Mark Randall (footballer)

Mark Randall
Personal information
Full nameMark Leonard Randall[1]
Date of birth28 September 1989[1]
Place of birthMilton Keynes, England
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Milton Keynes Dons
Number15
Youth career
1999–2005Northampton Town
2001–2007Arsenal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2011Arsenal2(0)
2008→ Burnley (loan)10(0)
2010→ Milton Keynes Dons (loan)16(0)
2010–2011→ Rotherham United (loan)10(1)
2011–2013Chesterfield51(4)
2013–2014Ascoli4(0)
2014–Milton Keynes Dons4(0)
National team
2005–2006England U1712(2)
2006–2008England U189(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:31, 14 August 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Mark Leonard Randall (born 28 September 1989 in Milton Keynes) is an English professional footballer who plays for Milton Keynes Dons. Randall spent his formative footballing years at Arsenal where he was touted by manager Arsène Wenger as a key Arsenal player for the future.[2] He was released at the end of his contract in 2011 and subsequently joined Chesterfield, where he won the Football League Trophy.

Career

Arsenal

Randall signed for Arsenal on schoolboy forms and played seven matches in the Premier Reserve League in 2005–06. Randall was also the only player in the team to play all 18 reserve team fixtures in the 2007–08 season. He played in Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial against Ajax Amsterdam in July 2006, and in the club's pre-season tour of Austria and the Netherlands. He made his first-team debut as a substitute for Denílson in Arsenal's League Cup third-round match against West Bromwich Albion on 24 October 2006.[3] He also played in Arsenal's fourth-round match against Everton on 8 November 2006,[4] again coming on for Denílson, and was on the bench for their quarter-final against Liverpool, but did not play in that match.

2006–07 season and 2007–08 season

On 8 February 2007, he signed his first professional contract with Arsenal,[5] and in the summer of 2007 took part in Arsenal's annual first-team pre-season training camp in Austria.[5] However, he was out of the side for the first few months of the 2007–08 season after suffering an injury in Arsenal Reserves' opening Premier Reserve League match of the season, against Fulham in late August, but made his first start for Arsenal in the League Cup quarter-final against Blackburn Rovers on 18 December 2007,[6][7] and also made his second appearance in the competition as a last-minute substitute in the first leg of the semi-finals against Tottenham Hotspur.[8][9]

Randall signed for Burnley on loan, on 31 January 2008,"Burnley capture Arsenal teenager". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014. the last day of the transfer window and made 10 league appearances for the Championship club.[10] He returned to Arsenal following the end of the Championship season on 4 May and went on to make his Premier League debut against Sunderland on 11 May in Arsenal's final match of the season. He came on as an 81st-minute substitute and having a goal disallowed in the final moments of the match.[11]

2008–09 season

After playing in much of Arsenal's pre-season campaign for 2008–09, Randall made his European debut in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round match away to FC Twente on 13 August 2008, coming on as a substitute for Theo Walcott in the 84th minute.[12] He also played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal's 6–0 League Cup third round victory over Sheffield United on 23 September, where he set up Arsenal's fifth goal, scored by Jack Wilshere and in the 3–0 win over Wigan Athletic, as well as starting in the defeat to Burnley at the quarter final stage.[13][14] He made UEFA Champions League debut on 10 December in the 2–0 defeat to F.C. Porto replacing Alexandre Song.[15]

2009–10 season

At the start of the season, a loan was agreed, in principle, for Randall to move to Championship side Derby County on a season-long loan,[16] though the club declined to sign the player after he failed to impress on trial.[17]

Randall was involved in Arsenal's win over West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup after replacing Francis Coquelin on 58 minutes and indirectly assisted Carlos Vela when his attempted lob from outside the box struck the bar.[18]

On 15 January, Randall signed on loan for Milton Keynes Dons until the end of the season.[19] He scored his first goal for Milton Keynes Dons in the 3–1 Football League Trophy second leg semi final loss to Southampton.[20]

2010–11 season

Randall was once again sent on loan for the 2010–11 season, this time to a League Two side in Rotherham United. After playing just 21 minutes on his Rotherham debut against Southend United, Randall was sidelined with a broken collarbone. This injury kept him out of the team until the New Year's Day clash against Port Vale in which Randall scored his only goal for the Millers. At the end of his loan spell he returned to Arsenal where his contract was not renewed, signalling the end of his Arsenal career.

