Marlon Beresford (born 2 September 1969) is an English former professional footballer and current goalkeeping coach at Stevenage.[2] He formerly also worked as an accountancy tutor and sports commentator after retiring from football.

Marlon Beresford
Personal information
Full name Marlon Beresford[1]
Date of birth (1969-09-02) 2 September 1969 (age 55)[1]
Place of birth Lincoln, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Stevenage (goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
000?–1987 Sheffield Wednesday
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1992 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
1989Bury (loan) 1 (0)
1990Northampton Town (loan) 13 (0)
1991Crewe Alexandra (loan) 3 (0)
1991Northampton Town (loan) 15 (0)
1992–1998 Burnley 240 (0)
1998–2002 Middlesbrough 10 (0)
2001Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 4 (0)
2001Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 0 (0)
2002Burnley (loan) 13 (0)
2002 York City 6 (0)
2002–2003 Burnley 34 (0)
2003 Bradford City 5 (0)
2003–2004 Luton Town 11 (0)
2004 Barnsley 14 (0)
2004–2008 Luton Town 105 (0)
2007Oldham Athletic (loan) 5 (0)
2010 Middlesbrough Supporters South 2 (0)
Total 471 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Sheffield Wednesday and early loans

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Born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Beresford started his career in the Sheffield Wednesday youth system. He signed a professional contract in September 1987.[1] While at the Yorkshire club, he was sent out on loan to Bury, Northampton Town twice and Crewe Alexandra.

Burnley

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After failing to break into the Sheffield Wednesday first team, Beresford was sold for a fee of £95,000 to Burnley, and made almost 250 appearances over a six-year period.

Middlesbrough and further loans

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Beresford was signed to provide goalkeeping backup to Mark Schwarzer and kept three clean sheets in his first three games, helping the club to promotion to the Premier League. During the 2001–02 season he was then loaned to Sheffield Wednesday, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley for a second spell.

Later career

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When his contract with Middlesbrough ended, Beresford joined York City on a short-term contract in August 2002,[3] before joining Burnley for the third time, on an initial one month contract in September.[4] Despite doubts over his proficiency, he played a whole season at Burnley. A return to York for the following season fell through due to insurance problems regarding an old back injury.[5] He then signed for Bradford City on a free transfer in September 2003,[6] after which he moved to Luton Town.

Luton Town, Barnsley and Oldham Athletic

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Beresford impressed for Luton, becoming a fans favourite, but an FA-imposed transfer embargo which prevented the Hatters from signing him permanently. When his loan ended he moved to Barnsley but, after Luton came out of administration and had the embargo lifted, he was re-signed for Luton by Mike Newell in 2004.

Beresford played a key role in Luton's League One winning side in 2004–05 – the first time in his career he had picked up a championship winners medal. Due to his experience, he continued making appearances throughout the 2005–06 season and contributed significantly to Luton's respectable finish of 10th place. Beresford also played in the 2006–07 season which saw Luton relegated from the Championship.

Beresford spent a month on loan at Oldham Athletic between 18 October and 18 November 2007. A compromise was then reached with Luton with regard to his contract in 2008 .[7]

Post-playing career

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Marlon spent spells with the IFA as a goalkeeping coach overseeing the development of the Northern Ireland U21 U19 & U17 goalkeepers along with a coaching role at Barnet FC Barnet. He now combines his time with running a very successful accountancy training company in Belfast & Edinburgh along with being a radio summariser for BBC3 Counties following Luton Town and BBC Radio Lancs covering Burnley FC in the Premier League[8]

In 2017 Beresford re-joined Barnet FC as Goalkeeping coach but after only 2 months he teamed up with former teammate Stephen Robinson who was appointed manager and joined Motherwell FC as their full-time Goalkeeping coach.

In the summer of 2022, Beresford joined Woking, before joining Stevenage two years later.[2]

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 57. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. ^ a b "Marlon Beresford". LinkedIn. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Beresford joins York". BBC Sport. 5 August 2002. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  4. ^ Oliver, Pete (6 September 2002). "Beresford back at Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Second York deal falls through".
  6. ^ "Bantams net keeper". BBC Sport. 15 September 2003. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Relegated Luton start clear-out". BBC Sport. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  8. ^ "QPR loan out Hewitt & Borrowdale". BBC News. 30 September 2011.
  9. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 149.
  10. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 150.
  11. ^ "Sunderland/Wigan dominate line-up". BBC Sport. 24 April 2005. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
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