Nathan Clarke (English footballer)

Nathan Clarke

Personal information
Full name	Nathan Clarke [1]
Date of birth	(1983-11-30) 30 November 1983 (age 40)
Place of birth	Halifax, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
0000–2001	Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2012	Huddersfield Town	266	(8)
2011	→ Colchester United (loan)	18	(0)
2011–2012	→ Oldham Athletic (loan)	16	(1)
2012	→ Bury (loan)	11	(0)
2012–2015	Leyton Orient	113	(2)
2015–2017	Bradford City	25	(0)
2017	Coventry City	18	(0)
2017–2018	Grimsby Town	45	(2)
2018–2021	FC Halifax Town	104	(6)
Total		616	(19)
Managerial career
2019	FC Halifax Town (co-caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:51, 25 June 2021 (UTC)

Nathan Clarke (born 30 November 1983) is an English former footballer professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

In a career that last from 2001 until 2021 Clarke represented Huddersfield Town, Colchester United, Oldham Athletic, Bury, Leyton Orient, Bradford City, Coventry City, Grimsby Town and FC Halifax Town.

Playing career

Huddersfield Town

Clarke is a product of the Huddersfield Town Academy. He began his first team career at the age of just 17 when his debut came in a 1–1 draw away to Stoke City on 8 September 2001. ^[3] He scored his first goal for his home club on his home debut in the game in which ended in a 4–2 loss against Blackpool. ^[4] He made a total of 37 starts in all competitions during the 2001–02 season his first as a professional with the first team with 36 of them coming in the league scoring once. ^[5]

Clarke was runner-up in the Huddersfield Town 'Player of the Year' 2005–06 and was made vice-captain of the team aged just 21, ^[6] going on to win the title the following year along with winning the 'players player award'. Clarke played under eight different managers at the Galpharm and was in the starting 11 for each one.

Clarke has been selected in FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players at 43 in March 2006, ^[7] down from 40 in the list in March 2005. ^[8]

On 27 January 2011, after failing to break into Lee Clark's team, Clarke joined League One club Colchester United on loan until the end of the season. ^[9] He made 18 appearances for the U's.

On 19 August 2011, he joined Oldham Athletic on a five-month loan deal. ^[10] He made his debut the following day, where he also scored the first goal. ^[11] Clarke returned to his parent club Huddersfield Town after making 16 appearances for Oldham. He then on 9 March, joined Bury on loan for the remainder of the season. ^[12] He played a huge part in the club's league survival in the league, with them finishing mid table.^{[ citation needed ]}

He left Huddersfield Town in June 2012 after playing over 300 games for his home town club (and almost 20 years at the club he has supported since he was a boy), 11 of those as pro.

Leyton Orient

Clarke signed for Leyton Orient on 18 July 2012 on a two-year contract. ^[13] Boss Russell Slade made him the club captain of the London side within a week of being signed. ^[14] On 14 February 2014, he signed a contract extension at Leyton Orient. ^[15] He scored his first goal for the club on 11 March 2014 in the 2–0 win at Port Vale, a header at the near post from a corner. ^[16] Two games later, Clarke scored an equalising goal in the 1–1 draw at Walsall, a deflected half-volley long-range shot in the 77th minute. ^[17] Clarke was part of the team that played in the 2014 Football League One play-off final against Rotherham United, the game finishing 2–2 Orient lost 3–4 in a penalty shoot out. ^[18]

On 24 July 2015, Clarke left the club in order to be closer to his family. ^{[19] [20]}

Bradford City

Clarke joined Bradford City on 28 July 2015 on a one-year contract. ^[21]

Coventry City

Clarke joined Coventry City on 1 January 2017 as one of three new signings made by new Sky Blues manager Russell Slade, who had previously been his boss at Leyton Orient. ^[22] He made his debut for the club the following day in the 2–2 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers. ^[23] Clarke was cup-tied in the 2016–17 EFL Trophy due to playing for Bradford earlier in the season, his team went on to winning the 2017 EFL Trophy final. ^[24]

After making 18 appearances for Coventry in the 2016–17 season he was released by the club on 2 May 2017. ^{[25] [26]}

Grimsby Town

On 23 June 2017, Clarke signed a one-year contract with League Two side Grimsby Town on a free transfer. ^[27] He scored his first goal for Grimsby on his debut in a 3–1 win over Chesterfield on 5 August 2017. ^[28] He was released by Grimsby at the end of the 2017–18 season. ^[29]

FC Halifax Town

On 3 August 2018, Clarke signed for his home town side FC Halifax Town following a trial spell during pre-season. ^[30] He was made caretaker manager alongside Steve Nichol following the resignation of Jamie Fullarton on 15 July 2019. Clarke announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2020–21 season. ^[31]

Personal life

Clarke has a younger brother, defender/midfielder Tom Clarke who plays for League One club Fleetwood Town. ^[32]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 September 2017

