Mark Peters (footballer, born 1983)

Southampton

Peters began his career at Premier League side Southampton, signing his first professional contract in October 2000 and scoring 34 goals for the youth team during the 2000–01 season. Despite earning comparisons to Alan Shearer, Peters never made an appearance for the first team and a broken ankle suffered in 2001 hindered his progress. Peters departed the club in February 2002.

Brentford

Peters joined Division Two promotion challengers Brentford in February 2002, signing a two-and-half-year contract. After the signing, assistant manager Wally Downes said Peters was "one for the future, that's what this club is about because we don't have a lot of money". Peters was not picked for the first team under Steve Coppell during the 2001–02 season and instead played for the reserves. Peters received his maiden call into the first team squad for a league match versus Colchester United on 24 August 2002 and was an unused substitute during the 1–0 victory. Peters received his next call-up when he was given a place on the bench for a league match versus Port Vale on 19 October 2002. He made his professional debut when he came on as a 77th-minute substitute for Mark McCammon during the 1–1 draw. He failed to get another run out until 18 January 2003, when he again substituted Mark McCammon in the final minutes of a 1–1 draw with Notts County. Peters made regular appearances during March, but a suspension incurred later in the month receiving a red card in a 4–0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on 8 March halted his progress. Peters christened his maiden start for the club with his first goal, in the West London derby versus Queens Park Rangers on 19 April. He levelled the score at 1–1 in the 81st minute, but Rangers went on to win 2–1 through a Marc Bircham injury time strike. Peters finished the 2002–03 season having made 12 appearances and scored one goal.

Peters made his first appearance of the 2003–04 campaign as an 81st-minute substitute for Eddie Hutchinson in a 4–1 opening-day defeat at Tranmere Rovers. He made his first start of the season in the following game, a League Cup first round match versus West Bromwich Albion. After goalkeeper Paul Smith was sent off in the 43rd minute, Peters was sacrificed for substitute keeper Alan Julian during the 4–0 defeat. Peters' first league start of the season came in the following match at home to Peterborough United, but he was substituted for Lloyd Blackman after 69 minutes of another damaging 3–0 defeat. Peters had a transfer request granted in October 2003, after expressing frustration at his lack of first team opportunities and the non-materialisation of a loan move to Conference side Aldershot Town the previous month. After the sacking of Wally Downes and the arrival of new manager Martin Allen, Peters was released in March 2004 after making only 12 first team appearances during the 2003–04 season, though he was the top scorer for the reserve team. During his two years with the Bees, Peters made 24 appearances and scored one goal.

Farnborough Town

Peters signed for Conference side Farnborough Town in March 2004, along with former Brentford teammate Danny Allen-Page. He made his debut in a 1–0 win over Halifax Town, starting the match and lasting 77 minutes before being substituted for Alex Christou. Peters made only two more appearances before leaving the club on 15 April.

Frimley Green

Peters dropped down to the Combined Counties League Premier Division to sign for hometown club Frimley Green in the summer of 2004. He began the 2004–05 season in prolific form, scoring six goals in seven games before departing the club on 8 November.

Woking (reserves)

While playing for Frimley Green, Peters was simultaneously playing reserve team football on trial at Conference Premier side Woking. He scored both goals in a 2–0 Football Combination win over Peterborough United on 1 September 2004. He was again the subject of loan interest from Aldershot Town in November and left the Cardinals that month without making a first team appearance.

Hornchurch

Peters joined Conference South side Hornchurch on 8 November 2004. His debut for the club came on 13 November in an FA Cup first round match versus Boston United. Peters came on as a substitute for Shane Huke on the stroke of half time in a 5–2 defeat. It was his only appearance for the club.

Return to Frimley Green

Peters returned to Frimley Green in mid-November 2004, carrying on from where he left off, scoring six goals in his first three games. He made seven appearances and scored eight goals before departing the club in March 2005. Peters scored 14 goals in as many games during his time with the Green in the 2004–05 season.

Carshalton Athletic

Peters signed for Conference South strugglers Carshalton Athletic in March 2005. He made his debut in a 4–0 defeat to Welling United on 5 March. He bagged his first goal for the club in the following game, opening the scoring by converting a penalty on the stroke of half time in a 3–2 win over Hayes. Peters made ten appearances and scored one goal for the Robins in what remained of the 2004–05 season and left the club at the end of the campaign.

Basingstoke Town

Peters joined Conference South side Basingstoke Town in July 2005. His career with the Dragons got off to a good start, bagging four goals in his first three games versus Dorchester Town, Weston-super-Mare and Eastbourne Borough. Peters opened the scoring in a 2–1 win over former side Carshalton Athletic on 3 September and notched two goals in a 4–2 FA Cup third qualifying round win over Worthing on 8 October to receive a Player Of The Round nomination. Peters scored again in a 1–1 league draw with Bishop's Stortford on 15 October. A falling out with manager Ernie Howe saw Peters leave the club in November after making 14 appearances and scoring 8 goals.

