Martin Clark (footballer, born 1970)

Last updated

Martin Clark
Personal information
Full name Martin Alan Clark [1]
Date of birth 12 September 1970
Place of birth Accrington, England
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Preston North End
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1989–? Lancaster City
?–91 Accrington Stanley
1991–94 Crewe Alexandra
1994–97 Southport 141 (10)
1997–99 Rotherham United 29 (0)
1999–03 Southport 190 (3)
2003–04 Burscough
2004–05 Lancaster City
2005–09 Chorley
Managerial career
2006 Chorley
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Martin Clark (born 12 September 1970) is an English former footballer who last played for Northern Premier League side Chorley, retiring after a string of knee injuries in February 2010. [2] Clark played for Crewe Alexandra and Rotherham United [3] in The Football League.

Contents

Career

Early career

Clark began his career with Preston North End but did not make a senior appearance for them. He signed for Lancaster City where he made over 140 appearances the club before transferring to Accrington Stanley.

Crewe Alexandra

While at Stanley, he impressed in an FA Cup match against Crewe Alexandra who signed him in 1991. However, in his three years at the club he found his opportunities limited and was released at the end of his contract.

Southport

Dropping out of the football, Clark joined Football Conference side Southport.

Operating in numerous defensive role at Southport while working as a postman during the day, Clark went on to make over 140 appearances and found the target 10 times. In 1996–97 former Tranmere Rovers and Rotherham United player Ronnie Moore took up his first full-time position as a manager and saw Clark as an integral part of his team. Playing mainly as a Sweeper, Clark made 52 appearances for the 'Port and scoring 5 times that season.

Rotherham United

Before the start of the season Ronnie Moore left Southport to take over the managers seat at Rotherham United, taking Clark with him.

Much like his first spell in the Football League, Clark found his appearances at Rotherham limited and was unable to establish himself in the first team. After making only 29 appearances in two years [3] he was soon on the move again.

Return to Southport

Clark re-signed for Southport for the 1999–2000 season and immediately picked up from where he left off. Re-establishing himself as a regular in the Southport back four he went on to make 50 appearances that season and finding the back of the net once. The next three years Clark make another 140 appearances for the club and scoring twice. In that time Clark was part of the side that came from behind to beat Football League opponents Notts County 4–2 at Haig Avenue in front of the BBC One show Match of the Day cameras. Heartache soon followed, despite their giant killing exploits Southport were unable to build on their performance and slumped to numerous disappointing defeats that saw manager Phil Wilson replaced by Mike Walsh. However that was unable to save them as they were relegated on the last day of the season after losing 0–3 at Stevenage Borough, with Clark visible upset by the result at the final whistle. This match proved to be the last The Sandgrounders would see of Clark and he was released after making over 300 appearances by Walsh who was now rebuilding for life in the league below.

Burscough

After leaving Haig Ave Clark trained in pre season with the team that replaced Southport in the Conference and one of his former teams, Accrington Stanley, however was unable to agree to anything long term. Clark proceeded to sign for his former teammate Derek Goulding at Burscough for the 2003–04 season. His time at Victoria Park was short lived and was soon on the move.

Return to Lancaster City

In February 2004, Clark once again signed for Lancaster City who at that time was managed by his former manager at Southport, Phil Wilson. [4] Before the start of the 2005–06, City were experiencing financial difficulties which saw numerous players released including Clark. Wilson later spoke to the local paper stating that it was his toughest night in football. [5]

Chorley

Clark signed for Chorley [6] despite interest from Kendal Town, [5] and made an immediate impact winning Players' Player of the Year in his first season at Victory Park. [7] [8] Following the departure of Jamie Vermiglio to Scarborough, Clark was made captain for the 2006–07 season. [8] A poor start to the season which saw Chorley joint bottom of the league with no points and only one goal to show for the first four games, manager Shaun Teale was replaced by a former teammate of Clark's, Paul Lodge, with Clark becoming player-coach. [9] Lodge's time at Chorley was short lived and after less than two months in the role resigned which saw Clark applying for the job and becoming caretaker manager for the interim. [10] Clark missed out on getting the role full-time as it was given to Gerry Luczka instead, [11] however he was later awarded the Players' Player of the Year award for the second successive season and KC Couriers' Player of the Year. [12]

The 2007–08 season was a successful one again on the accolade front for Clark, winning Players' Player of the season for the third successive year as well as KC Couriers' Player of the Year for the second successive year, for the first time the Supporters Club Player of the Year and finally awarded for most league appearances. [13] However, in July, in preparation for the 2008–09 season his captain's armband was given to Kieran Fletcher, [14] however later that month he scored his first goal for the club in a friendly at Nelson. [15]

In October 2008 Clark suffered a knee injury that saw him sidelined for the longest period in his career, only recovering from the injury after an operation in February 2009. [16]

Only a year later in February 2010 after making over 150 appearances for the club, Clark called time on his career after having never fully recovered from the injury that sidelined him the previous season. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Jansen</span> English footballer

Matthew Brooke Jansen is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Foyle</span> English association football player

Martin John Foyle is an English former professional footballer and manager who is the Head of Recruitment at Scottish Premiership club St Mirren. In his 20-year playing career he played 533 League games, scoring 155 goals. As a manager, he took charge of Port Vale and York City, Northwich Victoria, Hereford United and Southport.

