John Marquis

Millwall

Born in Lewisham, London, Marquis progressed through the ranks of Millwall, resulting him in signing a new contract in 2009. Soon after, he was promoted to the first team and featured in a friendly match against Welling and scored the winning goal, in a 3–2 win on 5 August 2009. A month later, on 5 September 2009, Marquis made his professional debut for Millwall, coming on as a second half substitute for Gary Alexander, in a 2–0 loss against Bristol Rovers.

Following his loan spell at Staines Town came to an end, Marquis appeared in the first team run as a substitute bench in the 2010–11 season, with Manager Kenny Jackett stated that he would not be loaned out. He made his first appearance of the 2010–11 season, which came in a 2–1 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the first round of the League Cup. It wasn’t until on 9 November 2010 when he scored his first Millwall goal, as well as, his first league start in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City. With competitions that saw Marquis’ first team opportunities limited throughout, Marquis regained his first team place in April. He scored again, as well as, setting up a goal, in a 4–0 win over Preston North End on 23 April 2011. This was followed up by scoring twice in the next game, in a 2–1 win over Scunthorpe United. At the end of the 2010–11 season, he signed a three-year contract with Millwall in May 2011.

In the 2011–12 season, Marquis started the season well when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–2 draw against Reading in the opening game of the season. After having a surgery on his hernia problems, he returned to the first team on 17 September 2011, starting the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against rivals, West Ham United. However, the 2011–12 season was plagued by injuries and had to have surgery when the season ended.

However, in the 2012–13 season, Marquis suffered a groin injury in September 2012 and was ruled out until 2013. It wasn’t until on 1 January 2013 when he returned to the first team as a substitute bench, in a 2–1 win over Bristol City. After returning to the first team against Burnley, in a 2–0 loss, Marquis scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win over Aston Villa in the fourth round of FA Cup. Despite being sidelined again from the first team later in the season, Marquis went on to make thirteen appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

The 2013–14 season saw Marquis out of the first team at Millwall following a groin injury sustained in the club’s pre–season tour and was subsequently loaned out to get first team football. Following his loan spell at Portsmouth came to an end, he signed a new one-year contract with Millwall on 30 January 2014. Soon after, Marquis made his Millwall’s first team appearance, coming on as second half substitute, in a 3–0 lost against Reading on 1 February 2014. After his loan spell at Northampton Town came to an end, Marquis’ another appearance came on 22 March 2014, in a 2–1 loss against Leeds United before loaning out to Northmapton Town for the second time this season.

The 2014–15 season saw Marquis continuously being loaned out to two clubs this season and missed out the start of the season with injury. Nevertheless, Marquis went on to make two appearances, which came against Southampton and Norwich City. Despite being loaned out for the most of the season again, new Millwall manager Neil Harris stated that Marquis would be offered a new contract by the club in May 2015. It wasn’t until on 27 May 2015 when he signed a one–year contract.

Following Millwall’s relegation to League One, Marquis played his first Millwall match since December 2014, coming on as a late substitute, in a 1–0 win over Shrewsbury Town in the opening game of the season. However, with twelve appearances in all competitions in the 2015–16 season, Marquis’ first team opportunities was limited for the third time in three seasons. At the end of the 2015–16 season, Marquis was released by the club.

Loan Spells

He joined non-league team Staines Town on work experience in March 2010;he scored a hat-trick for them in a match against Thurrock in April 2010.

On 19 September 2013, Marquis joined Portsmouth on a one-month loan deal. After appearing as an unused substitute against Fleetwood Town on 21 September 2013, he scored his first Portsmouth’s debut seven days later, in a 4–2 loss against York City. Several weeks later, he scored again, as well as setting up one of the goals, in a 2–1 win over Oxford United in the second round of EFL Trophy. Marquis went on to make five appearances for the side before being recalled by his parent club in mid–November 2013.

On 25 November 2013, Marquis joined Torquay United on a one-month loan deal. After making his Torquay United debut against Plymouth Argyle the next day, he scored in the next game, in a 3–1 loss against Scunthorpe United. This was followed up by scoring in the next game, in a 1–0 win over Southend United. He scored again on 26 December 2014, in a 1–1 draw against Bristol Rovers. He returned to his parent club after suffering burst cyst in his groin by the end of December, but was named December’s Player of the Month.

On 11 February 2014, Marquis joined Northampton Town on a loan deal due to be for the remainder of the 2013–14 season. On the same day, he made his Northampton Town debut, coming on as a second half substitute, in a 2–1 against Torquay United, who he played for them earlier in the first half of the season. He returned to Millwall early, on 13 March 2014, before re-joining Northampton two weeks later on 27 March 2014. It wasn’t until on 12 April 2014 when he scored his first goal, in a 1–0 win over Burton Albion. Marquis scored on the last game of the season, in a 3–1 win over Oxford United. He made fourteen appearances and scoring two times for the side at the end of the 2013–14 season.

