Solly March

Solly March
March playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018
Personal information
Full name Solomon Benjamin March[1]
Date of birth (1994-07-20) 20 July 1994[2]
Place of birth Eastbourne, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
Number 20
Youth career
2009–2010 Eastbourne Borough
2010–2011 Lewes
2011–2013 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Lewes 1 (0)
2013– Brighton & Hove Albion 115 (8)
National team
2014 England U20 4 (0)
2015–2017 England U21 3 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:37, 4 September 2018 (UTC)

Solomon Benjamin March (born 20 July 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Early life

March was born in Eastbourne, East Sussex. His father, Steve, had been an apprentice footballer at Brighton & Hove Albion in the late 1980s.[4] March attended secondary school at Ringmer Community College and St Bede's School, Hailsham.[5] Between 2008 and 2012 March played cricket for Hellingly C.C.[6]

Club career

Lewes

March played at Crystal Palace between the ages of 11 and 13 and then switched from Eastbourne Borough to fellow East Sussex club Lewes as a youth player.[7][8] Lewes were playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division, and the 17-year-old March made his first-team debut on 10 September 2011, coming on in the 86th minute as a substitute against Aveley,[9] when he was offered a scholarship by Brighton & Hove Albion.[4]

Early days at Brighton

March signed a three-year contract with Brighton in December 2011.[10] At the time of his transfer it was reported by the Brighton Argus that March had also been offered a contract with Millwall and a trial with Newcastle United.[11] Lewes manager Steve King suggested that March had been attracted to Brighton because of the style of football they were playing under manager Gus Poyet and because the move to another East Sussex club would allow him to remain close to his family.[4]

While progressing through Brighton's youth squad, March quickly made an impact for the side and scored a hat–trick, in a 3–1 win over Stevenage's youth squad on 18 February 2012.[12] While still a member of Brighton's development squad, 2013 saw the beginning of March's senior career. During the last half of the 2012–13 season, March made the bench for three senior Championship games but did not make an appearance.[13] March impressed in Brighton's youth squad, earning himself the team's Young Player of the Year Award 2013[14] and a contract extension until 2015.[15]

2013–14

He then performed well in pre-season friendlies with the first team prior to the start of the 2013–14 season; highlighted with a 'superb' goal against Norwich City.[16] March was a named substitute in five of the first six games in the 2013–14 season and was substituted on in the 85th and 91st minutes against Derby County and Burnley respectively,[17] thus creating his debut in Brighton's first team. Around November, March's first team opportunities became limited, leading to rumours that he's expected to be loaned out.[18] However, the move never happened and he stayed at the club.[19] Despite this, March scored his first senior goal for the Albion in an FA Cup fourth round tie at Port Vale on 25 January 2014. The game also saw Rohan Ince and Jon Obika score their first goals for the club in a 3–1 win.[20] For the rest of the season, March was given a handful of first team opportunities, resulting him making 28 appearances in all competitions.[21][22][23] Because of this, March signed a new four-year deal with the Seagulls in April 2014.[24]

2014–15

March playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2014

To begin the 2014–15 season, March worked on improving his match fitness.[25] However, his progress stalled as he suffered a lower back problem that would rule him out for several months.[26] After returning to training from injury,[27] March made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a second half substitute, in a 2–1 loss against Fulham on 29 November 2014.[28] In the club's second meeting against Fulham thirty days later, on 29 December 2014, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win.[29] This was followed up by setting up a goal for Rohan Ince, who scored the only goal of the game, in a win over Charlton Athletic.[30] March went on to have a handful of first team appearances until February when he suffered a calf injury during a 3–2 loss against Nottingham Forest on 7 February 2015, in what turns out to be his last appearance of the season.[31] Initially out for weeks, March was eventually for the rest of the season.[32][33] Despite this, he went on to make 13 appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

2015–16

In the 2015–16 season, March returned to the first team from injury[34] and started the season well when he set up a goal for Kazenga LuaLua, in a 1–0 win over Nottingham Forest.[35] Since returning from injury, March regained his first team place at the club, mostly in the right–midfield position.[36] He then scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win over Leeds United on 17 October 2015.[37] He went on to score two goals later in the season against MK Dons[38] and Birmingham City.[39] His performance throughout November earned him a nomination for November's Player of the Month but lost out to Daryl Murphy.[40][41] However, on 12 December 2015, March suffered a season ending knee injury during a 2–2 draw against Derby County.[42] Despite this, March made 17 appearances and scored three times for Brighton in the 2015–16 season.

