Mark Bailey (born 12 August 1976) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. He notably played in the Football League for Rochdale, Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town as well as spells with Stoke City and Peterborough United that yielded no appearances. He also spent time in Non-league football with Winsford United, Lancaster City, Northwich Victoria and Stafford Rangers. Career Early career Bailey began his career as a trainee with his home town club Stoke City before moving to Rochdale on a free transfer in October 1996. He made his Football League debut for the club in the 1–0 away victory over Torquay United on 3 December 1996 and by the end of March had secured a regular birth in the first team. The 1997–98 season saw Bailey maintain his presence in the team, making 24 league starts with a further nine appearances from the substitutes bench. He began the 1998–99 season as a regular member of the first team but dropped to the bench at the beginning of October and drifted out of the first team picture in mid-December. In January 1999, he attracted the attention of Northwich Victoria's manager Mark Gardiner but a proposed loan move was thwarted by Bailey sustaining a minor hamstring injury. He managed to break back into the Rochdale team in March 1999, making his first league start in nearly four months in the 0–0 home draw with Barnet on 20 March 1999. However, he made only three further appearances before being released by the club at the end of the season. He commenced the 1999–2000 season training with Northwich Victoria from where he was recommended to Winsford United, debuting for the club in the 0–0 Northern Premier League draw at Spennymoor United on 21 August 1999, scoring his first goal for the club in the 2–2 draw at Whitby Town a week later. He moved on to join Lancaster City in November 1999, debuting in the 4–1 away Northern Premier League defeat to Hyde United on 12 November 1999. Northwich Victoria Bailey continued to attract the attention of Northwich Victoria's manager Mark Gardiner and having turned down one offer to join the Vics to remain at the Giant Axe, Gardiner came back with an improved pay offer which coupled with the lure of moving nearer to home in the Stoke area proved too much for Bailey and he departed Lancaster