On 28 August 2014 he joined Cheltenham Town on loan for initial one month. Two days later, Marquis made his Cheltenham Town debut, coming on as a second half substitute, in a 1–0 win over Hartlepool United. Four days later, Marquis scored his first Cheltenham Town goal, in the first round of EFL Trophy, in a 2–0 win over Oxford United. As a result, Marquis had his loan spell at Cheltenham Town extended for two months. He scored again on 18 October 2014, in a 3–2 win over Northampton Town. Although not preferred in the first team by Mark Yates, Marquis went on to make sixteen appearances and scoring two times before returning to his parent club in November.

He signed on loan for Gillingham for initial one month on 8 January 2015. After making his Gillingham debut against Crewe Alexandra two days later, Marquis scored his first goal for the club, as well as, setting up a goal, in a 3–1 win over Coventry City, followed up by scoring twice, in a 3–2 win over Oldham Athletic. After extending his loan spell with Gillingham further until the end of the season, Marquis scored three goals in three matches between on 10 February 2015 and 21 February 2015 against Peterborough United, Milton Keynes Dons and Yeovil Town. It wasn’t until on 11 April 2015 when he scored again, in a 1–0 win over Bradford City. At the end of the 2014–15 season, having scored eight times in twenty–one appearances, the club were keen on keeping Marquis on a long term basis but was unsuccessful when he signed a contract with Millwall.

Marquis signed a 93-day loan with Leyton Orient on 9 October 2015. He made his Leyton Orient debut the next day, setting up one of the goals, in a 3–2 loss against Crawley Town. It wasn’t until on 7 November 2015 when he scored his first Leyton Orient in the first round of FA Cup, in a 6–1 win over Staines Town. He was sent–off for a second bookable offence, in a 1–1 draw against Wimbledon on 28 November 2015. Despite missing out one game, he went on to make fifteen appearance and scoring once before returning to his parent club in early–January 2016.

Marquis returned to Northampton Town on loan in February 2016. After scoring his first goal on his Northampton Town return, in a 2–1 win over York City on 23 February 2016, Marquis was praised by manager Chris Wilder for his performance. Since making his debut, Marquis immediately established himself in the Northampton Town’s first team and formed a striking partnership with James Collins. Marquis then scored four more goals against Carlisle United, Cambridge United, Newport County and Mansfield Town. At the end of the 2015–16 season, having scored six times in fifteen appearances, he returned to his parent club.

Doncaster Rovers

On 13 June 2016, Marquis signed for Doncaster Rovers on a two-year deal. He was previously linked with a move to Gillingham before joining Doncaster Rovers. Upon joining the club, he was given a number nine shirt ahead of a new season.

Marquis made his Doncaster Rovers debut, in the opening game of the season against Accrington Stanley, where he started the whole game, in a 3–2 loss. It wasn’t until on 16 August 2016 when he scored his first Doncaster Rovers goal, in a 1–0 win over Cambridge United, followed up by scoring in the next game with another 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town. Since making his debut for the club, he quickly established himself in the first team and formed a striking partnership with Andy Williams. He then scored twice on 10 September 2016, in a 5–1 win over Morecambe. He then captained the side on 4 October 2016 in the EFL Trophy match against Derby County U21. After scoring seven times by the end of 2016, including a brace against Exeter City on 12 November 2016, his performance continued to receive praise and was described by Ferguson as "one of my best ever signings." He then went on a goal–scoring spree throughout January, scoring seven goals, which were against Portsmouth (twice), Barnet, Crewe Alexandra, Yeovil Town (twice) and Morecambe. His performance earned him a nomination for January’s Player of the Month, but lost out to Matthew Godden. He went on to score eight more goals, including a brace against Leyton Orient on 18 March 2017 and a hat–trick against Grimsby Town on 1 April 2017. His good performance resulted him shortlisted for the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season in March 2017 and won the award as a result. Having become the club’s fan favourite, Marquis was awarded the club’s Player of the Season, the club’s Goal of the Season and the club’s Players’ Player of the Year, whom he shared with James Coppinger. He was also named EFL League Two PFA Team of the Year. After scoring 26 goals in 40 league games at the end of the 2016–17 season, in which won the Golden Boot and helped the side promoted to League One next season, Marquis stated that he would like a contract extension. It came after when Marquis attracted interests from clubs, such as, Mansfield Town.

Career statistics

Personal life

Marquis previously worked as part-time model for Rio Ferdinand's then magazine, 5. While at Doncaster Rovers, Marquis developed a reputation as a dressing room joker.