Jessica Clarke
Encyclopedia
Jessica Anne "Jess" Clarke (born 5 May 1989) is an English female international football midfielder. A pacy winger, she plays her club football in the FA WSL for Lincoln Ladies.
final, but conceded a penalty in Leeds' 5–0 defeat by Arsenal
. In 2006–07, Leeds reached the final of the FA Women's Premier League Cup. Despite a much improved performance, including a substitute cameo from Clarke, Leeds lost out to an injury–time strike from Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow
.
In Leeds' third major final in as many years, Clarke scored a consolation goal in the 2008 FA Women's Cup
final — a 4–1 loss to Arsenal. At the fourth time of asking, Clarke started a 3–1 Premier League Cup final win over Everton
on 11 February 2010, to help Leeds win their first major silverware.
She signed for FA WSL club Lincoln Ladies alongside several Leeds team mates in August 2010.
at Under–15, Under–17 and Under–19 level. At the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
in Chile
, Clarke's wing–play was a key feature of England's run to the quarter-final stage. A FIFA
.com article hailed Clarke as "the wizard of the dribble." She made her senior debut in March 2009, against South Africa
in the Cyprus Cup
, as a second-half substitute for Karen Carney
. Clarke then scored in only her second appearance, the third goal in a 3–0 win over Scotland
.
In August 2009 she was named in coach Hope Powell
's squad for Euro 2009. Clarke made her first competitive start in the semi-final win over the Netherlands
, as manager Hope Powell
utilised the 20–year–old's pace and energy to tire the Dutch full–backs, before introducing substitute Karen Carney
to decisive effect.
Clarke continued to be selected during England's 2011 FIFA World Cup qualification
campaign, contributing two goals in an 8–0 win over Malta
. In a World Cup warm–up friendly against the United States
, Clarke opened the scoring in England's 2–1 win at Brisbane Road.
as a student, along with teammates Carly Telford
and Sue Smith
. She had previously attended the FA Player Development Centre at Loughborough University
.
Club career
Clarke joined Leeds at Under–14 level, progressing through the youth teams to make the senior squad. At the age of 16, Clarke started the 2006 FA Women's CupFA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
final, but conceded a penalty in Leeds' 5–0 defeat by Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
. In 2006–07, Leeds reached the final of the FA Women's Premier League Cup. Despite a much improved performance, including a substitute cameo from Clarke, Leeds lost out to an injury–time strike from Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow
Jayne Ludlow
Jayne Louise Ludlow is a Welsh football player. She plays for the English side Arsenal, and captains the Welsh national team...
.
In Leeds' third major final in as many years, Clarke scored a consolation goal in the 2008 FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
final — a 4–1 loss to Arsenal. At the fourth time of asking, Clarke started a 3–1 Premier League Cup final win over Everton
Everton L.F.C.
Everton Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional women's association football team from the city of Liverpool, who compete in the FA WSL. They were runners-up to Arsenal in the 2009–10 Premier League National Division season. They have won the title once in 1998 and the FA Women's Cup on...
on 11 February 2010, to help Leeds win their first major silverware.
She signed for FA WSL club Lincoln Ladies alongside several Leeds team mates in August 2010.
International career
Clarke represented EnglandEngland women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
at Under–15, Under–17 and Under–19 level. At the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
The 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was held in Chile between November 19 and December 7, 2008. Sixteen teams, comprising representatives from all six confederations, took part in the final competition, in which Chile had a guaranteed place as the host nation....
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Clarke's wing–play was a key feature of England's run to the quarter-final stage. A FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.com article hailed Clarke as "the wizard of the dribble." She made her senior debut in March 2009, against South Africa
South Africa women's national football team
The South Africa national women's football team, nicknamed Banyana Banyana , is the national team of South Africa and is controlled by the South African Football Association.Their first official match was held in 30 May 1993 against Swaziland....
in the Cyprus Cup
Cyprus Cup
The Cypriot Cup or Cyprus Coca Cola Cup is the main cup competition in Cypriot football, run by the Cyprus Football Association. It began in 1934, the same season with the Cypriot Championship. It is the second most important competition for Cypriot club teams. The sponsor of the competition is...
, as a second-half substitute for Karen Carney
Karen Carney
Karen Julia Carney is an English football forward. She is signed to Birmingham City of the FA WSL and is a member of the England women's national football team.-Start at Birmingham City:Carney joined Birmingham City L.F.C...