Benjamin Francis Joseph Chorley is an English former footballer who played as a defender. He is currently the director of football at Valenciennes FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Moore</span> English football player and manager

Ronald David Moore is an English football manager and former player. He has taken charge of several clubs including Rotherham United, Tranmere Rovers and Hartlepool United. He is currently the chief scout at Hartlepool United.

Andrew Preece is an English football manager and former professional footballer who is the manager of Chorley. After serving as Chorley's director of football, he became the club's manager in May 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Cook (footballer)</span> English football manager; former player

Paul Anthony Cook is an English professional football manager and former player who is currently manager of National League side Chesterfield.

Gary Brabin is an English former professional footballer, coach and manager who is the assistant manager at National League club Oldham Athletic and the sporting director at Cymru Premier club The New Saints.

Simon Grand is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Bamber Bridge.

Shaun Barker is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Andrew Todd Mutch is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. During his playing career, he was widely known for his partnership with Steve Bull at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Foster</span> English association football player (born 1985)

Luke James Foster is a retired English professional footballer who played as a defender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Ellison (footballer)</span> English footballer

Kevin Ellison is an English former professional footballer who plays as a forward for Northern Premier League Division One West club Vauxhall Motors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Baker</span> English footballer

Carl Paul Baker is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger or as an attacking midfielder.

Ian Helliwell is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He played in the Football League for York City, Scunthorpe United, Rotherham United, Stockport County, Burnley, Mansfield Town, Chester City and Doncaster Rovers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gareth Evans (footballer, born 1988)</span> English footballer

Gareth Charles Evans is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Radcliffe. He can also play as a midfielder and at right back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam Watson (footballer)</span> English footballer and manager

Liam Watson is an English former professional footballer and current club director of Southport Football Club.

Paul Lodge is an English former footballer and football manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Almond</span> English footballer

Louis James Almond is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ashton United. He has played in the Football League for Cheltenham Town and Blackpool.

Jonson Scott Clarke-Harris is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One side Peterborough United. He will join Rotherham United on 1 July 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Carver</span> English footballer

Marcus Carver is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Southport, on loan from Scunthorpe United.

References

  1. ↑ "Martin Clark Profile". Port Online. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  2. 1 2 Newman, John (23 February 2010). "Clarky hangs up his boots" . Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 Brown, Neil. "ROTHERHAM UNITED – 1946/47 – 2010/11" . Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Fans' favourite moves on". The Citizen. 13 February 2004. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  5. 1 2 Donlan, Matt (27 July 2005). "Toughest night for Wilson". The Citizen. Retrieved 8 September 2012. "It was my most difficult night in football," Wilson tells the Citizen. "It is not nice to have to tell good players that we cannot keep them.
  6. ↑ "Strong team for the battle". Chorley Citizen. 19 August 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2012. The squad for the opening game is expected to include new signings Martin Clark,
  7. ↑ Newman, John (3 May 2006). "Priestley crowned". Chorley Citizen. Retrieved 8 September 2012. Clark was voted Players' Player of the Year
  8. 1 2 Newman, John (20 July 2006). "Skipper leaves in cost-cutting move". Chorley Citizen. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Newman, John (6 September 2006). "Lodge aims to revive Magpies". Chorley Citizen. Retrieved 8 September 2012. He has brought in Steve Murphy as his assistant and Mark Fell will be his fitness coach while centre-half Martin Clark has been appointed player-coach.
  10. ↑ "Chorley close in on boss". Chorley Citizen. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2012. Several candidates have already put their names forward, including current caretaker boss Martin Clark.
  11. ↑ Newman, John (15 November 2006). "Chorley hope to strike it lucky with Luczka". Chorley Citizen. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Newman, John (2 May 2007). "Luczka wants a better pitch". Chorley Citizen. Retrieved 8 September 2012. Skipper Martin Clark was Players' Player of the Year for the second successive season and he also won the KC Couriers' Player of the Year accolade.
  13. ↑ "Hat-trick of awards for Chorley skipper Clark". Chorley Citizen. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  14. ↑ "Fletcher takes over as Chorley skipper". Chorley Citizen. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  15. ↑ Newman, John (30 July 2008). "Consistency is key for Magpies boss" . Retrieved 8 September 2012. defender Martin Clark netted his first for the club – three years after coming from Lancaster City.
  16. ↑ "Veteran Chorley defender set to carry on". Chorley Citizen. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.