Mark Birch (born 5 January 1977) is an English former professional footballer who is the caretaker head coach of EFL League Two club Carlisle United.
Career Birch was born in Stoke-on-Trent and began his career with Stoke City. He failed to break into the first team at Stoke and joined Football Conference side Northwich Victoria in 1998 where he spent two seasons. He joined Third Division side Carlisle United in June 2000 for a fee of £10,000. Birch played 129 times for Carlisle scoring once in a 1–0 win against Macclesfield Town in March 2003. He left Carlisle in August 2003 to join ambitious Scottish Third Division side Gretna. At Gretna he helped them win promotion to the Scottish First Division and reach the 2006 Scottish Cup Final where they lost on penalties to Heart of Midlothian. He returned to England in 2007 playing for Southport and a return to Northwich Victoria.
Coaching career Birch was appointed Professional Development Phase coach at Carlisle United in June 2019.
Career statistics Source:
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStoke City1995–96Second Division0000000000Northwich Victoria1999–2000Football Conference350000010360Carlisle United2000–01Third Division4403020105002001–02Third Division4203010104702002–03Third Division2412010303012003–04Third Division2000000020Total11218040501291Gretna2003–04Scottish Third Division2333010002732004–05Scottish Third Division3072110303682005–06Scottish Second Division2717000003412006–07Scottish First Division5000101070Total8511121304010412Southport (loan)2006–07Football Conference191000000191Northwich Victoria (loan)2007–08Football Conference110000000110Northwich Victoria2008–09Football Conference1000000010Career total263132017010030014
References