Mark Bright
Encyclopedia
Mark Abraham Bright is a former English
footballer who is now a sports pundit and BBC London
's sport presenter, as well as a coach at Crystal Palace
.
He made the move from non-league Leek Town
to Port Vale
in 1981, where he remained for three years before he signed with Leicester City
. In 1986 he transferred to Crystal Palace
, where he would score 92 league goals over the next six years. Joining Sheffield Wednesday
in 1992, he stayed with the club for five years before moving to Swiss side FC Sion
in 1997, following a short loan stay at Millwall
. He returned to England later in 1997 to play for Charlton Athletic
, before he announced his retirement in 1999. A forward, he scored 167 goals in 463 league games throughout an eighteen year career in the Football League
.
, Bright moved to Port Vale
in October 1981. He made his full debut in a 2–0 home win over Torquay United
, two weeks after coming on as a substitute in a goalless home draw with York City
on 1 May 1982. He had earned a regular first team spot by April 1984 and scored in five successive matches, which brought him to the attention of bigger clubs. Graham Barnett
advised him to reject John Rudge
's offer of a two year contract, and in June 1984 Bright was sold to Leicester City
for £33,333. This fee was later doubled due to a top-up clause.
He was then signed on loan to Crystal Palace
by manager Steve Coppell
, where he made his name as a striker throughout the most successful years the club has ever known. It was Bright's goals, along with those of strike partner Ian Wright
that took Palace back into the top flight at the end of the decade.
'Brighty' earned the Golden Boot for the highest scorer in the Second Division
in 1987–88 with 24 goals. His efforts in the following season, in which he played every match, took him past his half century of league goals for the club. His 12 goals in the First Division
in 1989–90 were an important part of Palace's creditable showing, it was Bright's crashing drive at the start of the second-half that began Palace's recovery against Liverpool
in the FA Cup
semi-final and ultimately helped them to get to the final
.
As Palace impressed in Division One throughout 1990–91 Bright proved his supreme predatory skills at the highest level with a sequence of seven top-flight goals in just ten midwinter games as the Eagles secured their highest ever league finish. Even after Ian Wright had left the club Bright continued his great form for Palace, and his 17 Division One goals in 1991–92 was, at the time, a record return for a Palace striker in the top-flight.
Bright left Palace for Sheffield Wednesday
in September 1992 in a cash plus player exchange deal involving fellow striker Paul Williams
. He eventually became the Owls' highest goalscorer in the Premier League to date, scoring 48 goals between 1992 and 1996. One of his notable goals came in the All-Sheffield
FA Cup semi-final in 1993, Bright's extra-time header sealing a place in the Final
. Bright fared far less well in the final itself, controversially elbowing Arsenal
defender Andy Linighan
in the face, causing a broken nose. Later, with the scores level in the last minute of extra time, a heavily bandaged Linighan outjumped Bright from a corner to score the winning goal, securing the Cup Double for Arsenal.
He was later loaned to Millwall
before joining Swiss
club FC Sion
in January 1997. He finished his career with Charlton Athletic
in 1999 after helping the club reach the Premier League the previous year, playing in their dramatic win over Sunderland
in the 1998 play off final, which was won 7–6 on penalties after a 4–4 draw.
. He currently works on the BBC
show Football Focus
. He also commentates on some international matches, often alongside Jonathan Pearce
and Steve Wilson
on Match of the Day
. He is also the sports correspondent for BBC London
News. In summer 2009 he joined the Crystal Palace academy set-up, along with his former teammate John Salako
.
Bright has completed six half marathon
s since his retirement in 1999, all of them in the Great North Run
. He is also a regular competitor in the London Marathon
, raising funds for cancer research
in 2000, the Willow Foundation
in 2005 and The Rhys Daniels Trust in 2006. In 2006 he starred in Cirque de Celebrité
, only to be the first person to be voted off. He also scored the first goal at the new Wembley Stadium
for a "Geoff Thomas Foundation Charity XI", in aid of his captain at Palace, Geoff Thomas
a match which his team won 2–0 (Simon Jordan
scoring the second goal) in March 2007.
and his mother was English, he was raised in his mother's hometown of Stoke-on-Trent
.
He met British singer and actress Michelle Gayle
in 1995, the couple later married in Vegas and in 2001 had a son they named Isiah. They separated in 2007, though remain on good terms.
In his spare time he enjoys playing golf
(a common feature of ex-footballers) and riding motorbike
s.
with Crystal Palace
with Sheffield Wednesday
with Charlton Athletic
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who is now a sports pundit and BBC London
BBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...