2016–17

At the beginning of the 2016–17 season, March remained sidelined out of the first team since returning from a knee injury.[43] He returned to action from injury in a reserve match against Aston Villa’s U23 side on 22 August 2016.[44] After playing in the reserve side for the first few months since returning from injury,[45] March signed a contract extension with Brighton, keeping him at the club until 2020.[46] March made his return to the first team on 5 November 2016, coming on as a second–half substitute in a 2–0 win over Bristol City.[47] March then scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–3 draw against Brentford on 5 February 2017.[48] This was followed up by setting up two goals in a 4–1 win over Burton Albion.[49] March went on to score two more goals throughout the season, against Rotherham United[50] and Wigan Athletic, with the Wigan goal on 17 April 2017 being the decider in Brighton's promotion.[51] Since returning to the first team from injury, March began to regained his first team in the midfield position and played a key role in the side gaining promotion to the Premier League.[52][53][54] At the end of the 2016–17 season, March went on to make 24 appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.

2017–18

In the 2017–18 season, March made his Premier League debut, where he started and played for 75 minutes before being substituted, in a 2–0 loss against Manchester City.[55] March scored his first Premier League goal for Brighton on 15 September 2017, the opening goal in a 2–1 away defeat to AFC Bournemouth.[56]

International career

March was named by Gareth Southgate as a forward in the England Under-21 squad in May 2014. The squad will play a Euro U-21s qualification match against Wales and at least four games at the Toulon Tournament. March had not previously played for England at any level.[57] After appearing as an unused substitute against Wales U21 on 19 May 2014,[58] Solly made his England under-21 debut against Qatar U20 on 22 May 2014.[59] On 27 March 2017, March scored his first international goal in a U21 friendly against Denmark U21 with a strike from outside the box.[60]

Style of play

March typically plays on the wing either in midfield or as part of a forward line. Steve King, his former manager at Lewes, described March as a "technically very good" player who "has bags of energy, is a box-to-box player, has a good left foot, a good shot, he sees things early and the weight of his passes is very good."[4][8]

Personal life

In May 2017, following Brighton & Hove Albion's promotion to the Premier League, March became engaged to girlfriend Amelia Goldman after proposing to her in Dubai.[61]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 September 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lewes 2011–12[62] Isthmian League
Premier Division		 1000—0010
Brighton & Hove Albion 2012–13[63] Championship 0000000000
2013–14[64] Championship 23041001[lower-alpha 1]0281
2014–15[65] Championship 1112000—131
2015–16[66] Championship 163001000173
2016–17[67] Championship 2532000—273
2017–18[68] Premier League 3613010—401
2018–19[69] Premier League 400000—40
Total 115811120101299
Brighton & Hove Albion U23 2016–17[67] ———1[lower-alpha 2]010
Career total 116811120201319
  1. ↑ Appearance in Championship play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearance in EFL Trophy

