Fondly-remembered at Torquay United, Mark Loram had a brief spell with Exeter City in 1992 towards the end of an eventful professional career that finished at the age of twenty-six. He then enjoyed a long non-league career, most notably with Taunton Town, playing on at various levels into his mid-forties. 

Growing up in Brixham, Mark played for Brixham Villa before joining Torquay United as a seventeen-year-old in January 1985. Making his debut within weeks Mark became something of a ‘hot property’ and, after scoring eight league goals in 52 games, moved to Queens Park Rangers in May 1986. Although he was soon in contention, and an unused first-team substitute on occasion, Mark found it hard to settle in West London and was often to be found back in South Devon.

Returning to Plainmoor in March 1987, initially on loan, Mark’s four goals in thirteen outings helped Torquay avoid relegation to the Conference. Back permanently for the following season, and with the club experiencing a revival firstly under Cyril Knowles, Mark went on to spend much of his early- and mid-twenties colourfully accumulating over 200 league appearances for his local club scoring forty league goals along the way. Although there was often speculation about a move to a bigger club, disciplinary issues arose from time-to-time ultimately undermining Mark’s time at Plainmoor. Forever remaining a mercurial talent Mark’s Torquay career effectively ended in April 1992 several months short of his 25th birthday. 

Moving to Stockport County on a month’s loan, Mark’s Torquay contract was cancelled as a result of ongoing issues in August 1992. With Torquay retaining his registration, and Mark having had a few games with Yate Town and reportedly a trial at West Ham, his signing for Exeter City in September 1992 was officially classified as a loan transfer.      

Mark made his Grecians debut against Leyton Orient on 19 September 1992 and, after being a substitute for the next game against West Bromwich Albion, returned to make his third and final appearance for City at home to Bournemouth on 3 October 1992. It was reported that Torquay wanted £5,000 to make the transfer permanent, and with City not being prepared to pay the amount, Mark left St James’ Park after just a few weeks. 

After dropping to the South Devon League, and also appearing for Weymouth and Minehead, Mark - who had just turned twenty-six - returned to Torquay to make a solitary substitute appearance against Colchester United on 4 September 1993. By this time, in all competitions, Mark had appeared for Torquay on 331 occasions scoring 63 times.

Proving to be his final game in professional football Mark then, as a player often seen as something of a ‘wasted talent’, proceeded to enjoy a remarkably-long non-league career giving rise to the belief that he simply wanted to play football irrespective of the occasion or the level. Playing initially for Eamonn Collins’ Elmore, Mark spent a season with Penzance before winning several Western League championships with Taunton Town. Moving down the leagues in his early thirties, he went on to appear for Dartmouth, Totnes & Dartington, Brixham United and - into his mid-forties - Upton Athletic in Torquay.