Marc Tierney

{{distinguish|text = the English Catholic historian Mark Aloysius Tierney, or Mark Tierney of New Zealand band Strawpeople}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Marc Tierney

| image = MarcTierney.jpg

| upright = 0.9

| caption = Tierney at Carrow Road in 2012

| fullname = Marc Peter Tierney{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 | year = 2009 | publisher = Mainstream Publishing | isbn = 978-1-84596-474-0}}

| height = 1.83 m

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|8|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Prestwich, England

| position = Left-back

| youthyears1 = {{0|000}}?–2003 | youthclubs1 = Oldham Athletic

| years1 = 2003–2007 | clubs1 = Oldham Athletic | caps1 = 37 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2004–2005 | clubs2 = → Carlisle United (loan) | caps2 = 10 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2007–2009 | clubs3 = Shrewsbury Town | caps3 = 79 | goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2008–2009 | clubs4 = → Colchester United (loan) | caps4 = 6 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2009–2011 | clubs5 = Colchester United | caps5 = 74 | goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2011–2013 | clubs6 = Norwich City | caps6 = 34 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2013–2015 | clubs7 = Bolton Wanderers | caps7 = 8 | goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 248 | totalgoals = 2

}}

Marc Peter Tierney (born 23 August 1985) is an English former professional footballer. Predominantly a left-back, Tierney could play in other positions, such as centre-back.{{cite web|title=Town Sign Young Left-Sided Player |work=Shrewsbury Town Official Website |url=http://www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10443~965458,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805180834/http://www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10443~965458,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |access-date=17 January 2007 }} His brother Paul is also a retired professional footballer.

A graduate of the Oldham Athletic Academy where he made his debut in 2003, he has also played for Carlisle United, Shrewsbury Town, Colchester United, Norwich City, and Bolton Wanderers.

Club career

Born in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, Tierney rose through the youth ranks at Oldham Athletic, making his professional debut for Oldham in a League Cup match in August of the 2003–04 season, against Scunthorpe United. In December 2004 he went to Carlisle United on loan for a three-month spell under Paul Simpson.

In January 2007, Tierney was signed by Shrewsbury Town in a two-and-a-half-year deal. He was a regular in the Shrewsbury side during the closing months of the 2006–07 season, as Town reached the League Two playoff final at Wembley. Notably, Tierney was sent off in the dying minutes of that game, making him only the second player to suffer this fate at the new stadium, and meaning he would miss the first game of the 2007–08 season.

In spite of Shrewsbury's disappointing 2007–08 season, Tierney enjoyed excellent personal form. His consistently dependable performances earned him both the fans' and players' player of the year awards.{{cite news | title=Tierney celebrates double award| work=BBC Sport| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/shrewsbury/7374634.stm| access-date=25 May 2008 | date=30 April 2008}}

=Colchester United=

On 27 November 2008 Tierney joined Colchester United on an initial five-week loan.{{cite web|title=Tierney Makes Two |work=Colchester United Official Website |url=http://www.cu-fc.com/page/News/0,,10424~1468990,00.html |access-date=27 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308143309/http://www.cu-fc.com/page/News/0%2C%2C10424~1468990%2C00.html |archive-date=8 March 2012 }} The move was made permanent in the January transfer window.{{cite news | title=Tierney makes U's move permanent | work=BBC Sport | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/colchester_united/7808209.stm| access-date=2 January 2009 | date=2 January 2009}} Tierney received his 1st red card against former employers Oldham.

=Norwich City=

On 12 January 2011, Tierney signed for Championship side Norwich City{{cite web|url=http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~2264941,00.html |title=Tierney poised to join City |date=12 January 2011 |publisher=canaries.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116000018/http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0%2C%2C10355~2264941%2C00.html |archive-date=16 January 2011 }} and was handed the number 32 shirt. The move came despite Tierney saying he would not move to Norwich "in a million years".{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/9360168.stm|title=Norwich City snap up Colchester defender Marc Tierney|date=14 January 2011|publisher=bbc.co.uk|access-date=14 January 2011}} He made his debut for The Canaries against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park as a substitute for Adam Drury in a 0–0 draw, and made his first start in the 2–1 win over Millwall at Carrow Road. Once Norwich had completed promotion he joined in with the mass celebrations by doing numerous cartwheels on the pitch. He repeated a similar celebration during a pre-season friendly against Real Zaragoza when two of the floodlights failed after a lightning strike to "entertain the fans". Tierney was given squad number 23 ahead of the 2011–12 Premier League season and started on the opening day of the season. He was the only player to start the first 6 games of the season, establishing himself as first choice left back. He is affectionately known as "Mad Marc" by the Norwich fans. Tierney continued his run in the team, starting all of the games up to Christmas until a serious injury ruled him out for the rest of the season of what was an impressive season for the team. At the end of the 2012–13 season, it was announced Tierney was not to be given a new contract, allowing him to look for other clubs on a free transfer.

