Mark Munday

*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.

Mark Munday

Appearances: 280+58 Goals: 82

Date / Year of birth: 17th January 1971

Position: Midfielder / Striker

Season of first appearance: 1987/88

Season of last appearance: 2002/03

Also played for: Ashford Town, Ramsgate, Herne Bay, Gravesend & Northfleet, Dover Athletic, Folkestone Invicta, Deal Town and Whitstable Town

Tall Margate-born product of Dane Court Grammar School who progressed through Thanet United's youth ranks to the first team squad and made his first appearances for the senior side in pre-season friendlies during the summer of 1987. Mark made his competitive debut when he came on as a substitute in a 2-2 draw at Folkestone in a Southern League Cup tie played on 25.8.87. Thanet's player-manager Norman Fusco said "He is a fine player and the experience will do him good."

After making four more appearances from the bench Mark made his full debut in another Southern League Cup game, a 0-0 draw with Ashford at Hartsdown Park on 29.9.87. The Isle of Thanet Gazette reported that he "found the pace of the game rather hot" in midfield but the Thanet Times said that Mark showed "ample promise". He kept his place for United's next three games but was then only named as a substitute for Thanet's important FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round replay at Woking on 13.10.87. Mark came on to score the crucial second goal in a 2-0 win, coolly firing home from the edge of the area and becoming Thanet's youngest ever scorer at just 16 years of age. Norman Fusco said he "took his goal so well."

For the next few months Mark was in and out of the side, generally being used as a substitute, but did well when called upon. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said that he "impressed on the left flank" during a 5-2 defeat at Hastings on 17.11.87 in which he scored.

On 12.3.88 Mark made his first start since 24.11.87 as Thanet travelled to Poole for a Southern League game. It was United's first game after the sudden departure of leading marksman Neil Cugley and Mark was asked to take over as centre-forward. Although Poole won 3-2 he made a good fist of stepping into Cugley's shoes and scored one of the Thanet goals. Mark then wore the number nine shirt for the remainder of the season, a run of 15 games. Although he only scored once more he often caught the eye with some mature displays. In its report for a 2-1 win over Burnham on 22.3.88 the Gazette said Mark "produced some deft touches" and added "if he is given an extended run in the first team he will surely prove good enough for this level of football". The Thanet Times felt that Mark "frequently impressed" in a 3-1 win over Sheppey on 4.4.88 and at the end of the season the Gazette said "he has distinct potential". The paper went on to say "his lean frame could do with a few extra pounds...but his first-time touches are unequalled by anyone in the side". Mark made a total of 40 appearances during the campaign (17 as sub) and scored four goals. He also made seven reserve team appearances, scoring once, and played for Kent's youth side. His older brother John also made numerous first team appearances during the season.

Mark was mostly used as a substitute during the opening month of the 1988/89 campaign and marked his first start with a goal in a 2-0 win over Sheppey at Hartsdown on 29.8.88. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said that he "led the attack with intelligence and flair and with a little luck could easily have collected a hat-trick", the paper also described Mark as being "a player of distinct promise". He then enjoyed a long run in the side, nearly always playing as a striker but also appearing in midfield. On 15.10.88 Mark scored twice, once from the penalty spot, in a 2-2 draw at Erith & Belvedere and that was part of a run of four goals in three games. The Thanet Times said his performance at Erith was his "most incisive display of the season" and went on to say that Mark had been "a constant threat". In December 1988 the Gazette said of Mark "his deft ball control and first-time touches stamp him as a youngster of genuine promise, but in a struggling side...his potential is diluted".

A few weeks later the paper reported that Mark had been sacked by the club for turning out for Ramsgate's Under-18 side instead of attending a Thanet training session. Player-manager Garry Aldous said "he fully understood the situation and when he chose to play at Ramsgate that night I had no alternative but to dispense with his services" but on 21.1.89, the day after the story appeared, Mark played as United lost 4-0 at home to Andover. The Thanet Times said his inclusion was "a major surprise" and added "someone, somewhere has the communication lines in a tangle" as it turned out that the situation had been resolved before the article appeared. The paper reported that Mark's "deft first-time touches and aerial ability were undiminished by his traumatic week" and a week later he scored with a fine shot from the edge of the box in a 6-2 defeat at Witney. On 28.2.89 Mark scored his tenth goal of the season when playing in midfield during a 2-2 draw with Corinthian at Hartsdown and the match turned out to be his last for Thanet. Having made 35 first team appearances (five as sub) and another seven for the reserves, scoring four goals, Mark joined Southern Premier League Ashford. His ten goals for Thanet made him the club's joint top scorer, along with Aldous, for the season.

