Darrell Clarke
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darrell James Clarke | ||
| Date of birth | 16 December 1977[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Mansfield, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Central Midfielder / Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1995 | Mansfield Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1995–2001 | Mansfield Town | 160 | (24) |
| 2001–2007 | Hartlepool United | 127 | (19) |
| 2005 | → Stockport County (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2005 | → Port Vale (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | → Rochdale (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2007–2013 | Salisbury City | 179 | (26) |
| Total | 480 | (71) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2010–2013 | Salisbury City | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Darrell James Clarke (born 16 December 1977) is an English former footballer, who is assistant manager at Bristol Rovers.
A midfielder, his career began with Mansfield Town in 1995, where he spent the first six years of his career, making 160 league appearances. In 2001 he transferred to Hartlepool United, where he spent another six years, racking up 127 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 National from the Southern League with two play-off final victories in three seasons.
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 Field Mill by Andy King in 1995. The "Stags" struggled near the foot of the Third Division in 1995–96, rising to mid-table in 1996–97 and 1997–98, before finishing one place outside the play-offs in 1998–99. They then dropped back into the lower half of the table in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 after manager Steve Parkin was replaced by Bill Dearden. 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.
Hartlepool United
Clarke signed for Hartlepool in July 2001 on a free transfer, courtesy of the Bosman ruling,[3] 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[4] during a loan spell, but this was cut short as Clarke picked up another knee problem.[5] In September 2005 Clarke was loaned to Port Vale,[6][7] again just playing the one game. His appearances were again limited once he returned to Victoria Park. In July 2006 he was loaned to Rochdale,[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]
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
Salisbury City
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.[11] 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.
Clarke led Salisbury to the Second Round of the FA Trophy in his second season in charge. He also made history when his side beat Grimsby Town in the FA Cup Second Round, taking Salisbury to the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history,[12] where they faced Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. At the start of the campaign he had stated his intention to sign promising young players,[13] and during the January transfer window he signed 19-year old Matt Clark and former England youth player Abdulai Bell-Baggie,[14] as well as 29-year old striker Robbie Matthews.[15] However he also placed winger Charlie Knight on the transfer list along with striker Jake Reid, defender Josh Casey, and winger Adam Kelly.[16] They finished the 2011–12 campaign comfortably in tenth place, and Clarke extended his contract at the club to another season.[17]
Clarke's pre-season signings for 2012–13 included Jamie White from Winchester City, James Clarke from Oxford City, and Theo Lewis after his release from Cheltenham Town. These signings proved successful, and helped to take Salisbury into second place in the Conference South by April. The team's success saw him strongly linked with the vacant management position at Hartlepool United in October 2012,[18] though he ultimately remained at Salisbury. The club finished four points behind champions Welling United, and had to make do with a play-off place. Promotion was secured with a 3–2 extra-time victory over Dover Athletic in the play-off final.[19]
Assistant at Bristol Rovers
In June 2013, Clarke was appointed as assistant manager of League Two side Bristol Rovers, supporting John Ward.[20]
Statistics
| Season | Club | Division | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[21] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1995–96 | Mansfield Town | Third Division | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 1996–97[22] | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | ||
| 1997–98[23] | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 4 | ||
| 1998–99[24] | 33 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 7 | ||
| 1999–2000[25] | 39 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 7 | ||
| 2000–01[26] | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 7 | ||
| Total | 160 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 177 | 28 | ||
| 2001–02[27] | Hartlepool United | Third Division | 35 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 8 |
| 2002–03[28] | 45 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 7 | ||
| 2003–04[29] | Second Division | 35 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 7 | |
| 2004–05[30] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2004–05[30] | Stockport County (loan) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2005–06[31] | Hartlepool United | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2004–05[31] | Port Vale (loan) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2006–07[32] | Hartlepool United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006–07[32] | Rochdale (loan) | League Two | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Total | 127 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 136 | 20 | ||
| Career total | 301 | 45 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 324 | 51 | ||
- Notes
- Salisbury City statistics not included.
Honours
As a player
Hartlepool United
- Football League Third Division runner-up: 2002–03
As a player-manager
Salisbury City
- Southern Football League Premier Division play-offs: 2010–11
- Conference South play-offs: 2012–13
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Profile 11v11.com
- ↑ Profile footballdatabase.eu
- ↑ "Hartlepool sign trio". BBC Sport. 15 July 2001. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ↑ "Hatters set to net Clarke on loan". BBC Sport. 12 January 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ↑ "Injury to end Clarke loan spell". BBC Sport. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ↑ "Vale sign Pools midfielder Clarke". BBC Sport. 27 September 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ↑ "Vale sign Pools' Clarke on loan". BBC Sport. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ↑ "Dale complete Clarke loan swoop". BBC Sport. 28 July 2006. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ↑ "Salisbury bag midfielder Clarke". BBC Sport. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ↑ "Clarke proud of Salisbury season". BBC Sport. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ↑ "Salisbury City name Darrell Clarke as new manager". BBC Sport. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ↑ "Grimsby 2 – 3 Salisbury". BBC Sport. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ↑ "Manager Darrell Clarke wants youth at Salisbury City". BBC Sport. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ↑ "Salisbury City sign Matt Clark and Abdulai Bell-Baggie". BBC Sport. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ↑ "Robbie Matthews leaves Newport County for Salisbury". BBC Sport. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ↑ "Charlie Knight leaves as Salisbury City put trio on transfer list". BBC Sport. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ↑ "Board delighted with new Darrell Clarke deal". salisburycity-fc.co.uk. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ↑ "Darrell Clarke flattered by Hartlepool United link". Sunderland Echo. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ↑ "Salisbury City 3–2 Dover Athletic". bluesqsouth.com. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ "Salisbury manager Darrell Clarke named Bristol Rovers assistant". BBC Sport. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
- ↑ "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Games played by Darrell Clarke in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2011.