- Darrell Clarke
-
For other uses, see Darrell L. Clarke (politician).
Darrell Clarke Personal information Full name Darrell James Clarke Date of birth 16 December 1977 Place of birth Mansfield, England Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Playing position Central Midfielder/Winger Club information Current club Salisbury City (player-manager) Youth career 1987–1995 Mansfield Town Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1995–2001 Mansfield Town 161 (24) 2001–2007 Hartlepool United 123 (19) 2005 → Stockport County (loan) 1 (0) 2005 → Port Vale (loan) 1 (0) 2006–2007 → Rochdale (loan) 12 (1) 2007– Salisbury City 179 (26) Teams managed 2010– Salisbury City * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:30, 4 August 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).Darrell James Clarke (born 16 December 1977 in Mansfield) is an English football midfielder, now player-manager for Conference South side Salisbury City. He spent twelve years as a professional in The Football League.
His career began with Mansfield Town in 1995, where he spent the first six years of his career, making 161 league appearances. In 2001 he transferred to Hartlepool United, where he spent another six years, racking up 123 appearances in the league. He was sent out on loan to Stockport County, Port Vale, and Rochdale in the final years of his spell. In 2007 he left the professional game to sign for Salisbury City, before taking up the management position at the club in 2010. He led the club to promotion into the Conference South in his first season as manager.
Contents
Playing career
Mansfield Town
Clarke started his career at Mansfield Town when he joined their youth set up at the age of just ten. He made his way through the ranks and was offered a professional contract at the club in 1995. While at Mansfield he became a fan favourite, partly because he was a home grown talent. He made over 150 league and cup appearances for the club, scoring 27 goals. As his contract ran to its end, he attracted the attention of several other clubs and he was offered a contract at Hartlepool United by Chris Turner. Clarke found it difficult to leave Field Mill but believed that a new move could kick start his career and stop him from becoming stale.
Hartlepool United
Clarke signed for Hartlepool in July 2001 on a free transfer, courtesy of the Bosman ruling,[1] but Hartlepool still had to pay £80,000 as he was under 24. He was seen by many as the replacement for Tommy Miller. Clarke originally failed to cement his place in the starting 11 and found himself in and out of the team, making 26 league starts and 9 substitute appearances. However he still managed to score 7 league goals, including a hat-trick in a 7–1 win over Swansea City.
The following season was much more successful for Clarke as he played in nearly all of Hartlepool’s matches and added another seven goals to his tally in Hartlepool’s promotion winning campaign. The arrival of manager Neale Cooper saw Clarke’s opportunities in the first team in 2003–04 limited, as Eifion Williams was preferred on the right wing. Clarke only started 23 league matches, but he still managed to make a further 12 substitute appearances.
In the 2004–05 season, Clarke suffered a knee injury that prevented him from taking part in any of Hartlepool’s league games. However, he did make an appearance for Stockport County[2] during a loan spell, but this was cut short as Clarke picked up another knee problem.[3] In September 2005 Clarke was loaned to Port Vale,[4][5] again just playing the one game. His appearances were again limited once he returned to Hartlepool. In July 2006 he was loaned to Rochdale,[6] where he made 12 appearances. He was released by 'Pool in May 2007.
Salisbury City
On 3 July 2007 he signed for newly promoted Conference National outfit Salisbury City.[7] He was strongly influenced by former team mate Tommy Widdrington to make the switch South, and was the third signing made by Nick Holmes. He helped the club avoid relegation in the 2008–09 season, which was a good achievement for the club.[8]
At the beginning of the 2009–10 season he became Salisbury's most senior player and was duly given the captain's armband by Widdrington, who had recently been appointed manager. He captained the club to a mid-table finish, however Salisbury were demoted down into the Southern League Premier Division as punishment for their severe financial problems.
Management career
In July 2010, Tommy Widdrington left Salisbury City for the job of assistant manager at Southend United. As a result of this, Clarke became joint caretaker-manager beside Mikey Harris. The next month he was made player-manager on a permanent basis, with Harris as his assistant.[9] After his first season, The Whites won promotion from the Southern League Premier Division via the play-offs, winning 3–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw with Hednesford Town.
Honours
As a player
- Football League Third Division runner-up: 2002–03
As a player-manager
- Southern Football League Premier Division play-off winner: 2010–11
References
- ^ "Hartlepool sign trio". BBC Sport. 15 July 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hartlepool_united/1440341.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Hatters set to net Clarke on loan". BBC Sport. 12 January 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hartlepool_united/4167769.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Injury to end Clarke loan spell". BBC Sport. 17 January 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/4182015.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Vale sign Pools midfielder Clarke". BBC Sport. 27 September 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/4287072.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Vale sign Pools' Clarke on loan". BBC Sport. 29 September 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/4294742.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Dale complete Clarke loan swoop". BBC Sport. 28 July 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/5220346.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Salisbury bag midfielder Clarke". BBC Sport. 3 July 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/salisbury/6264818.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Clarke proud of Salisbury season". BBC Sport. 27 April 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/salisbury/8017483.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Salisbury City name Darrell Clarke as new manager". BBC Sport. 4 August 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8882715.stm. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
External links
Conference South managers Categories:- 1977 births
- Living people
- English footballers
- People from Mansfield
- Association football midfielders
- The Football League players
- Hartlepool United F.C. players
- Mansfield Town F.C. players
- Stockport County F.C. players
- Port Vale F.C. players
- Rochdale A.F.C. players
- Salisbury City F.C. players
- English football managers
- Salisbury City F.C. managers
- Football Conference managers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