's sport presenter, as well as a coach at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
.
He made the move from non-league Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in 1981, where he remained for three years before he signed with Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
. In 1986 he transferred to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, where he would score 92 league goals over the next six years. Joining Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in 1992, he stayed with the club for five years before moving to Swiss side FC Sion
FC Sion
FC Sion is a Swiss football team from the city of Sion. The club was founded in 1909, and play their home games at the Stade Tourbillon. They have won the Swiss Super League twice, and the Swiss Cup in each of their twelve appearances in the final, the most recent being in 2011.The first team also...
in 1997, following a short loan stay at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
. He returned to England later in 1997 to play for Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, before he announced his retirement in 1999. A forward, he scored 167 goals in 463 league games throughout an eighteen year career in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Football career
After a spell at Leek TownLeek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
, Bright moved to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in October 1981. He made his full debut in a 2–0 home win over Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, two weeks after coming on as a substitute in a goalless home draw with York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
on 1 May 1982. He had earned a regular first team spot by April 1984 and scored in five successive matches, which brought him to the attention of bigger clubs. Graham Barnett
Graham Barnett
Graham Barnett is a former English footballer who played as an inside-forward.He began his career with Port Vale in 1956, before he was sold on to Tranmere Rovers four years later. In 1961 he signed with Halifax Town, before he emigrated to Australia the following year so as to play for South...
advised him to reject John Rudge
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
's offer of a two year contract, and in June 1984 Bright was sold to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
for £33,333. This fee was later doubled due to a top-up clause.
He was then signed on loan to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
by manager Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
, where he made his name as a striker throughout the most successful years the club has ever known. It was Bright's goals, along with those of strike partner Ian Wright
Ian Wright
Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a retired English footballer turned television and radio personality.Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, spending six years with the former and seven years with the latter. With Arsenal he has lifted the Premier League title and both major...
that took Palace back into the top flight at the end of the decade.
'Brighty' earned the Golden Boot for the highest scorer in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 1987–88 with 24 goals. His efforts in the following season, in which he played every match, took him past his half century of league goals for the club. His 12 goals in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1989–90 were an important part of Palace's creditable showing, it was Bright's crashing drive at the start of the second-half that began Palace's recovery against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final and ultimately helped them to get to the final
1990 FA Cup Final
The 1990 FA Cup Final was a football match contested by Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium, London, England. The match finished 3–3 after extra time. Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes scored for United; Gary O'Reilly and Ian Wright for Palace...
.
As Palace impressed in Division One throughout 1990–91 Bright proved his supreme predatory skills at the highest level with a sequence of seven top-flight goals in just ten midwinter games as the Eagles secured their highest ever league finish. Even after Ian Wright had left the club Bright continued his great form for Palace, and his 17 Division One goals in 1991–92 was, at the time, a record return for a Palace striker in the top-flight.
Bright left Palace for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in September 1992 in a cash plus player exchange deal involving fellow striker Paul Williams
Paul Williams (footballer born 1965)
Paul Anthony Williams is an English former professional footballer who made 300 appearances in the Football League for a variety of clubs. He was capped by England at under-21 and B international level....
. He eventually became the Owls' highest goalscorer in the Premier League to date, scoring 48 goals between 1992 and 1996. One of his notable goals came in the All-Sheffield
Steel City derby
The Steel City Derby is a local derby that takes place between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, the two professional football league teams based in the city of Sheffield, England...
FA Cup semi-final in 1993, Bright's extra-time header sealing a place in the Final
1993 FA Cup Final
The 1993 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley. The original match, played on 15 May 1993 finished 1–1, with Arsenal winning the replay on 20 May; 2–1 after extra-time....
. Bright fared far less well in the final itself, controversially elbowing Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
defender Andy Linighan
Andy Linighan
Andrew "Andy" Linighan is a former English football player.Linighan was born in Hartlepool into a footballing family – his brothers David and Brian were also professional footballers. He first played for his local side, Hartlepool United, before spells at Leeds United , Oldham Athletic and...
in the face, causing a broken nose. Later, with the scores level in the last minute of extra time, a heavily bandaged Linighan outjumped Bright from a corner to score the winning goal, securing the Cup Double for Arsenal.
He was later loaned to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
before joining Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
club FC Sion
FC Sion
FC Sion is a Swiss football team from the city of Sion. The club was founded in 1909, and play their home games at the Stade Tourbillon. They have won the Swiss Super League twice, and the Swiss Cup in each of their twelve appearances in the final, the most recent being in 2011.The first team also...
in January 1997. He finished his career with Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
in 1999 after helping the club reach the Premier League the previous year, playing in their dramatic win over Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in the 1998 play off final, which was won 7–6 on penalties after a 4–4 draw.
