Richard Clarke
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| BBC |
Born: 28 November 1985, Castlederg
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight:
Position: Midfielder
Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 3 Under-23 Caps (2007-2008), 7 Under-21 Caps / 2 Goals (2006), Under-19, Under-18.
Club Honours: (with Newry) Irish League Cup Runner-Up 2008/09; (with Glentoran) Irish Cup Winner 2012/13; Irish League Cup Winner 2009/10; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2010/11; (with Crusaders) NIFL Premiership Champion 2014/15, 2015/16.
Club Career:
Teams..... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FACup FLCup Europe
Omagh Town 02/03-04/05 Aug-01 Youth
Newry City 04/05-08/09 Jan-05
Glentoran. 09/10-13/14 May-09 .£20k 203(-)/18* ......... 6(-)/1
Crusaders. 13/14-16/17 Jan-14 .Free
Ba'mallard 17/18- date May-17
* all domestic games.
Biography:
Tyrone-man Richard Clarke made his name with Newry City, adding seven Under-21 caps to the youth honours he had won while with Omagh Town. He had moved to the Showgrounds from a struggling Omagh shortly before they folded in 2005, quickly establishing himself as one of the most highly rated players in the Irish League.
In 2007 Clarke spent a trial spell with Sheffield United and a deal with Barnsley brokedown at a late stage. He remained with Newry and added Under-23 caps to his collection through 2007 and 2008 in the International Challenge Trophy, the final of three as captain against Slovakia. Mid-way through the 2008/09 season he was once again heavily tipped for a move, with an offer from Linfield turned-down, and he remained with Newry to captain them in a rare cup final appearance, a 1-0 defeat by Portadown in the League Cup.
Clarke joined Glentoran as a free agent in the summer of 2009, though the Belfast club had to pay Newry a development fee. Although the Glens struggled in the League during Clarke's spell with the club, he did taste successes in the Co. Antrim Shield, defeating Linfield 3-1 in the final, and Irish Cup, though he was sent-off in the 2013 final win over Cliftonville. Having struggled for a firstteam spot at the Oval through the first-half of the 2013/14 season, Clarke agreed to join Crusaders on a two-and-a-half year deal after the cash-strapped Glentoran canceled his contract by mutual consent.
Away from playing, Clarke has worked as part if the Irish FA's Primary School Coaching Programme.
UEFA
NI Football League
Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
06-02-2006 Israel....... A W 1-0 FR
08-02-2006 Israel....... A W 1-0 FR. 1 goal
28-02-2006 Wales........ A W 1-0 FR
12-04-2006 Leichtenstein A W 4-1 ECQ
10-05-2006 Leichtenstein H W 4-0 ECQ 1 goal
16-08-2006 Romania...... A L 0-3 ECQ sub
01-09-2006 Germany...... H L 2-3 ECQ
Summary: 6(1)/2. Won 5, Drew 0, Lost 2.
Northern Ireland Under-23 Cap Details:
11-12-2007 Belgium...... A L 1-2 ICT
13-05-2008 Rep. Ireland. H L 0-1 ICT
18-11-2008 Slovakia..... A L 0-1 ICT
Summary: 3/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 3.
