Nicky Marker, from Budleigh Salterton, joined Exeter City as an apprentice in 1981 and made just over 200 league appearances before signing for Plymouth Argyle in 1987 where he played a similar number of games. Moving to Blackburn Rovers for £500,000 in 1992 he later played for Sheffield United before returning to Devon. He was injured when Blackburn won the Premier League in 1995. 

The classy defender immediately impressed with his unflappable style and versatility as a teenager with Exeter City, signing a full professional contract in May 1983 after being an apprentice.

Having followed in the footsteps of his older brother Robin (briefly a youth and A team player at club), Nicky soon took a step further by making his debut for the Grecians as a 16-year-old against Burnley at Turf Moor. By 1984-85 Nicky had established himself as first choice centre-half and only missed one league match. In October 1987, he moved to rivals Plymouth Argyle, with the deal taking Darran Rowbotham in the opposite direction.

Within two years, Nicky was club captain and player of the year as he went on to appear in 202 league matches and scoring 13 goals. A fee of £200,000 plus two players, Kevin Hill and Craig Skinner in part exchange, took him to Blackburn Rovers in September 1992. However he only started 41 league matches for the Ewood Park club, plus a further 13 as substitute. Nicky was transferred to Sheffield United in July 1997 where he featured in 61 league games and netted five goals. On his release from there he signed for Cheltenham Town, but didn't play a league game for them and an injury finally forced him to retire from top level football.

Nicky did make a fleeting comeback in 2000-01 when he played once for Tiverton Town, but suffering from arthritic hips, he retired from the game once again and worked as a wood machinist with Princess Yachts in Plymouth. He then became involved with Plymouth club Tamarside when his son was playing for the club and was soon to run the club’s adult team as well as serving as chairman.

Later from 2010, when living in Ivybridge, Nicky had a spell of several seasons helping the town’s SW Peninsula League club working at times alongside former Exeter defender Graeme Kirkup.

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