Bristol City
Which team did the player Mark Lever belong to from 2000 to 2002?
Mark Lever Mark Lever ( born 29 March 1970 in Beverley ) is an English former professional footballer and coach who played as a defender from 1988 until 2005 . Lever came through the youth ranks at Grimsby Town in 1988 . He became a first team regular in the early nineties and was part of the team that won promotion via the Football League Division Two play-off final and the Football League Trophy during the 1997–98 season . Lever spent the first twelve years of his career with Grimsby and departed the club in 2000 when he joined Bristol City . Injuries prevented him from making a real impact at Ashton Gate and after two years he moved on again to Mansfield Town . In 2003 , he dropped out of professional football and joined Non-league Ilkeston Town before finishing his career in 2004 whilst on loan with Ossett Albion . In 2008 , he was appointed to the coaching staff of Bridlington Town , briefly making the step up to manager in 2009 . Career . Grimsby Town . Lever came through the youth ranks at Grimsby Town and was promoted to the clubs first team squad by Alan Buckley at the beginning of the 1987–1988 season . He naturally soon became one of the clubs regular centre backs , and found himself slotting in at the side of veteran centre half Paul Futcher . Lever received the clubs Supporters Young Player of The Season awards in both 1989 and 1991 . He went on to be an integral part of the Town side that earned two back to back promotions in 1990 and 1991 . When Futcher moved on , Grimsby nurtured in Peter Handyside as his long-term replacement , and both players were part of an iconic Mariners defensive line up in the nineties that included the likes of Gary Croft , Graham Rodger , John McDermott and Tony Gallimore . Arguably Levers most successful season was the 1997–1998 campaign , in which Grimsby bounced back from relegation the previous season , to clinch promotion back to the First Division via a 1–0 victory over Northampton Town at Wembley Stadium in the Second Division play-off final . Also before the final victory , Grimsby , aided by Lever defeated AFC Bournemouth at Wembley in the Football League Trophy final with a 2–1 scoreline . Lever continued to play for The Mariners in the 1998–1999 , and 1999–2000 campaigns , and was also used as a makeshift captain in the absence of Paul Groves on several occasions . Levers contract expired with The Mariners in the summer of 2000 , and he opted to leave Blundell Park . In his time at Grimsby , he made over 400 appearances in all competitions , scoring a total of 8 goals , he made his final appearance against Birmingham City in the final league game of the season , a few weeks after this match , Lever received the Supporters Player of The Season for the 1999–2000 campaign . Lever is considered to this day to be a cult hero by Grimsby Town supporters , and is one of the most successful players in the clubs history . Bristol City . After 12 years at Grimsby , Lever dropped down a division and signed for Bristol City in July 2000 on a free transfer , and naturally became the main candidate to be the club captain . However his first season , was ruined by injury , after making his debut on the opening day of the season in a 2–0 defeat against Wrexham , Lever went on to feature in two more games , before injury ruled him out for the rest of the 2000–2001 campaign . The following season was more successful for Lever , as he completed 34 games in all competitions , coupled with a single goal in a 3–0 victory over Oldham Athletic on 2 February 2002 . At the end of the 2001–2002 campaign , City decided not to renew Levers two-year contract and he was released . Mansfield Town . In August 2002 , Lever signed for newly promoted Second Division side Mansfield Town . He made his debut for The Stags in the 2–0 derby defeat against local rivals Chesterfield on 28 August 2002 . Lever would only go on to make 15 league appearances for Town in the 2002–2003 season , while also playing in the 3–0 FA Cup defeat against Crewe Alexandra on 7 December . Lever was released by the club at the end of the season , thus bringing to end his career playing in the professional leagues . The FA Cup defeat with Crewe , turned out to be his final game for the club , and in professional football . Ilkeston Town . Lever signed a one-year deal with Northern Premier League outfit Ilkeston Town at the start of the 2003–2004 season . This would be his first taste of the Non League football circuit , and he notably formed a defensive partnership with former Nottingham Forest stalwart Steve Chettle . Lever signed a one-year contract extension for the 2004–2005 season , and during this season he had fallen out of favour within the Ilkeston playing squads , thus opening up a loan move too lowly Yorkshire amateur side Ossett Albion . He remained with Albion for two months before returning too Ilkeston . Lever was released by Town in May 2005 , and subsequently retired from playing competitive football aged 35 . Style of play . Lever , was described as A big , old-fashioned centre-half that bullies strikers . Coaching career . In 2009 Lever briefly managed Bridlington Town . Honours . Grimsby Town . - Division Four runners up , Promoted : 1990 - Division Three 3rd place , Promoted : 1991 - Football League Trophy winner : 1998 - Division Two Play-off winner : 1998 - Supporters Player of the Year : 2000 - Supporters Young Player of the Year : 1989 , 1991 External links . - Electronic Fishcake Player Profile - Bristol City Net Player Profile