Mark Kendall
Encyclopedia
Mark Kendall was a Welsh
footballer who played as a goalkeeper
. He represented his country at schoolboy, youth and Under-21 level.
, joined Tottenham Hotspur
as an apprentice in March 1975, aged 16. He signed professional forms in July 1976, and went on to make his league debut on 4 November 1978 in a 2-2 draw at Norwich
.
However, although he spent four seasons with Spurs, he never managed to make the goalkeeper's position his own. His final full season on the club's books saw him spend a nine-game loan period at Division 3
Chesterfield
.
He signed for Newport County
then of Division 3 for a club record £45,000 in September 1980 during the most successful period in the clubs long history. Kendall was part of the team that won promotion and the Welsh Cup
and in the subsequent season reached the quarter-final of the 1981 European Cup Winners Cup.
He left Newport as they headed for relegation to Division 4, for Wolverhampton Wanderers
in January 1986 . Upon joining, Wolves were languishing in the fourth tier, but Kendall became an ever-present part of the side that went on to win back-to-back promotions and lift the Football League Trophy
at Wembley. His tally of 28 clean sheets during a season (set in 1987/88
) is a club record.
The goalkeeper returned to his native Wales after 4 years at Molineux
, joining Swansea City
in Summer 1990. He won a second Welsh Cup
of his career, but was largely only a back-up goalkeeper during his time with the Swans. He played in the European Cup Winners Cup tie against Monaco
in 1991 when the rules stated that teams could only field 3 foreigners and Swansea had to find 12 Welshmen among their players, the second leg ending in a 0-8 defeat.
His two seasons with the club saw him play 12 league games, a spell which also saw him loaned out to Burnley
to gain playing time. However, after keeping a clean sheet in his first appearance for the Clarets, he conceded 5 (at Blackpool
) in his second which saw his loan ended.
Kendall retired from professional football aged 34 and became a police officer in the Gwent constabulary. He moved into training in 2003 and was named national police trainer of the year in 2007. He came out of playing retirement in 2000 though, and made a further Welsh Premier League appearance as he played for Cwmbran against Barry Town
, who fielded his son Lee in goal.
On 1 May 2008, Kendall collapsed and died at his home, aged 49.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. He represented his country at schoolboy, youth and Under-21 level.
Biography
Kendall, a goalkeeperGoalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
, joined Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
as an apprentice in March 1975, aged 16. He signed professional forms in July 1976, and went on to make his league debut on 4 November 1978 in a 2-2 draw at Norwich
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
However, although he spent four seasons with Spurs, he never managed to make the goalkeeper's position his own. His final full season on the club's books saw him spend a nine-game loan period at Division 3
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
.
He signed for Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
then of Division 3 for a club record £45,000 in September 1980 during the most successful period in the clubs long history. Kendall was part of the team that won promotion and the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
and in the subsequent season reached the quarter-final of the 1981 European Cup Winners Cup.
He left Newport as they headed for relegation to Division 4, for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in January 1986 . Upon joining, Wolves were languishing in the fourth tier, but Kendall became an ever-present part of the side that went on to win back-to-back promotions and lift the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
at Wembley. His tally of 28 clean sheets during a season (set in 1987/88
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
) is a club record.
The goalkeeper returned to his native Wales after 4 years at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, joining Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in Summer 1990. He won a second Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
of his career, but was largely only a back-up goalkeeper during his time with the Swans. He played in the European Cup Winners Cup tie against Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
in 1991 when the rules stated that teams could only field 3 foreigners and Swansea had to find 12 Welshmen among their players, the second leg ending in a 0-8 defeat.
His two seasons with the club saw him play 12 league games, a spell which also saw him loaned out to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
to gain playing time. However, after keeping a clean sheet in his first appearance for the Clarets, he conceded 5 (at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
) in his second which saw his loan ended.
Kendall retired from professional football aged 34 and became a police officer in the Gwent constabulary. He moved into training in 2003 and was named national police trainer of the year in 2007. He came out of playing retirement in 2000 though, and made a further Welsh Premier League appearance as he played for Cwmbran against Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
, who fielded his son Lee in goal.
On 1 May 2008, Kendall collapsed and died at his home, aged 49.