Chris Clarke (footballer)

Christopher Edward Clarke (born 18 December 1980) is an English footballer who plays as a defender.

For other uses, see Chris Clarke (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Chris Clark.

Chris Clarke
Personal information
Full name Christopher Edward Clarke[1]
Date of birth (1980-12-18) 18 December 1980[1]
Place of birth Leeds, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
000?–1999 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Halifax Town 51 (1)
2002–2004 Blackpool 46 (2)
2004 Cambridge United 1 (0)
2004 York City 5 (0)
2004–2005 Halifax Town 4 (0)
2005 → Leigh RMI (loan) 4 (0)
2005–2006 Guiseley 21 (2)
2006–? Bradford Park Avenue ? (?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:35, 12 June 2011 (UTC)

Career

Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Clarke started his career with the Wolverhampton Wanderers youth system alongside his twin brother Matthew and after being released by the club the pair signed for Third Division outfit Halifax Town in July 1999.[1][3][4] He left the club in February 2002 after signing for Second Division side Blackpool on a two-and-a-half-year contract with the option of an additional year for a fee of £120,000 plus a sell-on clause.[5][6] Clarke made his debut in a 3–0 victory at Cambridge United on 26 February.[7] He scored Blackpool's second goal with a header in the 2002 Football League Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium, which the team went on to win 4–1 against Cambridge.[8] He joined Cambridge of the Third Division on a free transfer after signing a contract until the end of the 2003–04 season on 25 March 2004.[9]

After training with York City he signed for the newly-relegated Conference National side on a one-year contract on 16 July.[10][11] After making five appearances for the club. He was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer on 22 October.[12] He subsequently re-signed for former club Halifax, now in the Conference.[13] He made his debut in a 3–1 defeat to Chester City in an FA Cup second round game on 4 December.[14] Having made three appearances for Halifax,[14] Clarke joined Conference rivals Leigh RMI on a one-month loan on 18 February 2005.[15][16] He was described by manager Steve Bleasdale as a "key acquisition" and after making four appearances he returned to Halifax.[14][17] Having made another three appearances for Halifax he was released at the end of the 2004–05 season.[14][18]

He signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division side Guiseley during the summer.[19] Clarke left the club early in the 2006–07 season to sign for Northern Premier League First Division side Bradford Park Avenue.[20] He played for Park Avenue in their 3–0 defeat to Eastwood Town in the play-off semi-final in April 2007.[21]

Career statistics
As of 24 October 2006.
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Halifax Town 1999–2000[1] 1000000010
2000–01[22] 261001010281
2001–02[7] 240301000280
Total 511302010571
Blackpool 2001–02[7] 110000011121
2002–03[23] 171300010211
2003–04[24] 181303020261
Total 462603041593
Cambridge United 2003–04[24] 1000000010
York City 2004–05[25] 5000000050
Halifax Town 2004–05[14] 4010001060
Leigh RMI (loan) 2004–05[14] 4000000040
Guiseley 2005–06[26] 142000000142
2006–07[27] 7100000071
Total 212000000212
Career totals 132510050611536

Footnotes
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League, Football Conference and Northern Premier League.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the FA Trophy and Football League Trophy.

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 122. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. "U's Boost Defence". Cambridge United F.C. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  3. "Clarke anxious to gain third chance". Halifax Courier. 25 July 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  4. "Former Player News". Cambridge United F.C. 11 December 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  5. "Seasiders sign centre half". Blackpool F.C. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  6. "Halifax cash in on Clarke". BBC Sport. 18 February 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  7. "Season 2001/2002". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  8. "Blackpool lift LDV Vans Trophy". BBC Sport. 24 March 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  9. "Clarke joins Cambridge". BBC Sport. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  10. "Bishop makes the right move". The Press. 14 July 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  11. "Brass seeks triple move". The Press. 17 July 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  12. "Exit for Clarke". The Press. 22 October 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  13. "Clarke signs on again at Halifax". BBC Sport. 23 October 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  14. "Season 2004/2005". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  15. "Clarke joins Leigh in loan deal". BBC Sport. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  16. "Transfers – February 2005". BBC Sport. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  17. Oliver, Pete (26 February 2005). "Bleasdale starts to make his mark". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  18. "Wilder allows 10 players to leave". BBC Sport. 29 April 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  19. "Parsley's men riding high at top of table". Telegraph & Argus. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  20. "Avenue's Guiseley old boys relishing return". Telegraph & Argus. 7 November 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  21. "Play-off agony for Avenue". Telegraph & Argus. 1 May 2007.
  22. "Season 2000/2001". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  23. "Season 2002/2003". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  24. "Season 2003/2004". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  25. Batters, Dave (2008). York City The Complete Record. The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited. pp. 405–421. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  26. "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFactsUK. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  27. "Player Details: Season 2006–2007". SoccerFactsUK. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
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