Peter Clarke (footballer)

Peter Clarke
Personal information
Full name Peter Michael Clarke
Date of birth (1982-01-03) 3 January 1982
Place of birth Southport, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Oldham Athletic
Number 26
Youth career
Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2004 Everton 9 (0)
2002 → Blackpool (loan) 16 (3)
2003 → Port Vale (loan) 13 (1)
2004 → Coventry City (loan) 5 (0)
2004–2006 Blackpool 84 (11)
2006–2009 Southend United 126 (10)
2009–2014 Huddersfield Town 192 (9)
2014–2015 Blackpool 39 (2)
2015–2016 Bury 44 (1)
2016– Oldham Athletic 1 (1)
National team
2002–2003 England U21 8 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 27 August 2016 (UTC).


Peter Michael Clarke (born 3 January 1982) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for League One club Oldham Athletic.

Clarke began his career with Everton, during his time there he made nine league appearances and had loan spells with Blackpool, Port Vale and Coventry City. He then joined Blackpool on a permanent basis in 2004, where he also captained the club. He has also captained Southend United who he joined in 2006, before joining Huddersfield Town in 2009. He helped the "Terriers" to win promotion out of League One via the play-offs in 2012. He returned to Blackpool in July 2014, but was released after the club were relegated at the end of the season. He joined Bury in May 2015, and then moved on to Oldham Athletic in July 2016.

He won the Player of the Season award at Blackpool, Southend, Huddersfield (twice) and Bury in the 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11 and 2015–16 seasons respectively. Clarke also gained eight caps for the England under-21 team between 2002 and 2003.

Club career

Everton

Clarke started his career with Everton, signing his first professional contract in January 1999. He made his senior debut in 2001 against Coventry City.[1] He made just nine appearances in the Premier League, largely in the unfamiliar position of right back, rather than his preferred centre-half position.

In August 2002, he went on out loan to Blackpool, where he made sixteen league appearances, scoring three goals (two of which came on his home debut) in a three-month loan spell. His performances played a large part in the "Seasiders" stringing together a run of clean sheets and rising to the edge of the 2002–03 play-off picture. Despite manager Steve McMahon's best efforts, a permanent deal did not materialise and Clarke returned to Goodison Park in early November.

In February 2003, he went out on loan again, this time to Port Vale,[2] also of the Second Division, where he made thirteen appearances in another three-month spell.[3] He won praise from manager Brian Horton for his strong work ethic.[4]

He spent February 2004 on loan at First Division Coventry City,[5] playing five games. His contract with Everton expired at the end of the 2003–04 season, and he turned down the club's offer of a new contract, though he remained at the club on a month-to-month contract.[6]

Blackpool

In September 2004 Clarke signed for Blackpool, then managed by Colin Hendry, initially on a one-month loan but with an agreement to make the move permanent,[6][7] for £150,000. When Clarke arrived at the club, Blackpool were eight points short from safety. Helping to shore up the defence, his impact helped the club to avoid relegation. His contribution was recognized at the end of season award evening, as he picked up the Player of the Year award, as well as three other individual awards.[8]

Despite the departure of Hendry, he continued to be a vital part of the club's line-up, playing all 46 league games in the 2005–06 season under new manager Simon Grayson. At the end of that campaign he picked up the Blackpool Gazette and Supporters Websites awards, as well as the Alan Lowis Memorial Trophy.[9] He made a total of 109 appearances for Blackpool, including his loan spell, and was also the club's captain.

Southend United

In August 2006 Clarke left Blackpool, despite the offer of an improved contract, and signed for Championship newcomers Southend United.[10] He signed a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, citing his desire to play Championship football.[11] Clarke hoped the club could progress and even reach the top-flight,[12] however Southend were relegated back into League One at the end of the his first season after finishing seven points short of safety.

He spent the 2007–08 season back in League One, and promotion hopes were ended following a 5–1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers in the play-off semi-finals.[13] In June 2008 Clarke was transfer-listed, along with Nicky Bailey and Simon Francis, after the three failed to agree terms over contract extensions.[14][15] Chairman Ron Martin blamed Clarke's agent for unsettling him at the club.[16]

