Neil Clarke (soccer)

Last updated

Neil Clarke
Personal information
Full name Neil G. Clarke
Place of birth Scotland
Position(s) Forward / Fullback
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Celtic
1913 Paterson True Blues
1913–1914 Brooklyn Field Club
1914–1916 Bethlehem Steel
1917–1918 Babcock & Wilcox
1918 Fall River Rovers
1920–1921 Robins Dry Dock
1921–1922 Todd Shipyard 9 (2)
1922–1923 Fall River F.C. 2 (0)
1923–1925 Philadelphia Field Club 58 (0)
International career
1916 United States 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Neil G. Clarke(sometimes listed as Clark) (born in Scotland) was a Scottish American soccer player who began his career in the Scottish Football League before migrating to the United States. He played in both the National Association Football League and American Soccer League. In 1916, he played in the first two U.S. national team games.

Contents

Professional career

Clarke began his career as a center forward but later moved to center half back. He played for Celtic in the Scottish Football League. [1] In 1913, now based in the United States, he was with the Paterson True Blues of the National Association Football League (NAFBL) when Paterson won the American Cup finals against Diston The first game and first replay both ended in ties with Clarke scoring the tying goal in both games. In the second replay, Paterson won, 2-1, to take the Cup. [2] He then moved to Brooklyn Field Club, winning the 1914 National Challenge Cup with them. In 1914, Clarke is listed with Bethlehem Steel. In 1915 and 1916, Bethlehem won the National Challenge Cup. [3] [4] He then moved to Babcock & Wilcox for a single season before moving to the Fall River Rovers of the Southern New England Soccer League in 1918. That year, Clarke was with Fall River when they lost the National Challenge Cup final to Bethlehem Steel. In 1920 and 1921, he played for Robins Dry Dock, which won the 1921 Challenge Cup. [3] In 1921, the American Soccer League replaced the NAFBL as the top U.S. league. Todd Shipyards, the parent company of Robins Dry Dock, took over sponsorship of the team, renaming Todd Shipyard. The team folded at the end of the 1921-1922 season, and Clarke moved to the Fall River F.C. He saw little playing time and in 1923, he made his last move, this time to the Philadelphia Field Club. He left the ASL in 1925. [1]

National team

Clarke earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1916. In the first official U.S. national team game, the U.S. defeated Sweden on 20 August 1916. On 3 September 1916, Clarke and his team mates drew with Norway before returning to the U.S. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

Bethlehem Steel Football Club (1907–1930) was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1907 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation. Bethlehem Steel FC played their home games first at East End Field in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley, then later on the grounds Bethlehem Steel built on Elizabeth Ave named Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field.

The National Association Football League (NAFBL) was a semi-professional U.S. soccer league which operated between 1895 and 1898. The league was reconstituted in 1906 and continued to operate until 1921.

Robert Millar was a soccer player who played as a forward and the coach of the United States national team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup. During his at times tumultuous Hall of Fame career, he played with over a dozen teams in at least five U.S. leagues as well as two seasons in the Scottish Football League. He finished his career as a successful professional and national team coach.

Archibald McPherson Stark was a soccer player who became the dominant player in U.S. leagues during the 1920s and early 1930s. He spent nine seasons in the National Association Football League and another twelve in the American Soccer League. He also earned two caps, scoring five goals, as a member of the U.S. national team. He holds the U.S. single-season scoring record with 67 goals scored during the 1924–25 season which is the current World Record. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950.

The Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock were an American soccer team which took its name from the workplace it represented. The dock was part of the Todd Pacific Shipyards in Brooklyn who formed the professional soccer club in 1918 to play in the National Association Football League. Robins played until the league folded in 1921. Robins best finish was third in 1920 and 1921, but won the 1921 National Challenge Cup.

John J. "Rabbit" Hemingsley(also spelled Heminsley) was a U.S. soccer center forward who played the first two U.S. national team games in 1916. He spent seven seasons in the National Association Football League and five in the American Soccer League.

James "Jimmy" or "Bow" Ford was an American soccer outside right who earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1916. He played professionally in the National Association Football League and the American Soccer League, scoring goals in the first two National Challenge Cup Finals.

Thomas Walter Stark was a soccer player who played as a right half. He spent several seasons in both the National Association Football League and the first American Soccer League. Born in Scotland, he earned one cap for the United States national team in 1925.

John Ferguson was a Scottish-American soccer full back. He began his career in Scotland before moving to England, then the United States. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1925. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Johnny "Jack" McGuire was a soccer player who played as a inside right who played professionally in both Scotland, Canada, and the United States. Born in Scotland, he earned one cap for the United States national team. He is a member of the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Findlay "Lindy" Kerr was a soccer player who played as a goalkeeper in the National Association Football League and American Soccer League. Born in Scotland, he earned one cap with the United States national team.

Harry Jay Ratican was an American soccer forward, coach and team owner. He began and ended his career in the St. Louis Soccer League with several years in both the National Association Football League and American Soccer League. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Thomas "Tommy" or "Whitey" Fleming was a Scottish American soccer outside forward who began his career in Scotland and finished it in the United States. During his Hall of Fame career, Fleming won five American Cups, four National Challenge Cups and at least eight league titles.

Peter Renzulli was an American soccer goalkeeper. He played in the New York State League, National Association Football League and the American Soccer League, winning three National Challenge Cups. Renzulli was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1920–21 National Challenge Cup</span> Football tournament season

The 1920–21 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Robert Hosie was a Scottish soccer inside forward who began his career in Scotland before moving to the United States. In the U.S., he played one season in the National Association Football League and five in the American Soccer League.

Peter Sweeney was an early 20th-century Scottish-American soccer forward who began his professional career in Scotland before playing in the National Association Football League and American Soccer League in the United States.

George McKelvey, also spelled McKelvie, was a Scottish-American soccer player who spent his entire professional career in the United States.

Frank McKenna was a Scottish football wing forward who began his career in Scotland before playing eight seasons in the American Soccer League.

Patrick Butler was an early twentieth-century Irish soccer player who appears to have spent his entire career in the U.S. leagues. He was a member of the Bethlehem Steel teams which won the 1916 National Challenge Cup and the 1917 and 1919 American Cup Butler began his career on the front line, playing both inside and outside forward on both sides of the field. He ended his career at the right half back position.

References

  1. 1 2 Jose, Colin (1998). American Soccer League, 1921-1931 (Hardback). The Scarecrow Press. ISBN   0-8108-3429-4. ().
  2. "American Cup Will Remain In New Jersey". (April 28, 1913). Newark Evening Star, p.15 col.2-5
  3. 1 2 Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club
  4. USA - List of US Open Cup Finals RSSSF, 28 January 2011
  5. USA - Details of International Matches 1885-1969 RSSSF, 29 June 2003