Academy Director | Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis was the co-founder of RIASA

At the age of 15, Mark was spotted by Bradford City FC and within a very short time
was playing in both their U18 and reserve teams. At 18, Mark acquired a professional
contract and made his 1st team debut months later when just 19. Mark played at
Bradford City for 10 years, appearing in over 200 league games and scoring 35 goals.

Mark was involved in many of Bradford’s league cup games and holds the 3rd highest
number of appearances in the FA cup for them.

After a major injury at a young age, Mark moved to lower level club Halifax Town,
staying for 18 months and playing in over 40 1st team games. In 1988, Mark made a
move to South Africa where he ended his professional career playing for Hellenic FC in the PSL.

After retiring, Mark returned home and, whilst playing semi-pro for local teams
Guiseley and Harrogate Town, changed his focus to a career in coaching. As well as
working with academy and community football in the UK at Huddersfield Town,
Bradford City and Leeds United, during the summer months Mark also ran soccer camps in Orlando, Minnesota and Michigan each year.  

Several years later, after working at Thomas Danby College in Leeds and with Bradford College, the idea of RIASA was realised and the rest, as they say, is history.