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Lever was an instant hit, his awareness,composure and eagerness to peform left him in charge at the back and focused on each and every game. It would be a very hard bet if we ever have a defender of Marks quality at Blundell Park again.
Mark made just over 300 apperances for Grimsby and settled in easily making great partnerships with Peter Handyside amongst others. Lever is a tall commanding player, he takes no prisoners and easily catches and hunts down attackers until the kill is the made.
Mark stayed ever present in the Grimsby defence until the end of the 1999/2000 season when Bristol City signed him on a free transfer. The club struggled to find a replacement using Danny Butterfield,Zhang Enhua and Paul Raven amongst others in the centre to try and ease the tension of potential relegation to Division 2.
Town stayed up buty Lever found himself either out injured or on the bench. Up until his release in August 2002 Mark only made 37 apperances for City and scoring just the once.
Town showed no intrest in bringing Lever back to Blundell Park and he joined Mansfield Town on a short term contract. Mark was described by some Stags fans as "reasonable,it was there once but its gone now". Mark made 17 apperances for Mansfield and was released in February 2003.
After trialing with a few Professional and a few non league clubs, Mark did not find a club again that season, and we thought he retired.
Lincoln City showed intrest in Lever but yet again nothing became of it until he joined Eastern Counties Premier League side Ilkeston Town along with fellow Mariner Steve Chettle in the fall of the 2003/2004 season.
Mark has been ever present this season at Ilkeston and has scored a few aswell. He has been described as one of the better players in the squad by Ilkeston fans and has done well for himself now despite being 37 and close to retirement. A true Grimsby Town great!
CAREER STATISTICS!
2004/2005 ILKESTON TOWN 29 APPS 2 GOALS
2003/2004 ILKESTON TOWN 12 APPS 0 GOALS
2002/2003 MANSFIELD TOWN 16 APPS 0 GOALS
2001/2002 BRISTOL CITY 36 APPS 1 GOALS
2000/2001 BRISTOL CITY 3 APPS 0 GOALS
1999/2000 GRIMSBY TOWN 40 APPS 0 GOALS
1998/1999 GRIMSBY TOWN 26 APPS 0 GOALS
1997/1998 GRIMSBY TOWN 54 APPS 0 GOALS
1996/1997 GRIMSBY TOWN 21 APPS 0 GOALS
1995/1996 GRIMSBY TOWN NO DATA AVAILBLE
1994/1995 GRIMSBY TOWN NO DATA AVAILBLE
1993/1994 GRIMSBY TOWN NO DATA AVAILBLE
1992/1993 GRIMSBY TOWN NO DATA AVAILBLE
1991/1992 GRIMSBY TOWN NO DATA AVAILBLE
1990/1991 GRIMSBY TOWN NO DATA AVAILBLE
1989/1990 GRIMSBY TOWN NO DATA AVAILBLE
1988/1989 GRIMSBY TOWN NO DATA AVAILBLE