Honours

Brighton & Hove Albion

References

  1. ↑ "March: Solomon Benjamin March: Player". BDFutbol. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "Solly March". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "Solomon March". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Griggs, Howard (22 November 2011). "Seagulls swoop for Lewes starlet". The Argus. Brighton. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Harms, Caroline (26 June 2015). "Alumni: Bede's welcomes returning footballer Solomon March". Bede's. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "Barnsley Woolley Miners CC". bwmcc.play-cricket.com.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Scout Report: Solly March". Outside of the Boot. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  9. ↑ Harper, Tom (24 September 2011). "Match report Lewes 4:1 Aveley". The Rooks. Lewes F.C. p. 13 – via Calaméo.
  10. ↑ "Seagulls seal non-league swoop".
  11. ↑ "Albion snatched Solly March from under the nose of Newcastle". The Argus. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "March treble wins it for kids". The Argus. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  13. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion make two changes". The Argus. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Bridcutt Named Player of the Year". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  15. ↑ "Four youngsters handed new deals (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  16. ↑ Owen, Brian (30 July 2013). "March strike gives Albion a draw (From The Argus)". The Argus. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "Solly on the March for Albion". The Argus. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  18. ↑ "Albion prospect could go out on loan". The Argus. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  19. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion prospect stays". The Argus. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  20. ↑ "Port Vale 1 – 3 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  21. ↑ "Albion youngster surprised by rapid progress". The Argus. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  22. ↑ "Solly can march on for Seagulls". The Argus. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  23. ↑ "March starts, Mackail-Smith on bench". The Argus. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  24. ↑ "March Buzzing Over Future". Brighton & Hove Albion FC. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014.
  25. ↑ "Fenelon starts as Albion hand out four debuts". The Argus. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  26. ↑ "Albion concern about March injury". The Argus. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  27. ↑ "Albion keeper allowed to stay put in Middle East as Stockdale returns". The Argus. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  28. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion 1 – 2 Fulham". BBC Sport. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  29. ↑ "Fulham 0 – 2 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  30. ↑ "Charlton Athletic 0 – 1 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  31. ↑ "Hughton vows to look at loan market to end Albion's wing woes". The Argus. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  32. ↑ "March likely to miss rest of Albion's campaign". The Argus. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  33. ↑ "March blow for Albion as they close in on Ledesma". The Argus. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  34. ↑ "March targets a big year with Albion and England". The Argus. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  35. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion 1 – 0 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  36. ↑ "March starts on the wing and Dunk is back". The Argus. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  37. ↑ "Leeds United 1 – 2 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  38. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion 2 – 1 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  39. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion 2 – 1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  40. ↑ "Albion duo shortlisted for November awards". The Argus. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  41. ↑ "Brighton and Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton avoids manager of the month hoodoo". The Argus. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  42. ↑ "Solly March: Brighton winger's season ended by knee injury". BBC Sport. 16 December 2015.
  43. ↑ "Brighton and Hove Albion duo likely to miss pre-season trip". The Argus. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  44. ↑ "Brighton and Hove Albion winger Solly March back in action after lengthy injury". The Argus. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  45. ↑ "More game time for Solly March as Albion Under-23s win". The Argus. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  46. ↑ "Solly March signs long-term Brighton and Hove Albion deal". The Argus. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  47. ↑ "Bristol City 0 – 2 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  48. ↑ "Brentford 3 – 3 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  49. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion 4 – 1 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  50. ↑ "Rotherham United 0 – 2 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  51. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion 2 – 1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  52. ↑ "Steve Sidwell can't wait to see Solly March in full flight". The Argus. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  53. ↑ "Brighton and Hove Albion urged to give Solly March a run of games". The Argus. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  54. ↑ "Promotion celebration: Ten reasons why Brighton and Hove Albion are heading for the Premier League". The Argus. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  55. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion 0 – 2 Manchester City". BBC Sport. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  56. ↑ "AFC Bournemouth 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 15 September 2017.
  57. ↑ "England U21 squad for Wales and Toulon named". The Football Association. 13 May 2014.
  58. ↑ "Albion midfielder makes England debut". The Argus. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  59. ↑ "Forster-Caskey on target as England start with a win". The Argus. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  60. ↑ "Denmark U21 0–4 England U21". BBC Sport. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  61. ↑ "Brighton and Hove Albion winger Solly March aiming to take Premier League by storm". The Argus. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  62. ↑ "Players appearances and goals". The Rooks. Lewes F.C. 28 April 2012. p. 26 – via Calaméo.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Solly March in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Solly March in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Solly March in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Solly March in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  67. 1 2 3 "Games played by Solly March in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Solly March in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Solly March in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  70. ↑ "Championship: 2016/17: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
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