A move did not materialise, and Clarke continued to play for Southend in the 2008–09 season, and vowed to give his best until his situation could be resolved. On 3 January 2009, Clarke scored a last-minute headed equaliser against Chelsea, a team challenging for the Premier League title, in an FA Cup Third Round tie.[17] BBC journalist Phil McNulty called it a "career-defining moment" for Clarke in a piece about the "magic" of the FA Cup.[18] Clarke built up a strong defensive partnership with young Frenchman Dorian Dervite.[19] However chairman Ron Martin told the press that Clarke had snubbed talks of extending his contract beyond the summer,.[20] despite the club's wish to keep hold of the player.[21] Clarke denied this and stated that "I'm just waiting for him [Martin] to come and speak to me".[22] Following the club's eighth-place finish, Clarke was voted the club's Player of the Season for the 2008–09 season by both fans and players.[22]

Huddersfield Town

In June 2009, Clarke announced that he had agreed a three-year contract with League One side Huddersfield Town.[23] He stated that he believed he was taking career to a higher level by securing the switch from Southend to Huddersfield.[24] In doing so he rejected an offer from Charlton Athletic.[25] The following month manager Lee Clark appointed Clarke as club captain. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Southend United at Roots Hall on 8 August. He scored his first goal for the "Terriers" ten days later in a 7–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Galpharm Stadium. On 14 November, Clarke added two more goals in a 6–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers. He also scored the winning goal in Huddersfield's 1–0 home win over Millwall. He was named Player of the Season for Huddersfield. He captained Huddersfield to a sixth-placed finish in League One, securing a play-off semi-final spot after playing in all 46 league games. They lost out 2–0 to Millwall at the semi-final stage.[26]

In 2010–11 Clarke led his side to a third-place finish, again an ever-present in the first eleven, starting and finishing all league games. He was rewarded with a new three-year contract, keeping him at the club until summer 2014.[27] This time they made it into the play-off final, where they were beaten 3–0 by Peterborough United.[28] Clarke was made Town's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, and was also made PFA Fans' Player of the Year for League One.

During the 2011–12 season Clarke was limited to 31 league appearances for the terriers due to an injury picked up in September 2011 and the form of the clubs other centre backs, missing much of the clubs games in September and February. Clarke through would go on to lead Huddersfield to fourth place during the regular season to qualify for the play-offs for a third constitutive year. This time, Town went through to the final after winning 3–2 on aggregate against MK Dons, to beat Sheffield United 8–7 on penalties; Clarke scored the first of eight consecutive penalty successes after three misses from his team-mates.[29]

He made 47 appearances in the 2012–13 campaign, helping Huddersfield to remain four points above the relegation zone by the end of the season. He played 28 games in the 2013–14 season, as manager Mark Robins led the club to a 17th-place finish. He missed 12 weeks of the campaign after suffering medial knee ligament damage.[30] Having made 225 appearances for the club in a five-year spell, he left the club after not being offered a new contract in the summer.[31]

Return to Blackpool

In July 2014, Clarke rejoined Blackpool – now in the Championship and managed by José Riga – on a one-year deal.[32] Three months later his former Huddersfield boss Lee Clark was appointed as manager.[33] However the 2014–15 season proved to be an unmitigated disaster for the club, and Blackpool were relegated with six games left to play.[34] In May 2015 he was told by manager Lee Clark that he would be offered a new contract, however after Clark was sacked later in the month Clarke was "the surprise name" on Blackpool's released list.[35]

Bury

On 30 May 2015, it was announced that Clarke had agreed on a two-year contract to join Bury.[36] Having just led the "Shakers" into League One out of League Two with a young defence, manager David Flitcroft stated that Clarke was "a very important signing" due to "his experience, knowledge and understanding of playing at higher levels".[37] He went on to win the club's Player of the Season award for the 2015–16 campaign.[38]

Oldham Athletic

In July 2016, Clarke signed a one-year contract with League One side Oldham Athletic.[39] He scored his first goal for the "Latics" in a 1–1 draw with Bradford City at Valley Parade on 27 August.[40]

International career

Clarke is a one time England international representing his county at all youth levels having gained England under-21 honours, and captained England from Under-16 to Under-21 levels.[6] He made his debut for the England Under-21 team in 2002 as a substitute against Slovakia Under-21's. He gained a total of eight caps for the under-21 side between 2002 and 2003.

