Mark Lynch (association footballer)

Mark John Lynch (born 2 September 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He began his career with Manchester United and spent most of the 2001–02 season on loan with Scottish club St Johnstone, but failed to break into the Manchester United first team on a regular basis. He went on to play for Sunderland, Hull City, Yeovil Town, Rotherham United, Stockport County and Altrincham before retiring from professional football in 2012.

Career

Born in Manchester, Lynch began his career with Manchester United. To gain first-team experience, he joined Scottish club St Johnstone on loan for the majority of the 2001–02 season, making 20 appearances for the club. He made one senior appearance for Manchester United, against Deportivo de La Coruña in the UEFA Champions League in March 2003, in which he scored an own goal. In July 2004, Lynch moved to Sunderland on a free transfer. He made 11 appearances during the 2004–05 season and was released in July 2005.

Lynch then signed for Hull City in July 2005. He suffered a knee injury in the first minute of his Hull City debut in August 2005 against Queens Park Rangers, and in his first game back against Coventry City he was sent off. He made only 15 further appearances for Hull in the 2005–06 season, the last of which was in January, and at the end of the season he was made available for transfer by manager Peter Taylor.

Lynch moved to Yeovil Town during August 2006, following a brief loan spell. Lynch then joined Rotherham United in 2008 on a two-year deal, after his release by Yeovil. He made his Rotherham United debut against Lincoln City, and scored twice on his third appearance for the club against Morecambe.

On 14 July 2010, he signed for Stockport County. but was released on 31 January 2012. He subsequently joined Altrincham, but was released by the club at the end of the season after making eight first-team appearances.