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The Clapton-born talent started his career as a trainee at Orient, progressing through the youth ranks to eventually make 189 appearances for the East London side between 1992 and 1999. During that time he also contributed eight goals, but in December 1998 he was farmed out on lon to Oxford United, and just a week after returning from that spell he was sold to Notts County for an undisclosed fee. 98 League and Cup games followed at Meadow Lane with just a solitary goal, and on 6th August 2002 he moved to Colchester. Whilst at Layer Road he was in the running for the Player-of-the-Year award after 21 solid performances at the heart of the U's back-line, despite being sent off twice.
He will be joined by former Charlton Athletic and Bury defender Jamie Stuart, who also signed a one-year contract. The 26-year-old Southwark-born player, who is primarily a left-back, played at Roots Hall just a month ago as the Shakers defeated Blues 2-1 in the last home game of the 2002/3 campaign. He appeared for the Lancastrians in their 0-0 play-off semi-final draw at Gigg Lane against AFC Bournemouth, but an unfortunate dismissal, for punching Wade Elliott after the Cherries winger had broken his nose with an elbow, ended his season.
The former England Under-21 defender, who has recently become the father of an eight-month old baby explained, "I know a bit about Southend United and I'd heard quite a bit about the team and I really fancied it. Steve Wignall told me of his plans and was very honest with me in that he likes players to work hard and he likes discipline." The talented ex-Millwall man then continued to say, "I feel I can bring experience, strength, passion and more to the side and I can't wait to start the season really."
Stuart started his League career at Charlton, where he made 63 appearances in all competitions during three years at the Valley. After being banned for six months from professional football for taking cocaine and marujana, the wing-back spent a further two years, this time at the Addicks' south-east London rivals Millwall produced 53 more League and Cup games until, in October 2001 he moved north to Bury. Whilst with the Greater Manchester-based outfit he appeared 71 times, netting twice and taking his career goalscoring tally to five.
Shrimpers' chief Wignall explained of Stuart, "he's played in the First Division and he's the kind of quality we're looking for. He's a very physically strong player with a good left foot, a good defender who also joins in as well." And the signs are very good regarding commitment as Wignall stated, "he wants to move back [south] for family reasons and he never hesitated coming to Southend United because he felt it would be a good stepping stone for him". Wignall earlier said of Warren, "He is a good out-and-out defender and I think that that is something we have been lacking."
Mark Warren Factfile
Position: Defender
Born: Clapton, East London
Age: 28 (Date of Birth: 12th November 1974)
Height: 5ft 9ins
Weight: 10st 5lbs
Career (281 appearances plus 31 as a substitute, 9 goals):
Leyton Orient (6th July 1992-28th January 1999): 166(23) matches, 8 goals
Oxford United (24th December 1998-20th January 1999) [loan]: 4(0) matches, 0 goals
Notts County (28th January 1999-6th August 2002): 90(8) matches, 1 goal
Colchester United (6th August 2002-29th May 2003): 21(0) matches, 0 goals
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Position: Defender
Born: Southwark, South London
Age: 26 (Date of Birth: 15th October 1976)
Height: 5ft 10ins
Weight: 11st
Career (176 appearances plus 13 as a substitute, 5 goals):
Charlton Athletic (18th January 1995-10th December 1997): 60(3) matches, 3 goals
Millwall (1st July 1997-16th October 2002): 50(3) matches, 0 goals
Bury (16th October 2002-29th May 2002): 64(7) matches, 2 goals
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com