Chesterfield

Randall completed a move to League One's Chesterfield on a one-year contract during the summer of 2011. Upon signing he stated this it was a move in which he intended to use to rebuild his career and fulfil his potential after growing dissillusioned with life at Arsenal and disheartening loan spells. Manager John Sheridan stated that Randall possesses great potential that he hopes will be fulfilled at the club.

He impressed when scoring his first goal and for Chesterfield in a 3–1 win over Notts County on 4 October 2011 in the Football League Trophy. His time at Chesterfield has largely been dogged by niggling injuries, including wrist and shoulder afflictions that have interrupted his runs in the team. However, in the Football League Trophy Final on 25 March 2012, he came on as a substitute as Chesterfield defeated Swindon Town 2–0, setting up the second goal with an incisive pass. He went on to appear in the subsequent games, impressing as Chesterfield's form drastically improved, although by that time relegation was already all-but-confirmed. He was offered a new one-year contract by the club in May 2012.[21] After failing to agree a new contract with Chesterfield, Randall left the club on 1 July 2013 after his contract expired.[22]

Ascoli

On 10 September 2013 it was announced that Randall had signed a two-year contract with Italian side Ascoli. He made his debut on 22 September 2013 versus L'Aquila. On his first start for the club Randall assisted three goals and was the man of the match.

Milton Keynes Dons

On 8 March 2014, Milton Keynes Dons announced that Randall had agreed to join the club until the end of the season, subject to international clearance.[23] On 14 March, Randall completed his move to the Dons after receiving international clearance.
[24]

On 6 June 2014, Milton Keynes Dons announced that Mark has agreed a one-year deal which will keep him at Stadium MK until the summer of 2015, with the option of a further 12 months.[25]

Style of play

Randall is a midfielder. He plays primarily as a central midfielder but can also play as advanced playmaking midfielder.[26][27] He is noted for his composure on the ball and his passing abilities.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. ↑ Wenger - Randall still has a chance here, Arsenal.com, accessed 9 January 2013.
  3. ↑ West Brom 0–2 Arsenal, bbc.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008.
  4. ↑ Everton 0–1 Arsenal, bbc.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Randall signs professional terms with Arsenal, arsenal.com, accessed 14 August 2008.
  6. ↑ Blackburn 2–3 Arsenal (aet), bbc.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008.
  7. ↑ Arsene Wenger’s conveyor belt of talent shows no sign of slowing down, timesonline.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008.
  8. ↑ Arsenal lucky against Spurs, skysports.com, accessed 14 August 2008.
  9. ↑ Arsenal 1–1 Tottenham, bbc.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2008.
  10. ↑ Games played by Mark Randall in 2007/2008, Soccerbase, accessed 3 March 2014.
  11. ↑ Walcott wins it for Gunners, skysports.com, accessed 14 August 2008.
  12. ↑ FC Twente 0–2 Arsenal, arsenal.com, accessed 14 August 2008.
  13. ↑ – Arsenal 3–0 Wigan , BBC Sport, accessed 12 December 2008.
  14. ↑ – Burnley 2-0 Arsenal , BBC Sport, accessed 12 December 2008.
  15. ↑ "Minute-by-minute". uefa.com. 10 December 2008. Archived from the original on 19 December 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Randall loan agreed in principal with Gunners". Derby Telegraph. 22 July 2009.
  17. ↑ "Clough turns down Randall loan chance". Derby Telegraph. 28 July 2009.
  18. ↑ Arsenal 2–0 W.B.A, arsenal.com, accessed 7 October 2009.
  19. ↑ Mark Randall joins Milton Keynes Dons on loan, arsenal.com, accessed 15 January 2010.
  20. ↑ "Southampton 3 – 1 MK Dons (agg 4 – 1)". BBC. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  21. ↑ "Spireites issue retained list". Chesterfield Post. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  22. ↑ "Randall exits club". Chesterfield FC. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  23. ↑ "Randall agrees Dons move" MK Dons. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "Randall completes Dons move". Milton Keynes Dons FC. 14 March 2014.
  25. ↑ "http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/randall-remains-a-don-1617581.aspx". Milton Keynes Dons FC. 6 June 2014.
  26. ↑ "burnleyfootballclub.com profile". Burnley F.C. Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  27. ↑ mkdons.com profile, Mark Randall, accessed 3 June 2010

External links