Chris Conn-Clarke

Chris Conn-Clarke

Personal information
Full name	Christopher Seamus Michael Conn Clarke [1]
Date of birth	(2001-11-22) 22 November 2001 (age 22)
Place of birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Peterborough United
Youth career
	Linfield
0000–2018	Glentoran
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018	Glentoran	1	(0)
2018–2021	Burnley	0	(0)
2020	→ Chorley (loan)	2	(0)
2021–2023	Fleetwood Town	4	(0)
2022	→ Altrincham (loan)	2	(0)
2022–2023	→ Altrincham (loan)	33	(10)
2023	→ Waterford (loan)	15	(1)
2023–2024	Altrincham	46	(23)
2024–	Peterborough United	0	(0)
International career‡
2017	Northern Ireland U17	2	(0)
2019	Northern Ireland U19	3	(0)
2021	Northern Ireland U21	6	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:34, 17 February 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:26, 1 October 2021 (UTC)

Christopher Seamus Michael Conn-Clarke (born 22 November 2001) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One side Peterborough United.

Having started his senior career at Glentoran, Conn-Clarke joined Premier League club Burnley as a scholar in 2018. He had a spell on loan at Chorley in 2020 and signed for Fleetwood Town on EFL League One in February 2021, making his debut in September of that year.

Early life

Conn-Clarke is from Antrim. ^[2]

Club career

Having previously played for Linfield's youth academy, he joined Glentoran aged 11. ^[3] In summer 2017, he was offered a scholarship by English Premier League club Burnley, but remained at Glentoran for the 2017–18 season due to his age. ^[4] He made his senior debut for Glentoran on 28 April 2018 as a substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Ballinamallard United. ^[5] He joined English Premier League club Burnley on a two-year scholarship in summer 2018. ^{[2] [6]} In summer 2020, he was given a one-year extension to his scholarship. ^[7] In October 2020, he joined National League North club Chorley on a work experience loan, ^[8] where he made 2 appearances. ^[5]

In February 2021, it was announced that Conn-Clarke had joined Fleetwood Town on an 18-month contract with an option to extend by a year. ^{[9] [10]} On 1 July 2021, Fleetwood Town announced that his contract had been extended until the end on the 2022–23 season, with the option of a further year. ^[11] He made his debut for the club on 25 September 2021 as a substitute in a 2–2 draw away to Cambridge United. ^[12] On 4 February 2022, he was sent out on loan to National League side Altrincham on an initial one-month loan. ^[13] In July 2022, Conn-Clarke returned to Altrincham until January 2023. ^[14]

On 31 January 2023, Conn-Clarke signed for League of Ireland First Division club Waterford on a season long loan. ^[15]

On 16 June 2023, Conn-Clarke signed for National League side Altrincham for a club record fee. ^[16] Having scored twenty-three goals and assisted a further twelve, he was named National League Player of the Year for the 2023–24 season. ^[17] Following his stellar season, Conn-Clarke was linked with moves away from Altrincham with a host of League One clubs interested. ^[18]

On 17 June 2024, Conn-Clarke signed for EFL League One side Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee on a three year deal with an option for a fourth.

International career

Conn-Clarke has represented Northern Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. ^{[6] [19]}

Career statistics

As of match played 28 April 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Glentoran	2017–18 [20]	NIFL Premiership	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Burnley	2018–19 [20]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2019–20 [20]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2020–21 [20]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Chorley (loan)	2020–21 [20]	National League North	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
Fleetwood Town	2021–22 [20]	League One	4	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	5	0
	2022–23 [20]		0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [lower-alpha 1]	0	0	0
	Total		4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	0
Altrincham (loan)	2021–22 [20]	National League	2	0	—		—		—		2	0
Altrincham (loan)	2022–23 [20]	National League	28	9	2	1	—		2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	32	10
Waterford (loan)	2023 [20]	LOI First Division	15	1	—		—		1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	16	1
Altrincham	2023–24 [20]	National League	46	23	1	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 4]	0	50	23
Peterborough United	2024–25 [20]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [lower-alpha 1]	0	0	0
Career total			98	33	3	1	0	0	7	0	108	34

1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy
3. Appearance(s) in the Munster Senior Cup
4. 2 appearances in the FA Trophy & 1 appearance in the 2023–24 National League Play-offs

Honours

Individual

• National League Player of the Season: 2023–24 ^[17]
• National League Team of the Season: 2023–24 ^[21]

References

1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". premierleague.com. Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
2. "Magilton hails 17 players who are aiming to further their careers in Britain". irishfa.com. Irish Football Association. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
3. Jones, Andy (30 January 2020). "'Cheeky chappy' Conn-Clarke is a symbol of Burnley's burgeoning academy set-up". The Athletic. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
4. "Glentoran Academy End of Season Review". glentoran.com. Glentoran F.C. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
5. "C. Conn-Clarke: Summary". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
6. Fullerton, Gareth (17 January 2020). "Meet the West Belfast "magician" making headlines at Burnley FC". BelfastLive. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
7. "New Deals for Young Players". burnleyfootballclub.com. Burnley F.C. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
8. "Winger Conn-Clarke Flies into Magpies". burnleyfootballclub.com. Burnley F.C. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
9. "Chris Conn-Clarke joins Town's Development Squad". fleetwoodtownfc.com. Fleetwood Town F.C. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
10. Boden, Chris (1 February 2021). "Burnley sign young winger, as Conn-Clarke joins Cod Army". Burnley Express. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
11. "Chris Conn-Clarke earns new deal with Town". fleetwoodtownfc.com. Fleetwood Town F.C. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
12. Fullerton, Darren (27 September 2021). "'West Belfast magician' praised after Fleetwood Town debut". BelfastLive. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
13. Fullerton, Darren (4 February 2022). "Chris Conn-Clarke heads to Altrincham on an initial month-long loan". BelfastLive. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
14. "Major boost for Alty as Chris Conn-Clarke joins until the New Year". altrinchamfc.com. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
15. "Waterford FC". 31 January 2023.
16. "WHAT A SIGNING - IT'S CHRIS CONN-CLARKE AND PHIL IS BACKING HIM TO BECOME AN ALTY CULT HERO!". altrinchamfc.com. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
17. "Your Three Players Of The Season Are Recognised". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
18. McMahon, Mark (7 June 2024). "Transfer latest: Portsmouth cool interest in in-demand attacking midfielder linked with Ipswich, Wigan and Peterborough". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
19. "Christopher Conn-Clarke". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
20. Chris Conn-Clarke at Soccerway
21. "Spireites quartet in Vanarama National League Team of the Season". Chesterfield FC. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.

External links

• Chris Conn-Clarke at Soccerway
• Chris Conn-Clarke at Soccerbase
• Chris Conn-Clarke at WorldFootball.net