=Bolton Wanderers=

Following his release from Norwich City, Bolton Wanderers announced that Tierney would be joining the club when his contract with Norwich expired on 30 June 2013.{{cite web|title=Tierney deal agreed|url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/tierney-deal-agreed-30.5.13-845274.aspx?|work=www.bwfc.co.uk|publisher=Bolton Wanderers|access-date=30 May 2013}} He made his debut for Bolton in their 1–1 draw with Lancashire rivals Burnley on 3 August 2013.{{cite web | title=Burnley 1 Bolton 1| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23474674 | publisher=BBC Sport | date=3 August 2013 | access-date=10 August 2013}} Tierney established himself as Bolton's first choice left-back before suffering an ankle injury in the club's 1–1 draw with Yeovil Town at the Reebok Stadium meaning a lengthy spell on the sidelines.{{cite web|title=Marc Tierney's good injury news for Bolton Wanderers|url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/10740468.Marc_Tierney_s_good_injury_news_for_Bolton_Wanderers/|work=www.theboltonnews.co.uk|date=16 October 2013 |publisher=The Bolton News|access-date=16 October 2013}}

=Retirement=

On 23 April 2015, Tierney announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29 after failing to recover from his ankle injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32428872|title=Bolton full-back forced to retire aged 29|publisher=BBC Sport|date=23 April 2015}}

As at February 2025 he was Director of Football at Altrincham FC.

International career

Aside from England, Tierney is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland national team. His brother Paul has previously represented Republic of Ireland at U21 level.{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}} Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli were reported to have been keeping an eye on him ahead of Ireland's participation in UEFA Euro 2012.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/1124/ireland_norwich.html |title=Trap' keeping tabs on Norwich trio |date=24 November 2011 |access-date=24 November 2011 |work=RTÉ Sport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126185457/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/1124/ireland_norwich.html |archive-date=26 November 2011 }}

Personal life

Marc is the brother of former Livingston player Paul Tierney.{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/salford-born-bolton-defender-marc-tierney-9106099|title=Salford-born Bolton defender Marc Tierney forced to announce retirement |date=23 April 2015 |publisher=Manchester Evening News}} He is now Director of Football at Altrincham FC.{{cite web|url=http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/news.htm#250215resu |title=Alty Files }}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Europe !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite news \|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=35713 \|title=Marc Tierney Career Stats \|publisher=Soccerbase \|date=20 October 2010 \|access-date=20 October 2010}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="6"\|Oldham Athletic	2002–03	rowspan="2"\|Division Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003–04	\|2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
2004–05	rowspan="3"\|League One	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
2005–06	9	0	3	0	1	0	0	0	23	0
2006–07	\|5	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	7	0
colspan="2"\|Total !37	0	4	0	3	0	0	0	44	0
Carlisle United (loan)	\|2004–05	\|Conference National	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
rowspan="4"\|Shrewsbury Town	2006–07	rowspan="3"\|League Two	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
2007–08	\|43	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	46	1
2008–09	\|18	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	20	0
colspan="2"\|Total !79	1	2	0	3	0	0	0	84	1
Colchester United (loan)	2008–09	League One	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
rowspan="4"\|Colchester United	2008–09	rowspan="3"\|League One	20	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	1
2009–10	\|41	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	44	0
2010–11	\|13	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	15	0
colspan="2"\|Total !74	1	4	0	1	0	0	0	79	1
rowspan="4"\|Norwich City	2010–11	rowspan=1\|Championship	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
2011–12	rowspan="2"\|Premier League	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
2012–13	1	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
colspan="2"\|Total !33	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	33	0
Bolton Wanderers	2013–14	Championship	8	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	9	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !240	2	10	0	7	0	0	0	251	2

Does not include Football League Trophy appearances.

Honours

Norwich City{{cite web|url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerTheChampionship.html |title=Tier Two (Championship) Honours |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk}}