After football
After retiring, Bright became a football correspondent on The Big BreakfastThe Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast was a British light entertainment television show shown on Channel 4 and S4C each weekday morning from 28 September 1992 until 29 March 2002 during which period 2,482 shows were produced. The Big Breakfast was produced by Planet 24, the production company co-owned by former...
. He currently works on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
show Football Focus
Football Focus
Football Focus is a BBC television show, broadcast on BBC One on Saturday lunchtimes, covering football, presented from the 2009/2010 season by Dan Walker...
. He also commentates on some international matches, often alongside Jonathan Pearce
Jonathan Pearce
Jonathan Pearce , is a British football commentator for the BBC.Known for his loud, exuberant commentaries, he has worked for both Radio Five Live and Match of the Day, as well as participating in other lower key sports programmes.- Early life and career :Pearce wanted to become a footballer, but...
and Steve Wilson
Steve Wilson (Football commentator)
Steve Wilson is a British football commentator, currently working on the BBC's Match of the Day programme.Wilson previously worked on BBC Radio Five Live and before that at Capital Gold Sport in London where he was number two commentator to now BBC colleague Jonathan Pearce.-Early and personal...
on Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
. He is also the sports correspondent for BBC London
BBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...
News. In summer 2009 he joined the Crystal Palace academy set-up, along with his former teammate John Salako
John Salako
John Salako is an English former professional football player who played for a variety of clubs and has also represented England at senior level. He was a part of the Crystal Palace team which reached the 1990 FA Cup Final. A severe knee injury sustained against Leeds United in 1991 put him out...
.
Bright has completed six half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
s since his retirement in 1999, all of them in the Great North Run
Great North Run
The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...
. He is also a regular competitor in the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
, raising funds for cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
in 2000, the Willow Foundation
Willow Foundation
The Willow Foundation is a national charity established in 1999 by Arsenal footballer Bob Wilson and his wife Megs in memory of their daughter Anna. The charity assists some of the estimated 12,500 people in the UK, aged 16–40, who are diagnosed every year with a life-threatening illness...
in 2005 and The Rhys Daniels Trust in 2006. In 2006 he starred in Cirque de Celebrité
Cirque de Celebrité
Cirque de Celebrité was a celebrity reality TV show broadcast on Sky One. The show features celebrities training for and then performing various circus acts. The winner of the 2006 series was Grace Adams-Short....
, only to be the first person to be voted off. He also scored the first goal at the new Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
for a "Geoff Thomas Foundation Charity XI", in aid of his captain at Palace, Geoff Thomas
Geoff Thomas
Geoff Thomas born Manchester, England is a former English footballer, who won nine caps for the full England team and captained Crystal Palace to the FA Cup final in 1990...
a match which his team won 2–0 (Simon Jordan
Simon Jordan
Simon Jordan is an English businessman who made his fortune in the mobile phone industry. In 2000 he purchased Crystal Palace Football Club and remained chairman of the club until they entered administration in early 2010....
scoring the second goal) in March 2007.
Personal life
Bright's father was GambianThe Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
and his mother was English, he was raised in his mother's hometown of Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
.
He met British singer and actress Michelle Gayle
Michelle Gayle
Michelle Patricia Gayle is a British recording artist, actress and author. Gayle had success as a Soul and R&B singer in the 1990s. She achieved seven Top 40 singles in the UK Singles Chart, her two biggest hits to date being "Sweetness" and "Do You Know"...
in 1995, the couple later married in Vegas and in 2001 had a son they named Isiah. They separated in 2007, though remain on good terms.
In his spare time he enjoys playing golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
(a common feature of ex-footballers) and riding motorbike
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s.
Honours
Individual- PFA Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Team of the YearPFA Team of the YearThe Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
: 1987–88 - Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace F.C.Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
Player of The Year: 1990
with Crystal Palace
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
runner-up: 19901990 FA Cup FinalThe 1990 FA Cup Final was a football match contested by Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium, London, England. The match finished 3–3 after extra time. Bryan Robson and Mark Hughes scored for United; Gary O'Reilly and Ian Wright for Palace...
with Sheffield Wednesday
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
runner-up: 19931993 FA Cup FinalThe 1993 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley. The original match, played on 15 May 1993 finished 1–1, with Arsenal winning the replay on 20 May; 2–1 after extra-time....
with Charlton Athletic
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
play-off winner: 1998