Mark Leech
{{Short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mark Leech
| image = Mark Leech.jpg
| image_size = 200
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1985|12|9}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| height =
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Belvedere
| years1 = 2003–2004 | clubs1 = UCD | caps1 = 4 | goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2004–2007 | clubs2 = Drogheda United | caps2 = 26 | goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2006 | clubs3 = → Bohemians (loan) | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2007 | clubs4 = → Shelbourne (loan) | caps4 = 30 | goals4 = 12
| years5 = 2008 | clubs5 = Galway United | caps5 = 16 | goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2008 | clubs6 = Shamrock Rovers | caps6 = 14 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2009 | clubs7 = St. Patrick's Athletic | caps7 = 9 | goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2010 | clubs8 = Shelbourne | caps8 = 20 | goals8 = 4
| years9 = 2011–2012 | clubs9 = Southern Stars | caps9 = 33 | goals9 = 11
| years10 = 2013 | clubs10 = Shelbourne | caps10 = 19 | goals10 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2007 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Mark Leech (born 9 December 1985) is an Irish footballer who played for various clubs in the League of Ireland including St Patrick's Athletic, Drogheda and Shamrock Rovers and is the son of former Shamrock Rovers and Republic of Ireland international Mick Leech.
Career
After making a name for himself as an up-and-coming talent at youth level and as part of the FAIS International squad,[http://www.fais.ie/International%20Team%202004.htm FAIS International Squad 2004] www.fais.ie Leech began his senior footballing career after being snapped up by UCD in 2003 for a deferred scholarship while he was still at school.[http://www.ucd.ie/soccer/global/profiles.htm Player Profiles] www.ucd.ie/soccer He played on numerous occasions for the students' Under 21 panel and broke into the UCD first team making limited appearances. Leech scored his only UCD goal against Waterford United at Belfield Park on 22 September 2003 aged just 17.
Leech departed UCD during the 2004 season before he was due to begin his scholarship to sign for Drogheda United in July 2004,[http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2004/07/08/story156022.asp Doolin pulls off double for Drogs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051106171254/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2004/07/08/story156022.asp |date=6 November 2005 }} archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews the club of his former boss at UCD Paul Doolin. He fought his way into the Drogheda United first team with numerous impressive displays for their Under 21 side. As one of the Drogs most impressive young talents, Leech was capped for Republic of Ireland Under 21s for the first time coming on as a second-half substitute in Ireland's 1–0 victory over Sweden at Drogheda's United Park on 28 February 2006.[http://www.droghedaunited.ie/scripts/Article.asp?ArticleID=565 Leech into 21 Squad] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120113320/http://www.droghedaunited.ie/scripts/Article.asp?ArticleID=565 |date=20 November 2007 }} www.droghedaunited.ie[http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0228/under21s.html Ward strikes as Republic sink Sweden] www.rte.ie He further excelled his ever growing profile by scoring an extra-time winner for Drogheda United in the 2006 Setanta Sports Cup Final against Cork City at Tolka Park on 22 April 2006.[http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0422/droghedaunited.html Leech seals Setanta Cup for Drogs] www.rte.ie He was shortly loaned to Bohemians in July 2006 until the end of the season as part of Tony Grant's permanent move in the opposite direction.[http://www.droghedaunited.ie/scripts/Article.asp?ArticleID=767 Tony Grant signs for Drogs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120102255/http://www.droghedaunited.ie/scripts/Article.asp?ArticleID=767 |date=20 November 2007 }} www.droghedaunited.ie
After being transfer listed by Drogheda United at the end of the 2006 season,[http://www.droghedaunited.ie/scripts/Article.asp?ArticleID=930 Club Announcement – Mark Leech] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120091106/http://www.droghedaunited.ie/scripts/Article.asp?ArticleID=930 |date=20 November 2007 }} www.droghedaunited.ie Leech signed for Shelbourne in February 2007 on a season long loan.[http://www.shelbournefc.com/news.php?id=583 Official Squad for 2007] www.shelbournefc.com There was considerable angst for Leech at the start of his Shels career as he was prohibited from playing for Shels by FIFA along with many other Eircom League players due to FIFA's two-club ruling.[http://bohsnews.wordpress.com/2007/03/14/fai-seeks-clearance-for-tied-players/ FAI seeks clearance for tied players] bohsnews.wordpress.com After receiving clearance to play for Shelbourne by FIFA, he made his Shelbourne league debut on 30 March 2007 against Kilkenny City at Buckley Park where he scored on his debut in a 1–1 draw.[http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0330/kilkenny.html Kilkenny City 1–1 Shelbourne]{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} www.rte.ie Leech was a regular figure for Shelbourne during the 2007 season making 32 league and cup appearances and scoring 12 goals making him Shelbourne's top goalscorer for the 2007 season. Leech's loan spell at Shelbourne ended at the end of the 2007 season. He signed for Galway United in December 2007 but his spell at Terryland Park only lasted 6 months.
Leech signed for Shamrock Rovers on 3 July 2008;{{cite web|url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/index-home.php |title=Shamrock Rovers F.C |publisher=Shamrock Rovers |date=17 February 2009 |accessdate=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216060556/http://shamrockrovers.ie/index-home.php |archivedate=16 February 2009 }} he made his Hoops debut the following day as a substitute against Cobh Ramblers.{{cite web|url=http://www.eircomloi.ie/the-divisions/premier-division/match-reports/series-17/series-17-2/index.xml |title=eircom League of ireland – Series 17 |publisher=Eircom League of ireland |date= |accessdate=24 February 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Leech released by Shamrock Rovers at the end of the 2008 season{{cite web |url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/pressrelease.php?subaction=showfull&id=1235402094&archive=&start_from=&ucat=10& |title=Shamrock Rovers Press Release: Transfer update: Four sign for the Hoops |publisher=Shamrock Rovers F.C. |date=23 February 2009 |accessdate=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120913113546/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/pressrelease.php?subaction=showfull&id=1235402094&archive=&start_from=&ucat=10& |archivedate=13 September 2012 }} but he was later signed by St. Patrick's Athletic before the start of the 2009 season. Leech made an impressive start to his Pats career scoring twice in his first four games before suffering a broken leg against Dundalk on 27 March 2009. After a number of months out of action Leech returned to fitness but struggled to regain his position in the Saint's starting XI. He parted company with St. Patrick's Athletic at the end of 2009 and he re-joined former club Shelbourne on 25 March 2010.[http://www.shelbournefc.com/news.php?id=1454 Centre Back & Striker join Shels] www.shelbournefc.com
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927184119/http://www.shelbournefc.ie/players.php?playerid=213 Mark Leech's profile on www.shelbournefc.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225045/http://www.droghedaunited.ie/scripts/Player.asp?PlayerID=39 Mark Leech's profile on www.droghedaunited.ie]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leech, Mark}}
Category:Association footballers from County Dublin
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
Category:Galway United F.C. (1937–2011) players
Category:Shelbourne F.C. players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players
Category:Drogheda United F.C. players
Category:University College Dublin A.F.C. players
Category:Belvedere F.C. players