Mark Adam Creighton (born 8 October 1981) is English former professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...
. He last played for
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
as a
defender as well as being part of the club's coaching team. Creighton announced his retirement from playing on 23 December 2013. During his career, Creighton was affectionately nicknamed "The Beast" due to his stature and physical presence.
Playing career
Kidderminster Harriers
Creighton began his career in the youth team at
Kidderminster Harriers, before spending a number of years moving between non-league, amateur clubs in the
Midlands including
Moor Green
Moor Green is a historic home located near Brentsville, Prince William County, Virginia. It dates to the early-19th century, and is a two-story, five-bay, Federal style brick residence, with a one-room, two-story ell. It has a standing seam me ...
,
Paget Rangers and
Halesowen Town
Halesowen Town Football Club is a football club based in Halesowen, West Midlands, England. They are currently members of the and play at the Grove Recreation Ground.
History
The club was believed to have been established around 1873, but rec ...
.
He eventually ended up at
Redditch United
Redditch United Football Club is an English football club based in Redditch, Worcestershire. The club participates in the and play their home games at the V
Trico Stadium. They are managed by former Captain and Assistant Manager Matt Clarke.
...
where he became captain and won numerous awards. His success at Redditch secured him a return to the Harriers in 2006. During his three seasons at
Aggborough Creighton became club captain and appeared 133 times for the club.
Oxford United
After three seasons at Kidderminster, in May 2009 Creighton joined
Oxford United
Oxford United Football Club is a professional football club in the city of Oxford, England. The team plays in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The chairman is Grant Ferguson, the manager is Karl Robinson and t ...
, where he became a regular starter. In 2010, he helped Oxford gain promotion out of the
Conference Premier
The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-professi ...
and into
League Two
The English Football League Two (often referred to as League Two for short or Sky Bet League Two for sponsorship purposes, and known as the Football League Two from 2004 until 2016) is the third and lowest division of the English Football Lea ...
. Although he was a regular in the first team with the Us he was selected less often during Oxford's first season back in the Football League and was subsequently loaned out at the end of 2010.
Wrexham
In November 2010, Creighton went out on
loan
In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that ...
to Conference Premier side
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
where, after a successful loan spell, he signed an 18-month contract. Creighton became a huge influence in the Wrexham side during the 2010/2011 season and played in the side that lost to
Luton Town
Luton Town Football Club () is a professional association football club based in the town of Luton, Bedfordshire, England, that competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1885, it is nicknam ...
in the Conference Premier play-off semi-finals. In the 2011/2012 season Creighton again proved to be influential in the Wrexham defence playing a part in breaking the club record for the most clean sheets in a row for the club; goalkeeper
Joslain Mayebi
Joslain Leon Mayebi (born 14 October 1986) is a Cameroonian footballer who most recently played as a goalkeeper for Hereford.
Career
Mayebi previously played for FC Metz, AEK Larnaca and Hakoah Ramat Gan.
He was selected for the Cameroon nation ...
gave credit to his regular defence (
Nathaniel Knight-Percival,
Neil Ashton
Neil John Ashton (born 15 January 1985) is an English manager and former footballer who is currently manager of Cefn Albion. Typically played as left-back, he occasionally acted as a midfielder.
Career
Tranmere Rovers
Neil Ashton started his ...
and
Chris Westwood
Christopher John Westwood (born 13 February 1977) is an English retired footballer.
Career
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Westwood began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he scored once against Portsmouth.
Reading
Westwood moved to Read ...
). Creighton played in massive matches for the Dragons during the 2011/2012 season including the
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competi ...
3rd Round draw away to
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club (), commonly referred to simply as Brighton, is an English professional football club based in the city of Brighton and Hove. They compete in the Premier League, the top tier of the English football league ...
and in the replay back at
The Racecourse
The Racecourse is an open area on the River Wear in Durham, England of total that has been used as a sports ground since at least 1733. It forms part of Durham University's sports facilities as well as hosting local sports clubs. The Raceco ...
which Wrexham lost on penalties. He also took part in another play-off semi-final against Luton, which Wrexham lost for a second year running. In February 2012 Creighton signed a new two-year deal to keep him at the Racecourse until 2014. Creighton continued a successful pre-season into the 2012/2013 season, scoring against
Woking on the first day of the season in a 3–1 win. But just three matches into the season he picked up a season-ending injury 6 minutes into an away match at
Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United Football Club is a professional football club based in Northfleet, Kent, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the club competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football.
The club was formed in 1946 fr ...
. During his time off the pitch Creighton set up his own business, Raw Ink Tattoo studio in nearby
Coedpoeth. As well as his tattooing business Creighton also joined
Welsh Premier League
The Cymru Premier, known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons, is the national football league of Wales. It has both professional and semi-professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 20 ...
side
Bala Town FC as a voluntary coach in January 2013. Creighton returned from injury on the final day of the 2012/2013 season in a match away to Mansfield Town. He took part in the following pre-season and started the first game of the 2013/2014 season against
Welling United
Welling United Football Club is a professional football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley, England. The club's first team play in the National League South, at the sixth tier of English football.
History
Welling United Foot ...
. His second game of the season came in the cross border derby against
Chester, but in the first half he picked up another injury setting himself back once again. He returned from injury once again in a 1–3 loss away to his former club Kidderminster, coming on as a sub for
Robert Ogleby in the 84th minute. He went on to play further games against
Dartford FC and
Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers Football Club are a professional football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England. The team compete in , the third tier of the English football league system, and have played their home games at The New Lawn since ...
, coming on as a sub in both matches.
Creighton's first start since August game in the
FA Trophy against
Gresley F.C., but after 20 minutes he picked up a recurring hamstring injury and was replaced by Kyle Parle. This proved to be Creighton's last match in professional football. He announced his retirement from playing on 23 December 2013. He made 78 league appearances scoring four times for Wrexham in the league, and made 89 Reds appearances in all competitions and 258 league appearances in his professional career scoring 9 times.
Managerial career
Southport
Creighton joined
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England.
Southport lies on the Iris ...
on 26 August 2016, as assistant manager to former Wrexham teammate
Andy Bishop
Andrew Jamie Bishop (born 19 October 1982) is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a striker for National League North club Stalybridge Celtic.
Bishop started his career in the youth team at Walsall, taking loan spells with ...
.
Honours
Oxford United
*
Conference Premier
The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-professi ...
play-offs:
2009–10
Wrexham
*
FA Trophy:
2012–13
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Creighton, Mark
1981 births
Living people
Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands
English men's footballers
Men's association football defenders
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players
Oxford United F.C. players
Wrexham A.F.C. players
National League (English football) players
English Football League players