 |
Every successful footballer hopes to have a career with many high points. Marc wasn't even out of his teens when he notched the first of his.
For it was of course Fizzy’s famous lung bursting run and clinical strike which won the 2004'05 CIS League Cup Semi to take Motherwell to their first Hampden final in 14 years.
Since then rather produce more individual feats Fitzpatrick has proven himself a steady team player who works quietly and efficiently to allow the more renowned players in the side to do their stuff.
Marc made his Motherwell debut as a substitute at the tail end of the 2003-2004 season in a 1-1 draw against Celtic, just a day after his 18th birthday. He followed that up by starting his first game for the club against Hearts a few days later.
Highly regarded by Terry Butcher and his coaching staff Marc was showcased as the model for the many promising youngsters in the Fir Park youth sides. Despite the fact he was still eligible for U19 football, Fitzpatrick was fast-tracked to the first team squad with the message made clear - if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Butcher was true to his word and Marc featured regularly throughout the 2004-2005 campaign, mostly on the left of midfield but occasionally through the middle and once or twice filling in with varying degrees of success for Steven Hammell at left-back. Fizzy’s moment of glory came in February when with seconds remaining in the League Cup Semi Final against Hearts, and the score tied at 2-2, he collected a pass from Scott McDonald and sped towards goal. Seconds later, the ball was in the net, Fitzpatrick was behind the goal celebrating and 5000 odd Dossers were going absolutely balistic all around him.
It seemed like Marc quite liked the notion of scoring against the Jambos (who wouldn't!) for he repeated the trick a couple of weeks later as he continued to have a very effective first full season in the top team.
Sadly for Marc he wasn't able to build on that first full season in the first team squad as he endured a lousy 2005'06 campaign.
Injury and illness delayed his introduction to proceedings at the outset of the 05'06 season and returned to haunt him at various points in the campaign. Worse still, even when he was fit he struggled to make inroads into the first team with Terry Butcher electing to go initially with loanee Andy Smith and Richie Foran wide on the left in the absence of Jim Paterson.
By the conclusion of the season Fitzpatrick had made only a single start and 9 substitute appearances scoring one goal against Dundee Utd.
The 2006'07 campaign however saw Marc make inroads into the 'Well first team once more.
Used primarily as cover at left-back for Jim Paterson at the start of the season, Fitzpatrick got the chance he craved for in central midfield when Keith Lasley was ruled out for several months.
Fitzpatrick grabbed the opportunity with both hands, forming a decent partnership with Brian Kerr in the centre of park and helping Motherwell move clear of bottom placed Dunfermline, not least by netting one of the goals in 'Well's 2-0 win over the Pars on Boxing Day.
Fizzy's form was rewarded with a call-up to the Scotland U21 side to play Germany in early February 2007 and he played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 loss to the Germans at Broadwood.
Towards the end of the campaign though Marc's season began to peter out somewhat as Maurice Malpas went with a central midfield combination of Brian Kerr and Hungarian midfielder Kristian Vadocz. It saw the midfielder start only three times from March until the end of the season, one of which included Fitzpatrick putting through his own net against Aberdeen.
Like a number of his team-mates Fitzpatrick grew in stature following the arrival of Mark McGhee as manager and the 2007'08 campaign saw him fully establish himself in the side. Growing in confidence throughout the season Fizzy made 35 league and cup outings for 'Well and sufficiently impressed to be offered a contract extension, taking him to the summer of 2010.
Motherwell had an up and down 2008'09 season and Fitzpatrick was often one of the first to bear the brunt of some supporters frustrations. Marc received some public backing and responded with a number of very solid displays and chipping in with a goal in the memorable 4-0 win over Dundee Utd. Despite that Marc drifted out of the side towards the close of the season starting only one other match after helping 'Well to a 1-1 draw against Celtic in February.
Life under Jim Gannon proved frustrating for several long-standing Motherwell players, the Lanark born midfielder among them featuring in just a single match as a substitute appearance to his name under the former Stockport manager.
Following Gannon's departure however Fitzpatrick edged towards a first team return with a substitute appearance in the 3-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park quickly followed by a his first start in almost eight months in another 3-0 away win, this time against Aberdeen.
Disaster struck though just days later when only minutes after coming off the bench in the Lanarkshire derby Fitzpatrick suffered a hamstring tear which ended his season there and then.
Acknowledging that he had yet to see what Fitzpatrick had to offer because of his injury problems, 'Well manager Craig Brown gave Fizzy a six month deal to prove to his worth in the summer of 2010.
|
D.O.B:
11/05/1986
Born:
Lanark
Height:
6'
Weight:
12st 1Ibs
Signed From:
MFC Youth
Position:
Midfielder
International Caps:
 0
International Goals:
0
2010/11 Squad No:
17
|