Mark Bunn (English footballer)

2.1. Northampton Town

Bunn began his professional career with Northampton Town, where he had joined after his youth career. Early in his tenure, he gained experience through loan spells at non-league clubs, including Aylesbury United and Kettering Town in 2004, making 17 appearances for the latter.

He made his first team debut for Northampton in August 2005, in a League Cup first-round match, contributing to a 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers. His league debut followed in August 2006, under manager John Gorman, against Nottingham Forest. Bunn's consistent performances allowed him to displace Lee Harper, the club's long-term first-choice goalkeeper, who subsequently left Sixfields for Milton Keynes Dons. On April 19, 2008, he reached a significant milestone by making his 100th appearance for the "Cobblers" in a 2-0 win against Oldham Athletic.

His impact at the club was formally recognized when he was awarded the Northampton Town Player of the Season on April 27, 2007, surpassing teammates Jason Crowe and Chris Doig. In July 2007, his former manager, Colin Calderwood, then managing Nottingham Forest, expressed interest in signing Bunn. Reports also indicated interest from Nottingham Forest's East Midlands rivals, Derby County. In total, Bunn made 90 league appearances for Northampton Town before his departure.

2.2. Blackburn Rovers

On August 29, 2008, at the age of 23, Mark Bunn transferred to Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. The signing was finalized two days later on transfer deadline day, securing a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, widely reported to be over 1.00 M GBP. He made his debut for Blackburn at 24 in an FA Cup third-round tie against Blyth Spartans.

To gain further playing experience, Bunn was loaned out twice during his time at Blackburn.

• Loan to Leicester City (2009):** On February 16, 2009, he joined Leicester City on a one-month loan after their first-choice goalkeeper, David Martin, suffered an injury. He debuted the following day in a 2-2 draw against Hartlepool United. A notable moment occurred on February 21, when he saved a penalty kick in a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers. After making three appearances, Bunn was recalled by Blackburn in early March due to an injury sustained by their first-choice keeper, Paul Robinson, during Blackburn's 2-1 victory against Hull City, although Bunn did not make any further appearances for Rovers that season.
• Loan to Sheffield United (2009-2010):** In August 2009, Bunn joined Sheffield United on an initial one-month loan, which was subsequently extended to six months, and then for the remainder of the season. He debuted in United's first game of the season, maintaining a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough. While he started as the first-choice goalkeeper, a temporary dip in form led to him being moved to the reserves. However, injuries to other goalkeepers at the club saw him return to the first team towards the end of the year, where his improved performances helped him reclaim his position as the primary keeper. He played 35 games for Sheffield United before Blackburn Rovers recalled him to Ewood Park in March 2010 due to another injury to Paul Robinson.

Upon his return to Blackburn, for the 2010-11 season, Bunn changed his shirt number from 38 to 13. He made appearances in the League Cup, including a 3-1 victory against Norwich City on August 24, 2010, and a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park on September 22, 2010. His Premier League debut came on December 28, 2010, when he entered as a half-time substitute for an injured Paul Robinson in a 3-1 away win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. In February 2011, Bunn signed a contract extension, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2013.

In the 2011-12 season, Bunn continued to feature in cup competitions. He played the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday on August 24, 2011, and a 3-2 victory over Leyton Orient on September 21, both at Ewood Park in the League Cup. On October 26, 2011, he started in the League Cup fourth round against Newcastle United at Ewood Park, playing the full 120 minutes in a thrilling 4-3 victory that saw Gael Givet score the winner in extra-time. On November 29, 2011, he played 90 minutes in a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium. Bunn made his full Premier League start on December 26, 2011, against Liverpool at Anfield in a 1-1 draw, making a crucial reflex save in the final minute to secure a point for Rovers. Just five days later, on December 31, 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes in goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford, contributing to a stunning 3-2 away victory for Blackburn. He made 8 appearances in all competitions during the 2011-12 season. He ultimately left Blackburn in 2012.

2.3. Norwich City

On August 29, 2012, Mark Bunn joined Premier League side Norwich City for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal, with an option for an additional year. He was signed primarily to compete with John Ruddy for the role of Norwich's leading goalkeeper.

Bunn made his debut for the "Canaries" in a League Cup match against Doncaster Rovers where he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory at Carrow Road. He held onto the gloves for the subsequent League Cup match against his former youth club, Tottenham Hotspur, in which he was awarded Man of the Match, partly due to a crucial last-minute penalty save that helped Norwich secure a 2-1 win.

His first Premier League appearance for Norwich came on November 24, when he replaced the injured John Ruddy in the 82nd minute of a 1-1 away draw against Everton. Four days later, he made his first league start, contributing to another 1-1 draw, this time away to Southampton. On February 2, 2013, in an away match against Queens Park Rangers, Bunn notably saved a penalty from Adel Taarabt, a penalty he had conceded himself by fouling Jamie Mackie inside the box. On March 17, he was sent off in a match against Sunderland for handling a loose ball outside the penalty area. He made 23 appearances for Norwich City. On May 24, 2015, Bunn announced via his Twitter account that he would be leaving Norwich at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season.

2.4. Aston Villa

On July 9, 2015, Bunn joined Aston Villa as a free agent, signing a two-year contract. He made his debut for Aston Villa on August 25, 2015, in a League Cup fixture against Notts County, a match which Villa won 5-3. A significant moment during his tenure occurred on January 16, 2016, when he saved a penalty taken by Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City in a 1-1 draw between the two clubs. He made 18 appearances for Aston Villa. He was released by the club at the end of the 2018-19 season, with his departure announced on June 1, 2019.