Player Database: Mark Prudhoe

By: Myk Simons
Date: 02/07/2006

Well travelled Goalkeeper whose footballing career stretched from 1981 to 2004. Prudhoe came through the ranks at Sunderland in the 81/82 season making 7 appearances for the Black Cats and 3 appearances on loan at Hartlepool United before leaving Roker Park in September 1984 to join Birmingham City for £22,000.

Prudhoe's time at St Andrews was not successful and he was used as a reserve keeper playing only five times until moving to Walsall in February 1986 for the same price that brought him to the Brummies.

He was to make his next two years in football his busiest yet making 31 appearances for Walsall as well as spending time on loan with Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City and Hartlepool United. Also while contracted at the Bescot Stadium, Prudhoe spent time on loan at Blundell Park signing in March 1987. The keeper made 8 appearances for Grimsby in his loan period, but did not stay on further and was sent back to Walsall.

In December 1987 Carlisle United signed Prudhoe for £10,000 and made him there first choice keeper until moving to northern rivals Darlington in March 1989 also for a fee of £10,000. Prudhoe played over 150 times for the Quakers and then made a £120,000 move to Stoke City in 1993 where he continued as the clubs regular keeper for the next two seasons before dropping to reserve keeper. While at Stoke he moved on loan twice. In September 1994 Prudhoe spent a couple of months with Peterborough United and then in a shock move he spent a month on loan with Premiership giants Liverpool joining forces with Kop keepers David James and Tony Warner. Prudhoe returned to Stoke after failing to grace he Anfield turf and was later sold to Bradford City in 1997 for £70,000 following a 1 week stay on loan at York City.

Prudhoe was part of the Bradford squad which earned promotion to the Premiership and was sub keeper to ex Manchester United and Middlesbrough stopper Gary Walsh. After one month as Bradford's Premiership third choice keeper Prudhoe was loaned to his former club Darlington, where he failed to make an appearance, and on his return he was released from The Bantams squad and joined Division 3 side Southend United on a free transfer.

Prudhoe stayed the entire 1999/2000 season at Roots Hall playing only 6 times. Mark stayed with Southend for the start of the following season and then departed in October. His next contract did not come for the rest of that season and he was not back in football until he was given a short term deal by former club Bradford City in the 2001/2002 season. Prudhoe moved to Macclesfield Town at the start of the 2003/2004 season on a non-contract basis before deciding to retire from the professional game.

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