer, and his younger brother,Matt, was a football manager who predominantly worked in women's football.[3][57]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Millwall | 1993–94[5] | First Division | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 1 | |
| 1994–95[6] | 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[58] | First Division | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| 1997–98[8] | 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[8] | Second Division | 9 | 0 | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Southend United | 1998–99[9] | Third Division | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| 1999–2000[11] | 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[16][59] | Football Conference | 23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 6[b] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Southend United | 2001–02[18] | Third Division | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 2002–03[19] | Third Division | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 59 | 0 | ||
| Kingstonian | 2003–04[21] | Isthmian League Premier Division | 35 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 7[c] | 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[26] | Conference National | 39 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 8[d] | 0 | 49 | 3 | |
| St Albans City | 2007–08[34] | Conference South | 10 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
| AFC Wimbledon | 2007–08[60] | 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[39] | Isthmian League Premier Division | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2011–12[61] | 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 | ||
Millwall
Stevenage Borough
AFC Wimbledon
Individual
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