Famous For: The only ex League of Wales football player who has gone on to play for a Premier League club and the Welsh international side.
Trivia: Mark's grandfather Dicky Delaney was an Arsenal reserve during the 1950's
Biography: A key part of Mark Hughes' transformed Wales football side, Mark Delaney has been playing Premiership football since 1999, when he was signed up by the Birmingham side Aston Villa. Before this Mark played at a local level in his home town of Goodwick, before moving on to Carmarthen. His leap to professional football came in 1998 on joining Cardiff City.
Born in Haverfordwest, Mark grew up in the small town of Goodwick in North Pembrokeshire. His parents Michael and Angelina still live there along with with his brother Nigel and his sister Tina - both siblings play football for the local team. Although he's no longer a local resident he still visits Goodwick and during the summer often plays cricket for the local team.
Mark's road to soccer success began at age 13 when he joined the Goodwick United junior squad. He attended one of the Ian Rush tournaments, a regular fixture in the junior footballing calendar which was held in West Wales each year and it was here he was spotted by a talent scout from Manchester United.
This discovery led to his apprenticeship with the 'Red Devils' at Old Trafford, although they decided to let him go at 16 as they thought he was 'too small'.
Mark came home and joined the Goodwick United squad. After completing his education Mark began playing for League of Wales side Carmarthen - where he eventually became team captain.
Delaney became a well-known sporting face in West Wales and in the summer of 1998 Frank Burrows - then manager of Cardiff City FC - approached him with a proposal. At the same time Swansea City had expressed an interest in Mark but he decided to sign up for Cardiff in July of that year.
Within just nine months Mark was attracting interest from Premiership sides and in March 1999 he was sold to Aston Villa for £250,000.
His first match for Villa came within a month when on 24 April 1999 he replaced Steve Stone in Villa's win against Nottingham Forest. September saw the inevitable move into Villa's first team, continuing to excel as a key part of their defence.
Mark has become an integral part of the Wales side that Mark Hughes built for the Euro 2004 qualifiers for the successful Welsh international side. His link play with fellow Pembs boy Simon Davies has given Wales a strong right sided attack, though despite an impressive start to the campaign, where Wales were top of the group, the dream of reaching Portugal came to a heartbreaking end in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in November 2003.
Following the Euro qualifiers the team re-focussed on the qualifications for the 2006 World Cup, including their first game against England in twenty years .
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Simon Davies, Hasbury,West Mids.
Mark is by far the best right back that
Aston Villa have had in the 40+ years I have been watching them,and is borne out by the high win to loss ratio when he plays.He is an approachable lad who has proved to be a model professional and a credit to both Villa and in the wider world Welsh football.Let's hope his fitness allows him many more appearances and caps.
Mon Nov 28 22:38:07 2005
Curtis Arms-Williams from St. Clears
Mark is a great player. It's just a shame he's always injured. And it's also a shame he plays for Aston Villa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mon Oct 3 14:08:27 2005
Baggio, Haverfordwest
Awesome player, and Pembrokeshire talent. Me n Lowey will be in his shoes one day hopefully!!
Sat Aug 13 22:45:49 2005
Nathan Lowe from Haverfordwest
Mark is a talented Welsh lad who is friendly with everyone. Last year I met up with him down the Bridgemeadow (the home of Haverfordwest County) and he told me about his life of football.
Sat Jul 31 19:51:09 2004
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Are you a fan of Mark? What's your verdict on his games for Wales? Did you see him play for Goodwick United FC? Add your comments here.
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