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Bobby Clark (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bobby" Clark is a former Scottish
football goalkeeper
. Clark graduated from Jordanhill College
in Glasgow, Scotland in 1967 with a degree in Physical Education.
and also played for Aberdeen F.C.
, with whom he won the 1970 Scottish Cup
, the 1976 League Cup
and the 1980 Premier League Championship. He earned 17 caps for the Scotland national football team
, and was Scotland's backup goalkeeper at the 1978 FIFA World Cup
. During his time at Aberdeen, Clark played some games as a defender after losing his place in goal to Ernie McGarr
.
Clark was named first team all-star goalkeeper in the 1967 United Soccer Association
playing for the Washington Whips
. He also spent the summer of 1976, on loan, in the NASL
, playing for the San Antonio Thunder
.
A fan of Scottish First Division side Clyde
, Clark came out of retirement in 1983 to help Clyde when they had a goalkeeping injury crisis. His father, Tom, was once the chairman of Clyde. In autumn 1984 he once more came out of retirement to keep goal for Forres Mechanics in a 1–0 victory over Buckie Thistle in the Highland League Cup Final held at Elgin.
Clark set the British top-flight record for not conceding a goal during league games (at 1,155 minutes) in the 1970–71 season, until Edwin van der Sar
set a new mark on 8 February 2009. He also briefly held the world record, until Bulgaria
n goalkeeper Stoyan Yordanov
set a new record of 1202 minutes in May 1971.
men's soccer team, having previously coached Highlanders F.C., Bulawayo (1983–84), Dartmouth College
(1985–93), the New Zealand national football team (1994–96), and Stanford University
(1996–2000).
has played in Major League Soccer
and is currently Head Soccer Coach at University of Washington
. His son Tommy, a paediatrician, is the founder and executive director of the HIV prevention organisation Grassroot Soccer. His daughter, Jennifer Clark, is also a soccer coach.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. Clark graduated from Jordanhill College
Jordanhill College
Jordanhill Campus, in Jordanhill, Glasgow, Scotland, is now home to the Faculty of Education of the University of Strathclyde. Within the University of Strathclyde faculty of education, departments include Childhood and Primary Studies, Creative and Aesthetic Studies, Curricular Studies,...
in Glasgow, Scotland in 1967 with a degree in Physical Education.
Playing career
Clark started his career with Queen's Park F.C.Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
and also played for Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
, with whom he won the 1970 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
, the 1976 League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
and the 1980 Premier League Championship. He earned 17 caps for the Scotland national football team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, and was Scotland's backup goalkeeper at the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
. During his time at Aberdeen, Clark played some games as a defender after losing his place in goal to Ernie McGarr
Ernie McGarr
Ernest "Ernie" McGarr is a Scottish former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for several clubs in the Scottish Football League and was capped twice for the Scotland national side.-Playing career:...
.
Clark was named first team all-star goalkeeper in the 1967 United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
playing for the Washington Whips
Washington Whips
The Washington Whips were a soccer team based in Washington, D.C. that played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Washington club was actually Aberdeen F.C...
. He also spent the summer of 1976, on loan, in the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, playing for the San Antonio Thunder
San Antonio Thunder
The San Antonio Thunder were an American soccer team founded in 1975 as a member of the North American Soccer League. The team existed only two seasons in San Antonio, Texas before moving to Hawaii.-History:...
.
A fan of Scottish First Division side Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
, Clark came out of retirement in 1983 to help Clyde when they had a goalkeeping injury crisis. His father, Tom, was once the chairman of Clyde. In autumn 1984 he once more came out of retirement to keep goal for Forres Mechanics in a 1–0 victory over Buckie Thistle in the Highland League Cup Final held at Elgin.
Clark set the British top-flight record for not conceding a goal during league games (at 1,155 minutes) in the 1970–71 season, until Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
set a new mark on 8 February 2009. He also briefly held the world record, until Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n goalkeeper Stoyan Yordanov
Stoyan Yordanov
Stoyan Ivanov Yordanov is a Bulgarian former football goalkeeper.-CSKA Sofia:*A PFG**1961-62, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76,*Bulgarian Cup** 1964-65, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74...
set a new record of 1202 minutes in May 1971.
Management career
Since 2001, he has been the head coach of the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
men's soccer team, having previously coached Highlanders F.C., Bulawayo (1983–84), Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
(1985–93), the New Zealand national football team (1994–96), and Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(1996–2000).
Family associations
His son JamieJamie Clark
James "Jamie" Clark is a Scottish soccer coach and former professional player who is currently the head coach of the University of Washington.-Early life:James "Jamie" Clark was born on 13 December 1976 in Aberdeen, Scotland...
has played in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
and is currently Head Soccer Coach at University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. His son Tommy, a paediatrician, is the founder and executive director of the HIV prevention organisation Grassroot Soccer. His daughter, Jennifer Clark, is also a soccer coach.