Mark Greaves
# Mark Greaves

Mark Andrew Greaves (born 22 January 1975) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.

During his career he most notably played in the Football League for Hull City where he played from 1996 until 2002, he then joined Boston United during their time in professional football and managed to chalk up a combined total of 335 games for both teams. Greaves dropped in to Non-League football when he joined Burton Albion in 2007 and went on to feature for York City and Gainsborough Trinity before initially retiring with North Ferriby United in 2011. During the 2015–16 season he briefly came out of retirement and played for Hull United.

## Career

### Hull City

Born in Kingston upon Hull, Humberside, Greaves started his career at Brigg Town, where he won an FA Vase winners medal before joining hometown club Hull City on 17 June 1996. He was named Hull's Player of the Year in the 1999–2000 season. He spent his whole Hull career playing in the Third Division and made 204 appearances and scored 12 goals in all competitions before being released in 2002.

### Boston United

He was signed by Boston United caretaker manager Neil Thompson in August 2002. He signed a new two-year contract with the club in April 2004 and after this expired he agreed to a one-year deal in May 2006.

### Burton Albion

He made 175 appearances and scored five goals in all competitions for the side before moving to Burton Albion in the Conference Premier in July 2007 after finishing the 2006–07 season as Boston's Player of the Year, which saw the team face two relegations. He made 46 appearances and scored five goals in the 2007–08 season but missed the play-offs due to a broken jaw.

### York City

He was released after a season at Burton and joined fellow Conference Premier side York City on 14 May 2008. He was appointed as club captain for the 2008–09 season. His debut came in a 1–0 victory against Crawley Town and scored the only goal in the subsequent game against Wrexham. Greaves suffered from foodborne illness in September, which resulted in him losing 9 pounds, and missing York's match against Kidderminster Harriers. He scored a 94th-minute equaliser against Mansfield in the Conference League Cup third round on 4 November, which York eventually won 4–2 on a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw after extra time. He started in the 2009 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, which York lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough. Following the end of the season, during which he made 46 appearances and scored four goals, he entered negotiations with York over a new contract.

### Gainsborough Trinity

Greaves was eventually released by York in June and signed for Conference North team Gainsborough Trinity on 7 July. He made 37 appearances and scored one goal in the 2009–10 season and he signed a new contract with the club in June 2010.

### North Ferriby United

Greaves was among a number of players released by Gainsborough at the end of the 2010–11 season and on 28 June 2011 he signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division side North Ferriby United. In October, having made 11 appearances in all competitions for North Ferriby, Greaves announced his retirement as a footballer.

### Hull United

On 30 January 2015, he returned to the game, joining Humber Premier League outfit Hull United.

## Personal life

Greaves is the father of fellow footballer Jacob Greaves.

## Career statistics

Club statistics :

| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Hull City | 1996–97 | Third Division | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| Hull City | 1997–98 | Third Division | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| Hull City | 1998–99 | Third Division | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| Hull City | 1999–2000 | Third Division | 38 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 4 |
| Hull City | 2000–01 | Third Division | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| Hull City | 2001–02 | Third Division | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| Hull City | 2002–03 | Third Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Hull City | Total | Total | 177 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 204 | 12 |
| Boston United | 2002–03 | Third Division | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 1 |
| Boston United | 2003–04 | Third Division | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Boston United | 2004–05 | League Two | 22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Boston United | 2005–06 | League Two | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Boston United | 2006–07 | League Two | 39 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 3 |
| Boston United | Total | Total | 158 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 175 | 5 |
| Burton Albion | 2007–08 | Conference Premier | 35 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 46 | 5 |
| York City | 2008–09 | Conference Premier | 35 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 | 46 | 4 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 2009–10 | Conference North | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 2010–11 | Conference North | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | Total | Total | 60 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 67 | 2 |
| North Ferriby United | 2011–12 | NPL Premier Division | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 475 | 25 | 29 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 549 | 28 |

* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in Associate Members' Cup
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
* ↑ Five appearances in FA Trophy, two in Conference League Cup
* ↑ Two appearances and one goal in Conference League Cup, seven appearances in FA Trophy
* ↑ Appearances FA Trophy

## Honours

Brigg Town

* FA Vase: 1995–96

Individual

* Hull City Player of the Year: 1999–2000
* Boton United Player of the Year: 2006–07