. Clarke then scored in only her second appearance, the third goal in a 3–0 win over Scotland
Scotland women's national football team
The Scotland women's national football team represents Scotland in international women's football. They have yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 23rd in the world and 14th in Europe....
.
In August 2009 she was named in coach Hope Powell
Hope Powell
Hope Patricia Powell, CBE is the coach of the England women's national football team. Powell is an ‘A’ License coach and in 2003 became the first woman to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence - the highest coaching award available.-Early life:Powell was educated at Bethany School and went on to take A...
's squad for Euro 2009. Clarke made her first competitive start in the semi-final win over the Netherlands
Netherlands women's national football team
The Netherlands women's national football team represents the Netherlands in international women's football. The team played the first women's international recognized by FIFA, on 17 April 1971 against France.-World Cup record:-Current squad:...
, as manager Hope Powell
Hope Powell
Hope Patricia Powell, CBE is the coach of the England women's national football team. Powell is an ‘A’ License coach and in 2003 became the first woman to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence - the highest coaching award available.-Early life:Powell was educated at Bethany School and went on to take A...
utilised the 20–year–old's pace and energy to tire the Dutch full–backs, before introducing substitute Karen Carney
Karen Carney
Karen Julia Carney is an English football forward. She is signed to Birmingham City of the FA WSL and is a member of the England women's national football team.-Start at Birmingham City:Carney joined Birmingham City L.F.C...
to decisive effect.
Clarke continued to be selected during England's 2011 FIFA World Cup qualification
2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)
In the UEFA qualification for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, 41 entrants were drawn into eight groups, from which the group winners advanced to a play-off round...
campaign, contributing two goals in an 8–0 win over Malta
Malta women's national football team
The Malta women's national football team represents the Malta Football Association in international football matches approved by UEFA. In 2003, the team's played its first competitive international match, in a game against Romania, which the latter won 3–0....
. In a World Cup warm–up friendly against the United States
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
, Clarke opened the scoring in England's 2–1 win at Brisbane Road.
International goals
- Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Scored 1 10 March 2009 Larnaca LarnacaLarnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
3–0 Cyprus Cup Cyprus CupThe Cypriot Cup or Cyprus Coca Cola Cup is the main cup competition in Cypriot football, run by the Cyprus Football Association. It began in 1934, the same season with the Cypriot Championship. It is the second most important competition for Cypriot club teams. The sponsor of the competition is...
1 3 25 October 2009 Bloomfield Road Bloomfield RoadBloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
, BlackpoolBlackpoolBlackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
8–0 2011 FIFA World Cup Qual. 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)In the UEFA qualification for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, 41 entrants were drawn into eight groups, from which the group winners advanced to a play-off round...
2 4 20 May 2010 Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali 6–0 2011 FIFA World Cup Qual. 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)In the UEFA qualification for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, 41 entrants were drawn into eight groups, from which the group winners advanced to a play-off round...
1 5 29 July 2010 Bescot Stadium Bescot StadiumBescot Stadium, also known as the Banks's Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is the home ground of Walsall Football Club. It was built in 1989-90 by GMI Construction with a reported build cost of £4.5m...
, WalsallWalsallWalsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
3–0 2011 FIFA World Cup Qual. 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)In the UEFA qualification for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, 41 entrants were drawn into eight groups, from which the group winners advanced to a play-off round...
1 6 2 April 2011 Brisbane Road, London LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
2–1 Friendly Exhibition gameAn exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
1 7 1 July 2011 Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden DresdenDresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
2–1 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup 1 8 23 November 2011 Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster DoncasterDoncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
2–0 UEFA Euro 2013 Qual. UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifyingThe Qualifying rounds for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 will determine which 11 teams join Sweden, the hosts of the 2013 tournament, to play for the UEFA Women's Championship.-Tie breakers:...
1
Personal life
In addition to playing for Leeds Carnegie Ladies, in September 2009 Clarke enrolled at Leeds Metropolitan UniversityLeeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
as a student, along with teammates Carly Telford
Carly Telford
Carly Mitchell Telford is an English international football goalkeeper from County Durham. She currently plays for Chelsea Ladies.-Club career:...
and Sue Smith
Sue Smith (footballer)
Susan Jane "Sue" Smith is an international footballer, currently playing for Lincoln Ladies and England. She is an experienced left-sided winger or forward.-Club career:...
. She had previously attended the FA Player Development Centre at Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
.