Mark Gleeson
Encyclopedia
Mark Gleeson is a rugby league
player from Wigan
, Greater Manchester
, England
. He is currently contracted to Halifax
until the end of the NL1 2008 season. His brother is the rugby league footballer Martin Gleeson
.
Like Martin he spent seven years of his junior career in Australia after emigrating with his family aged 8, and signed for the Wolves Academy, featuring in their 1999 under-19 Grand Final team against Leeds. Briefly returned to Australia to play in Cairns, Queensland,
Gleeson won Sky's Man of the Match award on full debut against champions Bradford in 2001. Gleeson re-signed for Warrington when Paul Cullen took over as coach in time for the 2003 season. He made his England debut against France at Headingley in 2005.
In July 2008, Mark was released from his contract at Warrington Wolves
and opted to sign for National League One side Halifax
, after his contract with Featherstone Rovers
fell through. Mark was enveiled as Halifax's new signing during halftime in their match against Leigh Centurions
which was shown live on Sky Sports.
On 14 August 2008, just one month after Gleeson signed for 'Fax, he signed a new and improved contract until the end of the 2009 season.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player from Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He is currently contracted to Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
until the end of the NL1 2008 season. His brother is the rugby league footballer Martin Gleeson
Martin Gleeson
Martin Gleeson is an English professional rugby league footballer, who plays for Hull in the Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative , and /, he previously played for Wigan Warriors, Huddersfield Giants, St. Helens and Warrington...
.
Like Martin he spent seven years of his junior career in Australia after emigrating with his family aged 8, and signed for the Wolves Academy, featuring in their 1999 under-19 Grand Final team against Leeds. Briefly returned to Australia to play in Cairns, Queensland,
Gleeson won Sky's Man of the Match award on full debut against champions Bradford in 2001. Gleeson re-signed for Warrington when Paul Cullen took over as coach in time for the 2003 season. He made his England debut against France at Headingley in 2005.
In July 2008, Mark was released from his contract at Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
and opted to sign for National League One side Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
, after his contract with Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
fell through. Mark was enveiled as Halifax's new signing during halftime in their match against Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
which was shown live on Sky Sports.
On 14 August 2008, just one month after Gleeson signed for 'Fax, he signed a new and improved contract until the end of the 2009 season.