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Huddersfield Town	2001–02 [33]	Second Division	36	1	1	0	0	0	4 [lower-alpha 1]	0	41	1
	2002–03 [34]	Second Division	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2003–04 [35]	Third Division	26	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	28	1
	2004–05 [36]	League One	37	0	1	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	40	0
	2005–06 [37]	League One	48	0	3	0	2	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	54	0
	2006–07 [38]	League One	16	0	1	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	19	0
	2007–08 [39]	League One	44	2	4	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	50	2
	2008–09 [40]	League One	38	3	1	0	1	0	0	0	40	3
	2009–10 [41]	League One	17	1	3	1	1	0	3 [lower-alpha 2]	1	24	3
	2010–11 [42]	League One	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		266	8	15	1	8	0	11	1	300	10
Colchester United (loan)	2010–11 [42]	League One	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
Oldham Athletic (loan)	2011–12 [43]	League One	16	1	2	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	20	1
Bury (loan)	2011–12 [43]	League One	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
Leyton Orient	2012–13 [44]	League One	34	0	1	0	2	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	38	0
	2013–14 [45]	League One	46	2	2	0	1	0	5 [lower-alpha 3]	0	54	2
	2014–15 [46]	League One	33	0	1	0	2	0	3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	39	0
	Total		113	2	4	0	5	0	9	0	131	2
Bradford City	2015–16 [47]	League One	25	0	2	0	1	0	3 [lower-alpha 4]	0	31	0
	2016–17 [48]	League One	0	0	1	0	0	0	3 [lower-alpha 5]	0	4	0
	Total		25	0	3	0	1	0	6	0	35	0
Coventry City	2016–17 [48]	League One	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
Grimsby Town	2017–18 [49]	League Two	45	2	0	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 5]	0	47	2
Career total			474	12	24	1	15	0	29	1	542	14

1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
2. Two appearances in Football League Trophy and one in League One play-offs
3. Two appearances in Football League Trophy and three in League One play-offs
4. One appearance in Football League Trophy and two in League One play-offs
5. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Player

Huddersfield Town

• Football League Third Division play-offs: 2004 ^[50]

Coventry City

• EFL Trophy: 2016–17 ^[24]

References

1. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
2. "Nathan Clarke". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
3. Rodgerson, Phill (8 September 2001). "Stoke 1–1 Huddersfield". Terrier Bytes. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
4. "Huddersfield 2–4 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 15 September 2001. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
5. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
6. Examiner, Huddersfield (26 October 2005). "Job for skipper Nathan!". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
7. Jackson, Nathan (7 March 2006). "The Imps are ignored yet again". The Football Network. Retrieved 22 July 2006.
8. Sugar, Mark (5 March 2005). "Sidwell The Best". The Football Network. Retrieved 22 July 2006.
9. Thomson, Doug (27 January 2011). "Huddersfield Town defender Nathan Clarke joins Colchester on loan". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
10. "Latics Sign Terrier Clarke". Oldham Athletic F.C. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
11. "Oldham 2–0 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
12. "Huddersfield Town's Nathan Clarke makes Bury loan move". BBC Sport. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
13. Bass, Matt (18 July 2012). "Leyton Orient bring in former Huddersfield Town defender Nathan Clarke as seventh signing of the summer". The Richmond & Twickenham Times. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
14. Thomsen, Doug (13 September 2012). "Former Terrier Nathan Clarke explains why Huddersfield Town are influencing Leyton Orient". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
15. "CLARKE: 'I'm Delighted To Sign'". Leyton Orient F.C. 14 February 2014.
16. "Port Vale 0–2 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
17. "Walsall 1–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
18. "Leyton Orient 2–2 (3–4 pens) Rotherham". BBC Sport. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
19. "Nathan Clarke: Leyton Orient captain leaves club". BBC Sport. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
20. "Statement from Nathan Clarke". Leyton Orient F.C. 24 July 2015.
21. "Nathan Clarke: Bradford City sign ex-Leyton Orient defender". BBC Sport. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
22. Turner, Andy (1 January 2017). "Nathan Clarke transfer to Coventry City confirmed by Bradford boss Stuart McCall". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
23. "Coventry 2–2 Bolton". BBC Sport. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
24. Scott, Ged (2 April 2017). "Coventry 2–1 Oxford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
25. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
26. "Coventry City release nine players including Nathan Clarke, Ruben Lameiras and Marcus Tudgay". Coventry City F.C. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
27. Wood, Liam (23 June 2017). "Grimsby Town sign former Huddersfield Town defender Nathan Clarke on a free transfer". Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
28. "Chesterfield 1-3 Grimsby". BBC. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
29. "James McKeown: Grimsby Town offer new deal to goalkeeper and release 11". BBC Sport. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
30. "Former Town captain signs up for FC Halifax Town". 3 August 2018.
31. "Recent FC Halifax Town captain Clarke retires". 9 August 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021.
32. |Ammies off the Clarke with first signing| https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/tom-clarke-signs-july20/
33. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
34. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
35. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
36. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
37. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
38. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
39. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
40. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
41. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
42. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
43. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
44. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
45. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
46. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
47. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
48. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
49. "Games played by Nathan Clarke in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
50. "Huddersfield 0–0 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2017.

External links

• Nathan Clarke at Soccerbase