Mark scored an own goal on his debut for Ashford as they lost 6-0 at Worcester on 4.3.89 and after making 16 Southern League appearances for the Nuts & Bolts he moved to Ramsgate early in the 1989/90 season where he was reunited with his brother John.

Mark left Southwood just a few weeks later and joined Herne Bay. He went on to make more than 150 appearances for the club. Mark scored over 60 goals and 34 of them came during the 1993/94 season.

In the summer of 1994 Gravesend & Northfleet paid Herne Bay a then club record fee of £3,000 to secure Mark's services and he went on to enjoy a successful three year spell with the Fleet. During the 1995/96 campaign Mark scored 27 goals, including hat-tricks against Molesey and Newport, and played in Gravesend's 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa in the FA Cup 3rd Round on 2.12.95 along with his future Margate team-mates Paul Lamb and Lee Turner. Mark was the Fleet's 'Player of the Year' for 1996/97 and in total he scored 46 goals in 153 games before returning to Hartsdown Park in the summer of 1997 for an undisclosed fee that also covered the transfer of Lamb to Margate.

Over eight years after his last game for Thanet United Mark made his first appearance for Margate in a 3-1 home win over Ramsgate for the Link Music Cup on 29.7.97. From then on he was a fixture in Margate's midfield. He scored his first goal in a 3-0 win over Witney at Hartsdown Park on 23.8.97 and Mark was a regular marksman after that with his goal tally boosted by numerous penalties.

Mark's most important spot-kick gave Margate an early lead in their FA Cup 1st Round tie against Fulham at Hartsdown Park on 16.11.97. The game was shown live on Sky Sports and The Guardian said he "was coolness personified" as he slotted home after Martin Buglione had been chopped down. Shortly before half-time Mark was accosted by streaker Rebecca Drewett. She shook his hand and later explained to the Thanet Times "I told him: 'Come on Margate'. He seemed embarrassed and shocked". Margate eventually lost the match 2-1.

In December 1997 Mark scored in three consecutive matches - a 2-1 home win over Newport IOW on 13.12.97, a 2-1 win at Hastings on 16.12.97 and a 4-1 win at Witney on 20.12.97 - and on 21.2.98 he found the net with a 35-yard lob in a 2-0 win at Fleet. In March 1998 the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "arguably the best passer of a ball in the squad" and on 7.4.98 Mark scored with a clever free-kick as Margate beat Redditch 2-0 at Hartsdown Park in the 1st Leg of the Southern League Cup Final. He also played in the 2nd Leg on 21.4.98 which the home side won 1-0 and that result meant that Margate claimed the trophy with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The Thanet Times said Mark was "the best player on the park" during a 4-0 home win over Cinderford on 26.4.98 and his goal in that game was his 22nd and last of the season. On 4.5.98 Mark featured as Margate beat his old club Gravesend & Northfleet 1-0 at Stonebridge Road to win the Kent Senior Cup. He made 64 appearances in all (13 as sub) and in the middle of May 1998 the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Mark was "often an unsung hero" who was "undoubtedly the most efficient and visionary passer in the side, always trying to find his own men in the best Brian Clough tradition". The paper added "when he did get possession he invariably made intelligent use of it".

Mark continued to impress at the start of the 1998/99 season but on 12.9.98 he missed a penalty in a 3-1 defeat at Corby and didn't take any more spot-kicks after that. On 26.9.98 he scored his first goal of the new campaign with a direct free-kick in a 3-0 win at Tonbridge and Mark repeated the trick in Margate's next game - a 2-1 win at Ashford on 29.9.98. His emergence as a free-kick specialist was confirmed when he curled home a 25-yard effort in a 6-0 win over Corby at Hartsdown Park on 28.11.98 and that was one of two goals Mark scored that day. His next free-kick success came in a 5-0 home thrashing of Bashley on 12.12.98 and on 19.12.98 he scored from open play in a 6-1 win at St.Leonards. The Thanet Times said that Mark "picked up the ball 30 yards out and dribbled unmolested into the box before scoring".