Eastleigh

Peters signed trial forms with Conference South side Eastleigh in November 2005. Peters' first involvement with the first team came on 5 November, when he was named on the bench for a league match versus St Albans City. After entering as a 77th-minute substitute for Neville Roach, Peters scored an 87th-minute winner to send the Spitfires to a 4–3 victory. After a further three non-goalscoring appearances, Peters was released in early December.

AFC Wimbledon

Peters joined Isthmian League Premier Division high fliers AFC Wimbledon on 5 December 2005. He made his debut in a 2–1 victory over Hendon on 10 December, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute for Dwayne Plummer. He made six appearances for the club without scoring before departing on 2 February 2006.

Third spell at Frimley Green

Peters returned to hometown club Frimley Green in March 2006. He was in scintillating form, notching a hattrick in his first game back in a 3–2 win over Bedfont Green, scoring twice in a 6–2 defeat in the return fixture a week later and bagging the winner away to Guildford United on his third appearance. Peters went on another goalscoring run in April through to the end of the 2005–06 season, netting eight goals in seven games. Peters finished his third spell with the club with 14 goals in 12 games.

Return to Basingstoke Town

Peters re-signed for Basingstoke Town in July 2006. He scored two goals in his second game back, in a 3–3 draw away to Sutton United on 19 August. He played only eight games for the club before departing in October 2006.

Gosport Borough

Peters signed a dual-registration deal with Wessex League Premier Division side Gosport Borough on 11 October 2006. He notched four goals in his four appearances for the club.

Walton & Hersham

Peters signed for Isthmian League Division One South side Walton & Hersham in the summer of 2007. He made his debut for the club on 18 August, scoring in a 3–1 away win over Chipstead. He scored again two games later, in a 2–1 win of Whitstable Town, before suffering a broken collar bone in September. He crowned his return to the team with a goal, scoring in a 4–1 win over Eastbourne Town on 27 October and scoring again in a 4–1 drubbing of Whyteleafe in the following game. Peters left the club in December, having made 11 appearances and scored five goals.

Fourth spell at Frimley Green

Peters went back home to join Frimley Green (now playing Combined Counties League Division One football) for a fourth time in December 2007. He was in inspirational form, scoring four goals in his first three games back in a Green shirt. He scored another four goals in three games in February 2008 and helped Green to wins in April with a goal apiece against Sheerwater and Warlingham. Peters made 22 appearances and scored 14 goals in the second half of the 2007–08 season. He stayed on with the club for the 2008–09 season, scoring two goals in his first two appearances of the season in wins over Coulsdon United and Farnham Town. Peters found occasional patches of form throughout the campaign, scoring three goals in two games in October 2007 and February 2008, scoring his final goal of the season in a 2–1 defeat to Hanworth Villa on 18 April. Peters made 23 appearances and scored 9 goals during the 2008–09 season, departing the club at the end of the campaign. Peters made 45 appearances and scored 23 goals during his fourth spell with the Green.

Badshot Lea

Peters moved back up to the Combined Counties League Premier Division to sign for Badshot Lea in the summer of 2009. He announced his arrival to the Baggies supporters in emphatic style, scoring hattrick in first appearance for the club in a pre-season friendly versus Windsor & Eton on 14 July 2009. Peters made his first competitive appearance for the club on the opening day of the season, scoring two goals in a 4–1 win over Dorking. He was in superb form in October, scoring six goals to help the Baggies to four wins in a row. Peters regained his scoring touch after the turn of the year, netting six goals in nine games in February and March 2009. He ended the 2009–10 season with 18 goals in 35 appearances. Peters was relegated to a substitute role during the 2010–11 season and had to wait until 12 March to score his first goal of the campaign, which came in a 1–1 draw with Molesey. He ended the season with 17 appearances (10 of them being as a substitute) and solitary goal. Peters was again out of favour during the 2011–12 season, coming off the substitutes' bench on 12 occasions. He scored his first goal of the campaign on 16 August, helping the Baggies to a 3–1 win over Egham Town. Peters scored his second goal of the season in a 2–1 defeat to Hanworth Villa on 11 October and sent the club into the third round of the Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup with two goals in a 3–1 win over Mole Valley SCR on 29 November. Peters scored his only goal of 2012 in a 3–3 draw with Farnham Town on 28 January. Peters made 22 appearances and scored five goals in the 2011–12 season.

International career

Peters' form for Basingstoke Town won him a call up to the England C team in a friendly versus Conference side Forest Green Rovers on 5 September 2006. Peters began the match as a substitute and came on for Yemi Odubade after 65 minutes of the 1–0 defeat.