Bill Clarke (footballer born 1880)
Encyclopedia
William Harry "Bill" Clarke (born 1880) was an English professional footballer who played as a full-back
for various clubs in the 1900s.
, Northamptonshire
and started his football career with his home town club, Kettering. During his time at Kettering, they were the Midland League
champions in 1900, and were elected to the Southern League
. In September 1902, he moved to the Football League First Division
with Sheffield United
.
At Sheffield, Clarke was never a regular first-team player making only two appearances, with England
international Harry Thickett
being well established at right-back. In the summer of 1903, Clarke returned to Northamptonshire, to join Northampton Town
in the Southern League, where he gained a reputation as "the most promising left-back in the Southern League", whose "speed enabled him to overhaul the quickest of forwards".
In April 1905, he was signed by fellow Southern League side, Southampton
. The "Saints" were anxious to regain the Southern League title which they had taken six times in the eight years up to 1904, but had finished in a disappointing third place at the end of the 1904–05 season
. During the close-season they signed nine players, of which Clarke was considered to be "the best capture".
He made his Southampton debut in the opening match of the 1905–06 season
, a 1–0 defeat at home to Brentford
, retaining his place for the rest of the season, at the end of which the Saints finished as runners-up, five points behind champions Fulham
. He continued to occupy the right-back position for the start of the 1906–07 season
until late December, when he fell ill. He returned in mid-February but was only able to show glimpses of his previous form; after another eight matches he suffered a serious knee injury, losing his place to Jack Eastham
. Although Clarke spent several months trying to regain his fitness, he eventually retired in October 1908 without returning to the first-team.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for various clubs in the 1900s.
Football career
Clarke was born in KetteringKettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
and started his football career with his home town club, Kettering. During his time at Kettering, they were the Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
champions in 1900, and were elected to the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. In September 1902, he moved to the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
with Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
At Sheffield, Clarke was never a regular first-team player making only two appearances, with England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Harry Thickett
Harry Thickett
Henry Thickett was a professional footballer who won the 1902 FA Cup final with Sheffield United and made two appearances for England in 1899. He was also in the United team which suffered arguably the biggest F A cup upset of the nineteenth century when losing to Burslem Port Vale in 1898...
being well established at right-back. In the summer of 1903, Clarke returned to Northamptonshire, to join Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in the Southern League, where he gained a reputation as "the most promising left-back in the Southern League", whose "speed enabled him to overhaul the quickest of forwards".
In April 1905, he was signed by fellow Southern League side, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. The "Saints" were anxious to regain the Southern League title which they had taken six times in the eight years up to 1904, but had finished in a disappointing third place at the end of the 1904–05 season
Southern Football League 1904-05
The 1904–05 Southern League season saw Bristol Rovers win Division One and Fulham reserves finishing top of Division Two. Division Two club Clapton Orient were the only Southern League club to apply for election to the Football League, and were successful after a decision was made to expand the...
. During the close-season they signed nine players, of which Clarke was considered to be "the best capture".
He made his Southampton debut in the opening match of the 1905–06 season
Southern Football League 1905-06
The 1905–06 Southern League season saw Fulham win Division One and Crystal Palace finishing top of Division Two. No clubs were relegated from Division One as it was expanded to 20 clubs the following season...
, a 1–0 defeat at home to 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....
, retaining his place for the rest of the season, at the end of which the Saints finished as runners-up, five points behind champions Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. He continued to occupy the right-back position for the start of the 1906–07 season
Southern Football League 1905-06
The 1905–06 Southern League season saw Fulham win Division One and Crystal Palace finishing top of Division Two. No clubs were relegated from Division One as it was expanded to 20 clubs the following season...
until late December, when he fell ill. He returned in mid-February but was only able to show glimpses of his previous form; after another eight matches he suffered a serious knee injury, losing his place to Jack Eastham
Jack Eastham
John Bilborough "Jack" Eastham was an English footballer who spent most of his career with Blackburn Rovers and then Southampton playing as a full-back.-Blackburn Rovers:...
. Although Clarke spent several months trying to regain his fitness, he eventually retired in October 1908 without returning to the first-team.