About Mark Proctor
Born and raised in Middlesbrough, Mark Proctor has spent more than 40 years in professional football as a player and coach.
Growing up in a working-class family in Middlesbrough as one of six children, Mark developed a strong work ethic from an early age - something that continues to shape the way he coaches and develops young players today.
Mark’s own football journey began with his hometown club, Middlesbrough FC. After joining the club as a schoolboy, he was given the opportunity to become a professional footballer at just 17 years old.
After several years with Middlesbrough, Mark went on to represent clubs including Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday. His connection with the Boro remained strong, however, and he returned to Middlesbrough in 1989, later captaining the team at Wembley at the 1990 Zenith Data Systems Cup Final.
Following his playing career, Mark moved into coaching and youth development. Alongside Dave Parnaby, he helped develop the Middlesbrough FC Academy and its approach to developing young footballers. During this period, Middlesbrough won its first FA Youth Cup, with players including Stuart Downing and James Morrison progressing through the academy. The academy continued to produce future first-team players in the years that followed, including Ben Gibson.
Mark later coached at first-team level with Darlington and Hibernian, managed Livingston in Scotland and returned once again to Middlesbrough FC as part of Tony Mowbray’s first-team coaching staff.
Passing Experience on to the Next Generation
After a lifetime in professional football, Mark created Mark Proctor Academy to pass that experience on to young players in his hometown.
MPA is about more than simply improving football technique. Mark’s aim is to help young players develop their technical and tactical ability while building confidence, resilience and a genuine enjoyment of the game.
Every player develops at a different pace. MPA provides a positive environment in which young footballers can learn, challenge themselves and maximise their potential.
Want to experience MPA yourself?
