30th June 1976

Birmingham

Birmingham-born Ellis Laight was a youth player at Exeter City during 1992/93 before joining Torquay Unted in June 1993 and making his league debut in January 1994. He later enjoyed a successful Western League career and was part of the Taunton Town team that won the FA Vase in 2001.

Never quite making the breakthough at Plainmoor, he started 18 league games and made 23 substitute appearances (scoring three goals) ahead of signing for Bideford at the start of the 1996/97 season. 

Continuing to live in Torquay, he immediately did well in North Devon and had a trial at  Rushden & Diamonds where he featured in a Northamptonshire Senior Cup tie at Rothwell Town. With nothing coming of Diamonds' interest he remained at Bideford before moving to Taunton Town in July 2000.

Ellis, a childhood Aston Villa supporter, played for Taunton when they won the FA Vase at Villa Park in May 2001 and, in a team in which South Devon-based players predominated, he enjoyed a notable strike partnership with Antony Lynch.

Ellis rejoined Bideford in July 2003, became their captain and in total played 409 games for the Robins scoring 148 goals. Leaving Bideford in July 2011, he signed for Bovey Tracey prior to having a third spell at Bideford. He then went on to play for Buckland Athletic where he subsequently became manager until the end of 2017.

Ellis's daughter Lily became an actor, dancer and singer.