Joining from Forest Green Rovers at the end of January 2008 for an undisclosed fee, Mark Beesley is a skilful and intelligent forward who can play up front or 'in the hole'.

His career began as a trainee at Preston North End, where he made a couple of substitute appearances for the Championship club, but he blossomed after joining Chester City in 2000, where he played and scored regularly in the Conference for two seasons.

A change of manager saw him moving south to join Hereford in December 2003, then Forest Green the following summer. He was a first team regular until April 2005, but struggled to break back into the side after nine months out with a cruciate ligament injury.  When Jim Harvey became Forest Green manager Mark's career took an upturn again and by the time Cambridge United's bid was accepted in January 2008 he had scored ten league goals so far and set up many for leading scorer Stuart Fleetwood (including a hat-trick against the U's!)

Finishing the season with a further seven goals in United colours, 'Bees' signed a new contract to 2010 but last season was curtailed in March by a hip operation that ruled him out for the rest of the season.  This season the partnership of Holroyd and Crow saw Mark join former club Chester for two months on loan to play some first team football, returning at the beginning of December.