Mark Bunn (English footballer)

Mark Bunn

Bunn warming up for Blackburn Rovers in 2011
Personal information
Full name Mark John Bunn[1]
Date of birth (1984-11-16) 16 November 1984
Place of birth Camden, England[2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Aston Villa
Number 31
Youth career
1998–2000 Tottenham Hotspur
2000–2001 Northampton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2008 Northampton Town 90 (0)
2004 → Kettering Town (loan) 17 (0)
2008–2012 Blackburn Rovers 6 (0)
2009 → Leicester City (loan) 3 (0)
2009–2010 → Sheffield United (loan) 32 (0)
2012–2015 Norwich City 23 (0)
2015– Aston Villa 12 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:03, 25 October 2016 (UTC).


Mark John Bunn (born 16 November 1984) is an English professional footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a goalkeeper.

Born in London, Bunn began his career with the Tottenham Hotspur youth team, before signing for Northampton Town. He made his league debut for Northampton and went on to make 90 appearances for the club, before a succession of permanent and loan spells with various clubs before being signed by Norwich from Blackburn Rovers as cover for John Ruddy, in time for the 2012–13 season. When Ruddy sustained a leg injury, Bunn took his place in the first team for much of the season.

Club career

Northampton Town

Born in London Borough of Camden, Bunn started his career with Tottenham Hotspur as a trainee but joined Northampton Town before he was offered a professional contract.

He made his first team debut in a 3–0 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the first round of the League Cup in August 2005. He was given his league debut by then-manager John Gorman against Nottingham Forest in August 2006. Bunn made his 100th appearance for Northampton Town in a 2–0 victory over Oldham Athletic on 19 April 2008. His impressive performances ousted long term first choice keeper Lee Harper, who subsequently left Sixfields for Milton Keynes Dons.

Bunn has, to date, saved six penalties in his career, against Rotherham United, Tranmere Rovers, Peterborough United, Reading, Spurs and QPR. On 27 April 2007, he won the Northampton Town player of the season award finishing ahead of Jason Crowe and Chris Doig.

Colin Calderwood, Bunn's former manager at Northampton and manager at the time of Nottingham Forest made an inquiry about signing the young goalkeeper in July 2007 with apparent interest also coming from Nottingham Forest's East Midlands rivals Derby County.[4]

Blackburn Rovers

On 29 August 2008, it was announced that the then 23-year-old he would be joining Premier League club Blackburn Rovers subject to a medical. The signing was completed two days later on transfer deadline day, on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be over £1million.[5] He made his Blackburn debut aged 24 in the FA Cup third round tie against Blyth Spartans.[6]

Bunn signed for Leicester City on loan for a month on 16 February 2009, after first choice keeper David Martin suffered an injury.[7] He made his debut a day later in a 2–2 draw against Hartlepool United,[8] saving a penalty kick in a 1–0 win over Bristol Rovers on 21 February.[9]

Bunn was recalled by Blackburn at the start of March, after first choice keeper Paul Robinson suffered an injury during Blackburn's 2–1 victory against Hull City.[10] Despite his recall Bunn failed to make any further appearances for Rovers that season.

In August 2009, on the eve of the new season, Bunn joined Sheffield United on a month's loan[11] that was subsequently extended to a six-month deal later the same month.[12] He made his debut in United's first game of the season, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw against Middlesbrough.[13] Bunn started the season as first choice keeper but a loss of form saw him dropped to the reserves. Following injuries to the other keepers at the club he was restored to the first team towards the end of the year and subsequently signed an extension to his loan deal, keeping him at Bramall Lane for the remainder of the season.[14] Bunn's improved form helped to cement him as the first choice keeper for the season and he was ever present.

An unfortunate injury to Robinson persuaded Blackburn Rovers to invoke an early recall to Ewood Park in March, with Bunn departing having played thirty five games for the Blades. At the start of the 2010–11 campaign, Bunn changed his shirt number from 38 to 13. On 24 August 2010, he started the second round League Cup tie at home to Norwich City in a 3–1 victory. On 22 September 2010, he started Blackburn's third round League Cup game against Aston Villa in a 3–1 defeat at Villa Park.[15] He made his Premier League debut on 28 December 2010 in a 3–1 away win against West Bromwich Albion coming on as a half-time substitute for Paul Robinson who unfortunately suffered an injury during the game at The Hawthorns. February 2011, saw him sign an extension to his existing contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2013. On Wednesday 24 August 2011, Bunn started and played the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park in the 2nd round of the League Cup. On 21 September 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 victory over Leyton Orient at Ewood Park in the League Cup third round. On Wednesday 26 October 2011, he started in the League Cup fourth round against Newcastle United at Ewood Park, playing the full 120 minutes after Gael Givet scored the winner in extra-time with a header, the game finished 4–3 to Blackburn. On 29 November 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 defeat against Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium in Wales. He made his full debut on 26 December 2011 against Liverpool at Anfield in a 1–1 draw, making a brilliant reflex save in the last minute to earn Rovers a point. On 31 December 2011, just five days later, Bunn started and played the full 90 minutes in goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a stunning 3–2 away victory for Rovers. He made 8 appearances in all competitions during the 2011–12 season.

