Adrian Clarke
Encyclopedia
Adrian James Clarke is a former English
footballer, who last played for Welling United
. He was a midfielder
who played seven Premier League games at Arsenal
.
After he retired he became a journalist.
at Highbury
. He had loan spells at Rotherham United
and Southend United
in 1996–97
before he signed for the Shrimpers on a free transfer in August 1997.
He played 75 league games for Southend scoring his first career goal in a 3–1 victory over Brentford
on 5 September 1997.
Clarke joined Cumbrian side Carlisle United
on loan in September 1999 before returning to Essex. He left Southend at the end of the 1999–2000 season and joined Stevenage Borough
on a free transfer. In less than two seasons he played 70 games, scoring 13 goals, before another loan spell at Hendon
. He spent just a month at Hendon but was snapped up by Margate
on a free transfer at the end of his loan spell.
Clarke played 57 games for Margate scoring five goals before joining Welling United
.
In July 2011, it was reported that Clarke had come out of retirement to sign for The Football Ramble
on a free transfer. This was confirmed by club captain Luke Moore, who remarked: 'We're delighted to have a player of Adrian's quality with us in time for the new season'. Clarke will be given the much-coveted number 10 shirt, which was recently vacated by Rupert Fryer.
, a football editorial and signed memorabilia website, and co-commentator on Arsenal's official online television channel.
He also presented the Soccerlens football podcast and now presents Red White & Blue.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer, who last played for Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
. He was a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played seven Premier League games at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
.
After he retired he became a journalist.
Playing career
Clarke started his career at Arsenal where he played a total of nine games. He made his league debut on New Year's Eve 1994 as a substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
at Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
. He had loan spells at Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
and Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in 1996–97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
before he signed for the Shrimpers on a free transfer in August 1997.
He played 75 league games for Southend scoring his first career goal in a 3–1 victory over Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on 5 September 1997.
Clarke joined Cumbrian side Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
on loan in September 1999 before returning to Essex. He left Southend at the end of the 1999–2000 season and joined Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
on a free transfer. In less than two seasons he played 70 games, scoring 13 goals, before another loan spell at Hendon
Hendon F.C.
Hendon Football Club are an English football club based in Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.In the 2003-04 season they finished fourth in the Isthmian League Premier Division...
. He spent just a month at Hendon but was snapped up by Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
on a free transfer at the end of his loan spell.
Clarke played 57 games for Margate scoring five goals before joining Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
.
In July 2011, it was reported that Clarke had come out of retirement to sign for The Football Ramble
The Football Ramble
The Football Ramble is a podcast about football, produced in London by The Football Ramble Ltd. Originally provided fortnightly, this was increased to a weekly show at the beginning of the 09/10 football season, mainly due to repeated listener requests....
on a free transfer. This was confirmed by club captain Luke Moore, who remarked: 'We're delighted to have a player of Adrian's quality with us in time for the new season'. Clarke will be given the much-coveted number 10 shirt, which was recently vacated by Rupert Fryer.
Post-football
After he hung up his boots, Clarke re-trained as a journalist, landing a job at the Southend Evening Echo. He worked as a news editor of icons.comIcons.com
Icons.com, founded by James Freedman, was initially a football website that provided regular diary updates from many of the world's top footballers and also guest interviews from some of the biggest names in the football world...
, a football editorial and signed memorabilia website, and co-commentator on Arsenal's official online television channel.
He also presented the Soccerlens football podcast and now presents Red White & Blue.