Bishop Auckland born Mark Hudson joined Middlesbrough's Centre of Excellence at Under 12 level and within a couple of years had the chance to join Nottingham Forest's junior set up but he didn't fancy going away from home at such a young age, choosing to remain at Boro'. He left school at 16 and signed a two year YTS with the Riverside Club and after that he signed a two year pro contract. His coaches included David Geddes, once of Ipswich Town, "I got on really well with him, we still keep in contact," says Mark, who can also point to ex Newcastle player Kenny Wharton as one of the influential coaches in his youth

Mark, whose date of birth is 24^th October 1980, made his first team debut on Boxing Day 2000 against, of all teams, Liverpool, the Club he supported as a boy. "I'd been a non playing sub in the home game before against Chelsea but I got on for about 40 minutes against Liverpool, I really enjoyed it, there was a lot of pressure, 34,000 were there. I played a few times that season but that first game was the most memorable." Middlesbrough beat Liverpool 1-0, Christian Karembeu scored in the first half, in fact is was the scorer who made way for the debutant Hudson.  His team mates included Mark Schwarzer, Paul Ince, Ugo Ehiogu and Gianluca Festa, once a scorer against Chesterfield of course. Liverpool included Henchoz, Gerrard, Heskey and Owen, so Mark's initial top line experience couldn't have been much better.

Appearances against Charlton and West Ham followed that season, both at home, plus a sub appearance at Wimbledon in the FA Cup, Mark Williams played for the Dons, who won 3-1. 

Mark was offered another two year contract shortly after Steve McLaren arrived as Manager, "I knew there were some other Clubs after me at that time," remembers Mark, "I went down to speak to Stoke City, met John Rudge, he offered me a great contract but Steve McLaren got me and my Dad in and persuaded me to stay but in the end, I think that was a bad decision, Stoke got promoted that season and I didn't get many games at Middlesbrough." In fact in 2001-02, he made just two sub appearances, at home and away against Ipswich Town.

At the start of last season, Mark was named in the Middlesbrough side that played at Saltergate in a pre season friendly, he was unaware of any interest that Chesterfield may have had at that time. "All I could do at the time was to play well for Middlesbrough reserves and hope I'd get a sniff in the first team but I was on fire that pre season and I thought that if he (McLaren) was ever going to play me, he'd put me in then, but he didn't, so I knew I had to get out on loan. I knew if I did well in pre season, people would be watching, I played well here at Chesterfield, they had a look at me a few more times and then decided to take me on loan."

His debut was in the second game of the season, at home to Swindon, "It opened my eyes up a bit" he recalls, "We were 3-0 down after about half an hour, we came back but lost 4-2 but I enjoyed it anyway." A win against Port Vale followed, then 2-0 at Mansfield set the season on fire and Mark's first ever goal came in the first half in the 4-0 demolition of Northampton Town and he was a major part of the success

Hudson stayed at Saltergate until early November, "I thought a permanent move was going to go through at that time, but it didn't, something to do with League restrictions at Chesterfield I think, I went back to Middlesbrough but I wasn't made to feel welcome so I knew I had to get out again and I went to Carlisle for three months." A home defeat against Wrexham was Mark's first taste of life at Brunton Park, his best performance came in the Boxing Day 2-2 draw with Darlington in which he scored The Cumbrians' second goal. "There's no football played in the third division," remembers Huddy, "I was never going to sign permanently for Carlisle, I just needed the games to keep me in the shop window and Chesterfield came back in for me."

His return as a permanent Spireite came just four days after a dreadful 4-0 home defeat by Colchester United and we turned the tables on Wycombe, beating them by the same scoreline with Mark grabbing the 4^th goal. "I jumped at the chance to come back, I'd been gutted at not signing at the end of my loan and, having enjoyed that so much, I was pleased to return. Mind you, we were 8^th when I left and then Muggsy got injured and the team hardly won after that." The Colchester loss left Chesterfield in 17^th spot with one win in thirteen attempts.

With two games to go, things were desperate, Dave Rushbury resigned as Manager and caretaker Lee Richardson made Mark captain in the absence of Steve Payne. "Being Captain made a big difference to my game, my game rose, Payney is Club Captain, a good Captain, but I'll be knocking on his door one of these days!" The great win over Bristol City and the nervy draw at Blackpool were enough to keep us in Division Two, just, and Mark's leadership has no doubt, by eagle eyed Spireites at least, being hinted at. Huddy wears a thin white armband, not quite a Captain's band, but a clear hint, "It's just something that me and Rico's got going, just something in my mind, if I've got that on, maybe I'll get an extra 5% on my game."

"I've settled down now in Chesterfield, I just want to start playing well, get the team motivated and start winning again and then hopefully get out of this relegation battle, who knows after that?" He's shown what leadership can do to his game, let's hope the thin white band does the trick!


BY PHIL TOOLEY