Norwich City

On 29 August 2012, Bunn joined Premier League side Norwich City for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal, with an option of a further year. He was signed to compete with John Ruddy to be Norwich's leading goalkeeper. Bunn made his Canaries debut in a League Cup clash against Doncaster Rovers where he kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory at Carrow Road. He held onto the gloves for the subsequent League Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur in which he was awarded Man of the Match in part due to his last minute penalty save which helped Norwich to a 2–1 victory.[16] He made his first Premier League appearance of the season on 24 November, replacing first choice goalkeeper John Ruddy due to injury in the 82nd minute in a 1–1 draw away to Everton.[17] He made his first league start four days later, helping Norwich secure a 1–1 draw away to Southampton.[18] In the away match against Queens Park Rangers on 2 February 2013, Bunn saved Adel Taarabt's penalty kick which he caused by kicking Jamie Mackie's foot inside the penalty area. On 17 March, Bunn was sent off in a match against Sunderland after handling a loose ball outside the penalty box. On 24 May 2015, Bunn announced via his Twitter account that he would be leaving Norwich at the end of the 2014–15 season.

Aston Villa

On 9 July 2015, Bunn joined Aston Villa as a free agent, signing a two-year contract.[19] Bunn made his debut in the league cup match against Notts County in which Villa won 5-3 on 25 August 2015. On 16 January 2016 Bunn saved a penalty taken by Leicester's Riyad Mahrez. [20]

[21]

International career

He is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland through his father and grandmother. [22] Bunn has expressed a strong desire to play for Ireland, but has yet to be called up to the Irish team.[23]

Club career statistics

As of match played 10 February 2014
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Northampton Town 2005–06[24] League Two000020—20
2006–07[25] League One42030101[lower-alpha 1]0470
2007–08[26] League One45040201[lower-alpha 1]0520
2008–09[27] League One300020—50
Total 9007070201060
Blackburn Rovers 2008–09[27] Premier League001000—10
2010–11[28] Premier League301020—60
2011–12[29] Premier League301040—80
Total 603060—150
Leicester City (loan) 2008–09[27] Championship300000—30
Sheffield United (loan) 2009–10[30] Championship3203000—350
Norwich City 2012–13[31] Premier League2300030—260
2013–14[32] Premier League002030—50
Total 2302060—310
Career total 1540150190201900
  1. 1 2 Appearances in Football League Trophy

References

  1. ↑ "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011 (41st ed.). London: Headline. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
  3. ↑ "First Team". Northampton Town F.C. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Forest Chasing Keeper Bunn". Northampton Town F.C. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  5. ↑ "Rovers Complete Signing of Keeper Bunn". Blackburn Rovers F.C. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  6. ↑ Shea, Julian (5 January 2009). "Blyth Spartans 0–1 Blackburn". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  7. ↑ "Foxes swoop to ease keeper crisis". BBC Sport. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  8. ↑ "Hartlepool 2–2 Leicester". BBC Sport. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  9. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 0–1 Leicester". BBC Sport. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  10. ↑ "Bunn Recalled". Leicester City F.C. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  11. ↑ "Blades land Blackburn keeper Bunn". BBC Sport. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  12. ↑ "Keeper extends loan move". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  13. ↑ "Keeper happy with debut". Sheffield United F.C. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  14. ↑ "Boss brings back Bunn". Sheffield United F.C. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  15. ↑ "Bunn returns to Ewood". Sheffield United F.C. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  16. ↑ http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/report-city-2-spurs-1-458706.aspx
  17. ↑ "Everton 1–1 Norwich" BBC Sport. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  18. ↑ "Southampton 1–1 Norwich" BBC Sport. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "Bunn Signs for Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  20. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/12103363/Aston-Villa-1-Leicester-1-match-report-Foxes-regain-top-spot-despite-costly-Mahrez-penalty-miss.html
  21. ↑ "Bunn Signs for Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "Republic call on Bunn". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  23. ↑ http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/bunn-fight-29172087.html, The Evening Herald, 3 April 2013, retrieved 24 July 2013
  24. ↑ "Matches played by Mark Bunn in 2005-06". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  25. ↑ "Matches played by Mark Bunn in 2006-07". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  26. ↑ "Matches played by Mark Bunn in 2007-08". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  27. 1 2 3 "Matches played by Mark Bunn in 2008-09". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  28. ↑ "Matches played by Mark Bunn in 2010-11". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  29. ↑ "Matches played by Mark Bunn in 2011-12". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  30. ↑ "Mtahces played by Mark Bunn in 2009-10". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  31. ↑ "Matches played by Mark Bunn in 2012-13". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  32. ↑ "Matches played by Mark Bunn in 2013-14". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
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