He notched up his fifth goal from free-kicks in a 2-2 draw with Dartford at Hartsdown Park on 23.1.99 but Mark was then hampered by kidney stones and only started one of Margate's next eight games. On 13.03.99 he scored after coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat at Bashley and from then on Mark was a regular in the starting line-up once more. He finished the season in style by scoring one of the goals in a 4-0 win at Brackley on 1.5.99 that sealed Margate's promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. It was Mark's 46th appearance of the season (four as sub) and he scored a total of ten goals.

Despite an ongoing back problem Mark was an automatic choice in midfield during the opening months of the 1999/00 campaign and scored his first goal of the season in a 3-1 defeat at Newport on 4.9.99. He also found the net in his next outing as Margate beat Clevedon 2-1 at Hartsdown Park on 11.9.99 and the Thanet Times said Mark was "dominant" in a 3-0 win at Taunton in the FA Cup on 2.10.99. He was amongst the scorers again that day and the paper said he'd "had his best game of the season in midfield". On 12.10.99 Mark continued his good form when he scored twice in a 5-0 home win over Croydon in the FA Trophy and he was also on target in a 3-3 draw at Havant & Waterlooville on 26.10.99. The Thanet Times then said he "battled manfully in a boggy midfield" during a 2-1 win at Grantham on 11.12.99 but Mark missed Margate's next two matches after that.

He continued to be a fixture in the number seven shirt as 2000 began and the Isle of Thanet Gazette reported that Mark "looked confident in possession" during a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Folkestone Invicta on 25.1.00. On 11.3.00 he scored his first goal for over four months in a 4-3 win at Merthyr and on 25.3.00 Mark's penalty earned Margate a 1-0 win at Burton. He slotted home another spot-kick in a 1-1 draw with Dorchester at Hartsdown Park on 1.4.00 and Mark got his tenth and last goal of the season in a 5-3 defeat at Crawley on 22.4.00. He finished the campaign having made 49 appearances (three as sub) and in its review of the season the Thanet Times said Mark had shown "great composure even when the tackles were flying".

He made a major impact in the opening weeks of the 2000/01 campaign when he scored a remarkable hat-trick of penalties in a 5-0 win over Fisher at Hartsdown Park on 28.8.00. Mark was the first Margate / Thanet player ever to achieve the feat and it was believed to be a new record for the Southern League too. He got his next goal from midfield in a 5-0 home win over Welling on 19.9.00 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Mark also "put the defence under pressure with a stream of crosses". On 31.10.00 he scored in a 6-0 win over visitors Sittingbourne in the Kent Senior Cup and Mark also put a penalty wide. He then scored in Margate's next game - a 3-1 home win over King's Lynn on 4.11.00. Mark missed his second consecutive penalty when he put his spot-kick over the bar in a 4-0 win over Tonbridge at Hartsdown Park on 14.11.00 but the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "recovered to have a good second half". The Thanet Times said Mark was the "star of the show" as he scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Stafford on 25.11.00 and he turned down the chance to take a penalty that might have completed his hat-trick. Eliot Martin took the kick instead and scored. Mark scored in Margate's next match - a 2-1 win over Clevedon in the FA Trophy at Hartsdown Park on 2.12.00 - and kept up his impressive form with back-to-back goals in a 4-1 triumph at King's Lynn on 16.12.00 and a 2-0 home win over Clevedon in the Southern League on 23.12.00.

On 3.2.01 Mark was sent off for the first time in his Margate / Thanet career when he lashed out at an opponent with 20 minutes left of a 2-1 defeat at Stevenage in the FA Trophy and he had to serve a three match ban a few weeks later. Mark's return to the side on 10.3.01 was notable as he came off the bench after 57 minutes of a game at Dorchester and replaced Lee Turner in goal after the keeper had been sent off. Mark did well and kept a clean sheet to help secure a 1-0 win for Margate. His next two appearances were also as a substitute and in the second of them - a 4-0 win at Moor Green on 20.3.01 - Mark scored his first goal for almost three months. He returned to the starting line-up in a 2-0 win over Bath at Hartsdown Park on 24.3.01 and Mark was a fixture in the side for the rest of the season as Margate closed in on the Southern League Premier Division title. On 14.4.01 he scored twice in a 2-2 draw at Folkestone and on 28.4.01 Mark got his 15th and final goal of the campaign in a vital 3-0 home win over Worcester. He ended the season having made 46 appearances (three as sub) as Margate sealed promotion to the Conference.

