Mark Ian Ellis (born 30 September 1988) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for National League North club Chorley.
He began his career at Bolton Wanderers, and was the last footballer to sign a contract under Sam Allardyce, but without making a senior appearance. He has previously played in the Football league for Crewe Alexandra, Shrewsbury Town, Carlisle United and Tranmere Rovers as well as loan spells in the National League for Forest Green Rovers, Leyton Orient and Notts County and Solihull Moors.
Career Torquay United Ellis was born in Kingsbridge, Devon. He made his debut for Torquay on 22 September 2007, in the Football Conference clash with Kidderminster Harriers, at Aggborough, which ended in a 5–2 win to Torquay. Following the Gulls promotion to the Football League, Ellis began the 2009–10 season on loan at Conference Premier club Forest Green Rovers.
Crewe Alexandra Ellis turned down a new contract at Torquay United to join newly promoted Crewe Alexandra in League One on 27 June 2012. During his time at the club, he was part of the squad that won the 2012–13 Football League Trophy, also notably playing the full match as they beat Southend United 2–0 in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Shrewsbury Town Following his release from Crewe Alexandra, Ellis joined up with Shrewsbury Town on 30 May 2014 on a two-year contract with an option for a further year. He made his debut on the opening day of the season against A.F.C. Wimbledon, but found himself in and out of the starting eleven in the first few months of the season.
Due to the suspension of fellow defender Jermaine Grandison, he was recalled to the starting line-up and scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with local rivals Walsall in a first round FA Cup tie in November 2014. Although Grandison was reinstated for the following match, Ellis was recalled again after his teammate withdrew from the squad with illness against Cambridge United on 13 December. This time he kept his place in the team, helping Shrewsbury keep clean sheets against promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town, and also scoring away at Oxford United in a 2–0 Boxing Day win.
Ellis became a first-team regular in the second half of the season as Shrewsbury were promoted back to League One at the first attempt, finishing as runners-up to Burton Albion. However, in October 2015, he returned to League Two, signing a one-month loan deal with Carlisle United after losing his place to emerging youngster Dominic Smith. Having been ever-present for Carlisle during his initial loan spell, the temporary deal was later extended to 2 January 2016.
Carlisle United At the conclusion of his loan, Ellis signed permanently for Carlisle until summer 2018.
Forest Green Rovers In January 2017, Ellis re-joined Forest Green Rovers on loan until the end of the season. He made his second debut for Forest Green on 28 January 2017 in a 3–2 away win at Barrow. Ellis returned to Carlisle at the end of his loan spell with Rovers.
Leyton Orient On 28 September 2017, Ellis signed on a two-month loan with National League club Leyton Orient. He made his debut two days later in the 2–1 defeat at home to AFC Fylde.
Tranmere Rovers On 21 May 2018 Ellis signed a two-year deal for newly promoted Tranmere after electing not to resign with Carlisle. Ellis ruptured his ACL in April 2019, making his return ten months later in a Cheshire Cup fixture against Crewe Alexandra. He signed a further one-year deal ahead of the 2020-21 season. On 8 March 2021, Ellis joined National League side Notts County on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.
Barrow Ellis signed for Barrow on a two-year deal on 18 June 2021. On 25 January 2022, Ellis joined National League side Solihull Moors on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season. He subsequently re-joined Torquay United on loan in October 2022. In February 2023, he returned to the National League with York City on loan until the end of the season. He was released at the end of the 2022–23 season.
Chorley
Ellis signed for National League North club Chorley on an initial one-year deal on 26 July 2023.https://www.chorleyfc.com/2023/07/26/new-signing-mark-ellis/
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBolton Wanderers2007–08Premier League0000000000Torquay United (loan)2007–08Conference Premier22310~~1Appearance in FA Trophy0243Torquay United2008–09Conference Premier9100~~00912009–10League Two27310001Appearance(s) in Football League / EFL Trophy02932010–11League Two2724010203422011–12League Two35320003One appearance in Football League Trophy and two in League Two play-offs0403Total1201280107013612Forest Green Rovers (loan)2009–10Conference Premier7000~~0070Crewe Alexandra2012–13League One4452120405262013–14League One371100020401Total816312060927Shrewsbury Town2014–15League Two3221110103532015–16League One91001020121Total413201130474Carlisle United (loan)2015–16League Two80200000100Carlisle United (loan)2015–16League Two220310000251Carlisle United2016–17League Two701020201202017–18League Two232102010272Total302204030392Forest Green Rovers (loan)2016–17National League17200~~4Three appearances in National League play-offs and one in FA Trophy0212Leyton Orient (loan)2017–18National League7100~~0071Tranmere Rovers2018–19League Two2602010303202019–20League One32000000322020–21League Two6000003090Total352201060442Notts County (loan)2020–21National League19500~~3Two appearances in National League play-offs and one in FA Trophy1216Barrow2021–22League Two1602020202202022–23League Two0000000000Total160202020220Solihull Moors (loan)2021–22National League7000002090Torquay United (loan)2022–23National League92200010122York City (loan)2022–23National League140000000140Career total 433 35 25 3 12 0 37 1 507 39
Honours Crewe Alexandra Football League Trophy: 2012–13
Shrewsbury Town Football League Two second-place promotion: 2014–15
Individual National League North Team of the Season: 2024–25
References
External links