Statistics

As of 7 May 2016.
Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Blackpool (loan)2002–03[41]Second Division163000000163
Port Vale (loan)2002–03[41]Second Division131000000131
Coventry City (loan)2003–04[42]First Division5000000050
Everton1998–99Premier League0000000000
1999–2000Premier League0000000000
2000–01[43]Premier League1000000010
2001–02[44]Premier League70300000100
2002–03[41]Premier League0010000010
2003–04[42]Premier League1000100020
Total 90401000140
Blackpool2004–05[45]League One38541001[lower-alpha 1]0436
2005–06[46]League One46611211[lower-alpha 1]0508
Total 84115221209314
Southend United2006–07[47]Championship382304000452
2007–08[48]League One47450201[lower-alpha 1]0554
2008–09[49]Championship43451101[lower-alpha 1]0505
Total 12810131702015011
Huddersfield Town2009–10[50]League One46530203[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]1[lower-alpha 1]546
2010–11[51]League One46450206[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]0594
2011–12[52]League One31000104[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]1[lower-alpha 1]361
2012–13[53]Championship430301000470
2013–14[54]Championship260002000280
Total 19291108013222511
Blackpool2014–15[55]Championship392101000412
Bury2015–16[56]League One441302000491
Oldham Athletic2016–17[57]League One0000000000
Career total 5293637321117260442
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.
  2. 1 2 3 Appearance/s in the play-offs.

Honours

Club

Huddersfield Town

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Whatever Happened To...". Blackpool F.C. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  2. ↑ "Vale take Clarke on loan". BBC Sport. 20 February 2003. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  3. ↑ "Clarke returns to Everton". BBC Sport. 29 April 2003. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  4. ↑ "Clarke impresses Horton". BBC Sport. 19 March 2003. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "Clarke returns to Everton". BBC Sport. 16 March 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 "Pool Land Finally Their Man". Blackpool F.C. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  7. ↑ "Clarke completes loan move". BBC Sport. 17 September 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  8. ↑ "Clarke Cleans Up at the Presentation Night". blackpoolfc.co.uk. 5 May 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "All the Awards in Full Colour". blackpoolfc.co.uk. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Southend capture defender Clarke". BBC Sport. 2 August 2006. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  11. ↑ "Club Statement". Blackpool F.C. 2 August 2006. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  12. ↑ Mark Duell (11 August 2006). "Southend's Clarke is aiming high". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  13. ↑ Sanghera, Mandeep (16 May 2008). "Doncaster 5-1 Southend (Agg 5-1)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  14. ↑ "Trio Transfer Listed". Southend United F.C. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  15. ↑ "Southend transfer-list three more". BBC Sport. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  16. ↑ "Martin angry at agents' demands". BBC Sport. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  17. ↑ "Chelsea 1-1 Southend". BBC Sport. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  18. ↑ Phil McNulty (4 January 2009). "FA Cup never loses magic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  19. ↑ "Clarke hails Dervite partnership". BBC Sport. 8 April 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  20. ↑ "Clarke snubs talks over new deal". BBC Sport. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  21. ↑ "Southend to discuss Clarke deal". BBC Sport. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  22. 1 2 "Clarke ready for contract talks". BBC Sport. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  23. ↑ "Huddersfield set to sign Clarke". BBC Sport. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  24. ↑ "Terrier Clarke targets next level". BBC Sport. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  25. ↑ Title=Huddersfield Town to sign Peter Clarke from Southend United
  26. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (18 May 2010). "Millwall 2 - 0 Huddersfield (agg 2 - 0)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  27. ↑ "Huddersfield Town captain Peter Clarke extends contract". BBC Sport. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  28. ↑ Begley, Emlyn (29 May 2011). "Huddersfield 0 - 3 Peterborough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  29. ↑ Begley, Emlyn (26 May 2012). "Huddersfield have been promoted after Sheffield United keeper Steve Simonsen missed the decisive penalty in an epic League One play-off final shoot-out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  30. ↑ "Huddersfield Town skipper Peter Clarke out for up to three months". BBC Sport. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Peter Clarke confident he will find a new club this summer". Sky Sports. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "Blackpool: Peter Clarke, Jacob Mellis and Tomasz Cywka sign". BBC Sport. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  33. ↑ "Peter Clarke backs new boss at Blackpool". Blackpool Gazette. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "Blackpool relegated from Championship to League One". BBC Sport. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  35. ↑ Watt, William (14 May 2015). "Clarke released as Football League talk Blackpool". The Gazette. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  36. ↑ "Clarke Joins The Shakers". Bury Football Club. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  37. ↑ Nelson, Craig (30 May 2015). "Former Blackpool and Huddersfield captain Peter Clarke joins Bury on two-year deal". Bury Times. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  38. ↑ Thomson, Doug (6 May 2016). "Former Huddersfield Town skipper Peter Clarke an award winner at Bury". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "Oldham Athletic: Ollie Banks and Peter Clarke join League One side". BBC Sport. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  40. ↑ "Bradford City 1-1 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  41. 1 2 3 "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  42. 1 2 "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Peter Clarke in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
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