Mark made his first appearance of the 2001/02 campaign on 11.8.01 when he came on as a substitute as Margate beat visitors Worcester on penalties to win the Southern League Championship Match after a 1-1 draw. On 18.8.01 he played in the club's first-ever Conference game - a 1-0 win at Boston - and wore the number ten shirt in Margate's next six matches too. Mark scored his first goal of the season in a 2-1 win at Southport on 15.9.01 and also found the net in a 2-2 draw at Stalybridge on 22.9.01. The Thanet Times said he "helped steady a less than convincing midfield" as Margate lost 1-0 at home to Yeovil on 17.11.01 and Mark was a regular in the side up until a 4-1 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge on 15.12.01. After that game he didn't start any of Margate's next four matches although he did feature as a sub in two of them.

Mark returned to the starting line-up for a 1-1 draw with Scarborough at Hartsdown Park on 26.1.02 and from then on he was a fixture in the side once more. The Thanet Times said he was a "steadying influence" in midfield as Margate beat visitors Leigh 2-0 in an FA Trophy tie on 2.2.02 and in March 2002 Mark scored in three consecutive matches. His run started with a strike in a 2-1 win at Braintree in the FA Trophy on 5.3.02 and Mark then scored twice as Margate beat Woking 4-3 at Hartsdown Park on 9.3.02. His brace made him the first Margate player to score two goals in a Conference game. Mark made it four goals in three matches when he struck in a 4-2 win at Hayes on 12.3.02 and the Thanet Times said he was "thriving in the Blues midfield".

On 16.3.02 Mark was captain for the day in the absence of Graham Porter as Margate took on Morecambe in the Quarter Final of the FA Trophy and The Non-League Paper said he "had his best match of the season". The visitors from Lancashire won 2-1 but the Thanet Times said that Mark "made a heroic effort in the midfield". In its report on a 2-1 win over Folkestone in the Kent Senior Cup on 19.3.02 the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Mark was "again an inspirational figure in difficult midfield conditions" but on 18.4.02 he was sent off in a 1-1 home draw with Morecambe in the Conference. Mark was picked out, seemingly at random, from a melee of players after a mass brawl and given his marching orders. The decision sparked outrage around Hartsdown Park.

As the campaign drew to a close Mark scored twice in a 5-0 win over Ashford in a Kent Senior Cup tie on 23.4.02 and he found the net again in Margate's next game - an 8-0 thrashing of visitors Stalybridge on 27.3.02. In total he scored ten goals from 47 appearances (seven as sub) and in its end of season round-up the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Mark had "defied another step up to steady the midfield ship well".

He was suspended for the first two games of the 2002/03 campaign but Mark featured in Margate's third match - coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat at Northwich in the Conference on 24.8.02. He started the following game and scored as Margate beat Forest Green 3-0 at their adopted home in Dover. Mark's goal came from a free-kick that the Isle of Thanet Gazette said was "brilliantly curled" into the top corner. He also played in midfield in a 2-0 defeat at Leigh on 31.8.02 but after making two further substitute appearances at the start of September a back injury ruled Mark out for over two months.

After missing 12 matches altogether he made his comeback as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup on 16.11.02. Mark also came off the bench in the replay at Dover on 26.11.02 that Margate won 1-0. That was part of a run of four outings from the bench and the last of them came in a 3-0 defeat against Cardiff in the 2nd Round of the FA Cup at Dover on 7.12.02. After that Mark sat out eight games and Chatham made an approach to take him on loan but the move didn't happen.

On 28.1.03 he made only his third start of the season as Margate took on Sittingbourne in a Kent Senior Cup tie at Hartsdown Park and it turned out to be the final game of Mark's illustrious Margate career over 15 years after his debut. He couldn't break back into the team again and in March 2003 he was loaned to Southern League Premier Division outfit Dover for a month. After his loan spell ended Mark rejoined Margate but he was released at the end of the season. He'd made 11 appearances during 2002/03 and scored once.

Assistant manager Kevin Raine told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "Mark's been terrific for us. His contribution to the rise of the club has been as significant as any player's, and we thank him for that. It's a difficult decision when a player's got to move on. He never let us down, and in the Southern Division days when the midfield was him, Eliot Martin and Jay Saunders, they always knew what Mark was going to do and they worked round him. He's served Margate well, and we wish him well. He's been a terrific servant. But Mark himself will be happier playing regularly."

