Pat Clarke
Encyclopedia
Patrick "Pat" Clarke is a Scottish
football
forward
currently playing for Dunfermline Athletic.
. He made his senior debut on 17 April 2004, in a 1–1 draw with Dundee United
. His next appearance was a month later, when he came on as a substitute against Rangers
. He joined Berwick Rangers
on loan from October 2004 to January 2005. He was released by Dunfermline when he returned from his loan.
Clarke then joined Fife
rivals Raith Rovers
. He made his debut against Clyde
on 12 February 2005, and scored two goals. Clarke joined Arbroath
on a six month loan in August 2005, and got his first senior hat-trick
when Arbroath beat East Stirlingshire
7–2 in November 2005. Clarke returned to Rovers in January, and remained there until the end of the season.
Clarke joined another Fife club, Cowdenbeath
in July 2006. He made a great start to his career at Central Park, scoring 4 goals in his first four games. His rich vein of form continued throughout the season, and he scored 5 goals in one match versus Stranraer
in March 2007. He ended the season with 17 goals. Clarke got his third career hat-trick against former club Berwick Rangers in October 2007.
On 15 January 2008, it was announced Clarke had signed a pre-contract agreement with Scottish First Division side Clyde
. However, both clubs agreed a fee which allowed Clarke to move to Broadwood Stadium
on 29 January 2008. He made his debut in a 3–1 defeat by Stirling Albion
on 2 February 2008. He scored his first goal three weeks later, netting Clyde's only goal in a defeat to Dunfermline Athletic
, from the penalty spot. Despite scoring a double on the final day of the season in a 3–0 win over Stirling Albion
, Clyde still finished in the playoff position due to Greenock Morton
winning. However, he netted once in a 6–5 aggregate win over Alloa
in the semi-finals of the playoffs, and scored a goal in both legs of the 3–0 aggregate final win over Airdrie United. Clarke's contract was terminated in June 2009, following Clyde's relegation and financial troubles. He went on to sign for Dundee
on a three year contract. On the 15th July 2010 It was announced that Pat Clarke had been released by Dundee so he could join Dunfermline Athletic on a 2 year contract.
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
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
currently playing for Dunfermline Athletic.
Career
Clarke's first senior club was Dunfermline AthleticDunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
. He made his senior debut on 17 April 2004, in a 1–1 draw with Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. His next appearance was a month later, when he came on as a substitute against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. He joined Berwick Rangers
Berwick Rangers F.C.
Berwick Rangers Football Club are a football team based in the English Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, although they play in the Scottish Football League Third Division...
on loan from October 2004 to January 2005. He was released by Dunfermline when he returned from his loan.
Clarke then joined Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
rivals Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
. He made his debut against 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...
on 12 February 2005, and scored two goals. Clarke joined Arbroath
Arbroath F.C.
Arbroath F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. They were founded in 1878 and currently play their home matches at Gayfield, Arbroath, Angus. They play in maroon strips, and are nicknamed "The Red Lichties" due to the red light that used to guide...
on a six month loan in August 2005, and got his first senior hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
when Arbroath beat East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
7–2 in November 2005. Clarke returned to Rovers in January, and remained there until the end of the season.
Clarke joined another Fife club, Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath F.C.
Cowdenbeath Football Club are a professional Scottish football team based in the town of Cowdenbeath, Fife. They currently play in the Second Division of the Scottish Football League. The club plays its home games at Central Park in the centre of the town which has the unusual feature of a motor...
in July 2006. He made a great start to his career at Central Park, scoring 4 goals in his first four games. His rich vein of form continued throughout the season, and he scored 5 goals in one match versus Stranraer
Stranraer F.C.
Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and currently play in the Third Division.-History:...
in March 2007. He ended the season with 17 goals. Clarke got his third career hat-trick against former club Berwick Rangers in October 2007.
On 15 January 2008, it was announced Clarke had signed a pre-contract agreement with 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...
. However, both clubs agreed a fee which allowed Clarke to move to Broadwood Stadium
Broadwood Stadium
Broadwood Stadium, also referred to as simply Broadwood, is a football stadium and multi-use community sports complex situated in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium was opened in 1994 and since then has been the home venue of Scottish Third Division side, Clyde F.C....
on 29 January 2008. He made his debut in a 3–1 defeat by Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
on 2 February 2008. He scored his first goal three weeks later, netting Clyde's only goal in a defeat to Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
, from the penalty spot. Despite scoring a double on the final day of the season in a 3–0 win over Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
, Clyde still finished in the playoff position due to Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
winning. However, he netted once in a 6–5 aggregate win over Alloa
Alloa Athletic F.C.
Alloa Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division....
in the semi-finals of the playoffs, and scored a goal in both legs of the 3–0 aggregate final win over Airdrie United. Clarke's contract was terminated in June 2009, following Clyde's relegation and financial troubles. He went on to sign for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
on a three year contract. On the 15th July 2010 It was announced that Pat Clarke had been released by Dundee so he could join Dunfermline Athletic on a 2 year contract.