Born in Belshill in Scotland, 23 year old Mark Innes became Caretaker Manager Dave Rushbury's first signing, joining The Spireites on a 2 1/2 year contract after a couple of games on loan from Oldham Athletic. Ironically it was The Latics that were to provide Mark with his first test as a bona fide Spireite and he will have been delighted to have picked up the Sponsors' Man of the Match award for that game.
Mark joined Oldham as a trainee before signing as a pro, contemporaries included Mark Allott and the McNiven twins, David & Scott. More senior team-mates included Stuart Barlow, Gunnar Halle, Graeme Sharp, Ian Snodin and one Lee Richardson (wonder what happened to him?).
The Latics were relegated in 1997 to Division Two and the change of personnel at Boundary Park gave Mark a few opportunities to show his strengths in the 1997-98 season. His first senior match was a League game on September 2nd 1997, a 0-0 draw at North West neighbours Burnley.
Goalkeeper for Oldham that day? One Mike Pollitt, opponents Burnley included Chris Waddle and an unfamiliar face at Saltergate, Steve Blatherwick, the Manager that selected Mark, ex Spireite Neil Warnock.
Mark had replaced Lee Duxbury for that game and he was relegated to the bench for the next match, a 1-0 win at home to Preston North End, though he did come on as a sub. One more sub appearance and a full match in the Autowindscreens Shield followed before a last day start in a 2-0 win at Grimsby Town. Goalkeeper for Oldham that day? One Bruce Grobelaar, his last ever League game.
Andy Ritchie took over as Athletic boss and Mark started the first game of the season on the left of defence but he was subbed by Andy Holt who actually scored and retained his place in the left back slot and Mark was consigned to the bench and the reserves.
On Boxing day 1998, he came on as a sub for Oldham in the Chesterfield 1 (Wilkinson, first minute) Oldham 3 (Allott 2, Holt) match, but it wasn't until the last few weeks of a difficult season that Mark really became a regular. Oldham had been flirting with the drop zone for much of the campaign and they were in 22nd place in Division Two with a week of the season left. A 1-0 home win over Stoke City set up a nail biting final match at Boundary Park, mid-tabled Reading were the visitors.
Going into that match it was:
19 York 50 points
20 Wycombe 48
21 Oldham 48
22 Northampton 47
23 Lincoln 46
24 Macclesfield 43
Lincoln were at home to Wycombe, Northampton entertained Burnley and York were at Man City.
Even a win wouldn't guarantee safety for Oldham, but 7724 turned up at Boundary Park to see a 2-0 Latics win, the goal that set them on their way scored by Mark Innes, his only ever Oldham goal!
The nail biting turned to celebration as the other results came in, Wycome beat Lincoln to send the Red Imps down along with the already doomed Macclesfield, Northampton only drew to also be relegated and York were thrashed at Maine Road to allow Mark's team to escape the dreaded fall into the basement.
Mark appeared in around half of Oldham's games in 1999-2000, including Chesterfield's 2-1 win at Boundary Park, our only ever victory there, in what was Nicky Law's second game as caretaker boss, and last season he notched up 30 League appearances mainly on the left side of midfield or defence.
Was only an occasional appearance maker this season in Oldham's big squad and was made available for transfer when Mick Wadsworth took over, Nicky Law called in the Scot on loan, he scored on his Spireites debut in the 2-2 draw at Brighton, a stunning shot to gain a point after being 2 down, he scored again in game number two versus Notts County and won the sponsors' plaudits in game three against Oldham, his second half performance in the middle of midfield turning the game.
No-one's sure why Oldham let him go, who cares, he looks set for a great future here at Saltergate.
Mark appeared in 73 League games for Oldham, scoring one goal.