In July 2003 Mark signed for Folkestone Invicta and went on to spend two seasons there. He scored 17 goals in 106 appearances (ten as sub) before returning to Thanet to join Ramsgate in July 2005.

The Rams' manager Jimmy Ward said "It's a massive signing for us, I don't want to put our other signings down, but Mark is the biggest we've made. He's a friend of mine and when the opportunity to sign him came up, we grabbed it with both hands." Ward added "he's a talisman, we've been looking for that experience in midfield and he'll get us six to 12 goals from there." Mark went on to score three goals in 49 Isthmian League appearances (18 as sub) for the Rams during the next two seasons before leaving the club at the end of the 2006/07 campaign.

In the summer of 2007 Mark joined Kent League Deal along with his former Margate, Gravesend and Folkestone team-mate Paul Lamb. He made 45 appearances (one as sub) and scored four goals during 2007/08 before signing for Isthmian League side Whitstable in August 2008 aged 37.

Whitstable's manager Marc Seager told www.kentishfootball.co.uk "He's had a great career, he's a great player (and) he knows his legs won't last forever...but I feel he can improve us...and gives us something that we haven't got." In February 2009 Seager told the same website that Mark was "a Kent football legend" and Mark himself told the site that he was considering moving into management at some stage.

Shortly after the end of the 2008/09 season Mark got his wish when he replaced Seager and became Whitstable's new player-manager. He'd made 38 appearances during 2008/09 and scored three goals. By then he'd played well over 900 senior games in his career.

In March 2010 Whitstable sacked Mark with the club bottom of the Isthmian League Division 1 South table. He'd made six league appearances as a player (one as sub) during 2009/10. Whitstable issued a statement which read "The board would like to thank Mark Munday for all his hard work and fully understand the job had not been easy with lots of matches cancelled this season. They wish him well for the future."

In the summer of 2010 Mark rejoined Deal as a player only aged 39 and he became the club's coach for the 2011/12 season.

On 12.5.12 he returned to Hartsdown Park to play in Bill Edwards' testimonial and scored for the Margate side.

During the 2012/13 campaign Mark was coach of Ramsgate's Under-16's side.

SEASON (CLUB)

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1987/88 (TUFC)

23 (56)

17

4

SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 21)

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GR

1R

SEASON (CLUB)

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1988/89 (TUFC)

30 (52)

5

10

SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (20TH OF 22)

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1R

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1997/98 (MFC)

51 (67)

13

22

SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (6TH OF 22)

1R

2R

W

W

     Played and scored in FA Cup 1st Round (16.11.97 - lost 2-1 to Fulham at home). 
     Played and scored in Southern League Cup Final 1st Leg (07.04.98 - beat Redditch United 2-0 at home).
     Played in Southern League Cup Final 2nd Leg (21.04.98 - lost 1-0 at Redditch United). 
     Played in Kent Senior Cup Final (04.05.98 - won 1-0 at Gravesend & Northfleet).

SEASON (CLUB)

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1998/99 (MFC)

42 (50)

4

10

SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (2ND OF 22)

PR

2R

1R

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     Margate promoted to Southern League Premier Division. 
     Played in Southern League Championship Match (09.08.98 - lost at Forest Green on penalties after 1-1 draw).

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1999/00 (MFC)

48 (55)

1

10

SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (3RD OF 22)

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2000/01 (MFC)

43 (50)

3

15

SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (1ST OF 22)

2QR

4R

2R

2R

     Margate promoted to Conference.

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2001/02 (MFC)

40 (53)

7

10

CONFERENCE (8TH OF 22)

4QR

QF

RU

W

     Played (as sub) in Southern League Championship Match (11.08.01 - beat Worcester City on penalties at home after 1-1 draw).

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2002/03 (MFC)

3 (52)

8

1

CONFERENCE (10TH OF 22)

2R

5R

W

     Played (as sub) in FA Cup 1st Round (16.11.02 - drew 1-1 at Leyton Orient).
     Played (as sub) in FA Cup 1st Round replay (26.11.02 - beat Leyton Orient 1-0 at 'home' (Crabble)). 
     Played (as sub) in FA Cup 2nd Round (07.12.02 - lost 3-0 to Cardiff City at 'home' (Crabble)).