Mark Snijders

Mark Snijders

Personal information
Full name	Mark Werner Snijders
Date of birth	(1972-03-12) 12 March 1972
Place of birth	Alkmaar, Netherlands
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1977–1985	Alkmaarsche boys
1985–1987	AFC '34
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1997	AZ Alkmaar	172	(4)
1997–2000	Port Vale	55	(2)
Total		227	(6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mark Werner Snijders (born 12 March 1972) is a Dutch former footballer. He spent eight years with AZ Alkmaar and then three years playing in the Football League with Port Vale.

Career

Snijders left his home town club AZ Alkmaar for English First Division club Port Vale following a successful trial in the summer of 1997, leaving behind a newly signed contract with AZ. He was one of several John Rudge's Dutch signings. He made his Vale debut in a 2–1 win over Stockport County at Vale Park on 9 September 1997. He scored his first goal for the club eighteen days later in a 2–0 home win over Queens Park Rangers. In all, he made 25 appearances that season, picking up his second goal in a 3–2 win over Manchester City at Maine Road. His classy play and skilful reading of the game impressed the Vale faithful.

In 1998–99, the club were battling against relegation; Snijders played five games in August but fell out of the first-team and only made a total of twelve appearances. He had suffered injuries and a loss of form. The 1999–2000 season saw Vale suffer relegation and the departure of Rudge. Snijders was a semi-regular under Rudge and his replacement Brian Horton, playing 22 games that season. He was sent off at the Alexandra Stadium, in a 2–1 defeat to near rivals Crewe Alexandra on 7 March. He was released by the club at the end of the season and joined his old amateur side AFC '34, back in the Netherlands.

Career statistics

Source:

Club	Season	Division	League		National Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
AZ Alkmaar	1989–90	Eerste Divisie	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
	1990–91	Eerste Divisie	21	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	1991–92	Eerste Divisie	30	0	1	0	0	0	31	0
	1992–93	Eerste Divisie	34	0	2	0	0	0	36	0
	1993–94	Eerste Divisie	32	1	2	0	0	0	34	1
	1994–95	Eerste Divisie	22	1	4	0	0	0	26	1
	1995–96	Eerste Divisie	3	0	3	0	0	0	6	0
	1996–97	Eredivisie	25	2	3	0	0	0	28	2
	Total		172	4	15	0	0	0	187	4
Port Vale	1997–98	First Division	24	2	2	0	0	0	26	2
	1998–99	First Division	10	0	0	0	2	0	12	0
	1999–2000	First Division	21	0	1	0	0	0	22	0
	Total		55	2	3	0	2	0	60	2
Career total			227	6	18	0	2	0	247	6