Huge thanks to Alex Philp for his assistance with this article
Happy 40th birthday to one of the most exciting players North Wales football has produced.
Born on February 11, 1985, former Liverpool, Sheffield Wednesday, Wrexham, Porthmadog, Caernarfon Town and Colwyn Bay attacking midfielder Marcus Orlik reaches that special age where life reportedly begins today,
Bangor-born Marcus began playing in the local Gwyrfai League and the Ysgol Brynrefail, Llanrug, school team.
He then caught the eye of the Welsh selectors and was included in the Wales Under-15’s squad for the Victory Shield in 2000 – and won his first cap the following season.
Marcus soon joined Liverpool FC, signing a three year scholarship deal. He was then a regular in the under-17 Liverpool side and represented the club at the Amsterdam Tournament in August 2000 where he scored in the 2-0 victory versus Brugge.
Upon his release from Liverpool – also fitting in a spell at Wrexham – he joined Sheffield Wednesday for the 2002/03 campaign where he was to play for the youth and reserve sides. In 2004 he joined Colwyn Bay and made several appearances for the Unibond League side.
In November 2004, Caernarfon Town manager Waynne Phillips signed Marcus and he went on to make 16 starts, 5 substitute appearances and scored 7 goals as the side finished in 15th position in the Welsh Premier.
The following season saw Marcus retain his place in the starting line up and become an influential member of the first team squad, adding a further 25 appearances and scoring 5 goals.
He was to leave the Oval for Rhyl in June 2006 along with Dylan Owen, but after 5 substitute apps Marcus was released to join Porthmadog in where he made 11 appearances, scoring 3 times and also signed second forms for Llangefni Town, helping them to promotion to the Welsh Premier League.
Over the next 5 seasons he became a favourite at Y Traeth making over 100 appearances and scoring 35 goals. He did suffer from several injuries during his time with Port and this led to a spell on loan at Llangefni in 2008/09 to regain fitness after breaking his metatarsal twice which saw him sidelined for a lengthy period.
His highlights at Port included a hat-trick versus Welshpool in a dramatic 5-4 victory in November 2010, the Huws Gray Cup Final in 2010/11 and scoring a cracker to lift the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup when Port beat Llandudno 1-0.
In the 2010/11 season, he scored 15 goals in all competitions.
After leaving Port, Marcus had spells with Glantraeth and Llanberis (twice) before hanging up his boots due to work commitments.
He later returned to represent Porthmadog, Penrhyndeudraeth and Llanberis – knocking in a fair few goals along the way – before retiring at the start of 2023.
Marcus is currently assistant-manager at Llanberis of the North Wales Coast West Premier Division.
A very popular player who was comfortable in midfield or up front, having scored goals at all the clubs he played for he became one of the best finishers on the coast, and would surely have added many more to his tally had he not been unlucky with injuries. As well as his pace and trickery, he will be remembered as a dead-ball specialist.
In all, Marcus made 86 Welsh Premier appearances, netting 18 goals. He played in 46 matches for Caernarfon, netting 12, and 40 in Porthmadog colours, scoring six.
The 2006-07 season saw Marcus make his European debut when he appeared as a 70th minute substitute for Rhyl in a 2-1 Uefa Cup loss in Lithuania against FK Suduva.
He replaced Chris Sharp, who had unfortunately suffered a broken leg. Marcus went close to scoring as the Lilywhites pushed hard for an equaliser which would have earned them victory on away goals, the opening leg having ended 0-0.
Football runs in the family as Marcus’ sister Ailsa played for the excellent Bangor City and Caernarfon Town sides managed by Keith Fearns in the 1990s and 2000s.
Caernarfon Town’s ground The Oval is based on Marcus Street – any link?
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