Simon Clark (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Simon Clark is an English
former professional footballer and manager who is currently in charge of Northern Premier League Division One South
side Stamford. As a player he turned out for Lincoln City
, Boston Town
, Holbeach United
, King's Lynn
, Hendon
, Stevenage Borough
, Peterborough United
, Leyton Orient
, Colchester United
and Maldon Town
. He has also spent time as manager of Singaporean
side Woodlands Wellington where he was also a player and Leyton
. In 2009 he briefly took over as caretaker manager of Football League Two
side Lincoln City
.
followed by spells in local non league football with Boston Town
, Holbeach United
and King's Lynn
, Hendon
.
He left Hendon
with Paul Fairclough
signing him for Stevenage Borough
, Clark making his debut in the 2-0 Isthmian League
victory at Dulwich Hamlet
on 15 January 1994.
At the age of 27 Clark returned to professional football with a move to Peterborough United. After three years and 136 appearances at the club he moved on to Leyton Orient for a fee of £25,000. At Orient he made 118 appearances over a three year period. One of his most impressive performances was a hat trick against Doncaster Rover during his first season at the Os in 1997. He went on to be a vital part of the Orient defence and along with Dean Smith (Captain) and Stuart Hicks, he became one of the "Three Amigos". He is still a very popular player at the Os.
Clark spent the next two seasons (64 appearances) at Colchester United. He captained the side and coached the club’s under 17 team.
as player coach and then player manager for Woodlands Wellington. While in Singapore Clark obtained the Asian Federation A licence as a coach, following up by obtaining the English FA, UEFA A qualification on his return to Europe. Simon returned to the UK in 2005 and joined King's Lynn
as a player before taking on a player coach role at Maldon Town. On September 1, 2005 Clark was appointed player-manager at Isthmian League Premier Division club Leyton
but was sacked after just over a month in charge and returned to King's Lynn
.
Clark joined the Lincoln City
in the Centre of Excellence in April 2007 where he spent a year coaching before being appointed Centre of Excellence 9s-16s co-ordinator at Peterborough United
. Whilst at the club he went on to coach the Youth team and reserve team as well as being the clubs chief scout.
In January 2008, Clark rejoined Lincoln City
again as a youth team coach. He later became chief scout and first team coach for the club. On 2 September 2009, Lincoln City
's Board of Directors agreed to part company with Manager Peter Jackson and Assistant Manager Iffy Onuora
with immediate effect with Clark being placed in temporary charge of the club. His first game in charge saw a 3-0 home victory over Darlington
on 5 September 2009 but was followed by three defeats against league leaders Bournemouth, Notts County and Shrewsbury Town. Chris Sutton
replaced him as manager on 28 September 2009. Clark took the 3-0 home defeat to Notts County
on the following day before leaving the club by mutual consent.
Clark went on to working as a scout and match analyst for his former Peterborough United
boss Darren Ferguson
at Preston North End
. In May 2010 he was appointed manager of Stamford.
, Clark worked as a personal trainer
for Total Fitness
.
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...
former professional footballer and manager who is currently in charge of Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One South
Division One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
side Stamford. As a player he turned out for Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, Boston Town
Boston Town F.C.
Boston Town F.C. is an English football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Tattershall Road.-History:...
, Holbeach United
Holbeach United F.C.
Holbeach United F.C. is an English football club based in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Carters Park.-History:...
, King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
, 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...
, 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...
, Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
, Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
and Maldon Town
Maldon Town F.C.
Maldon & Tiptree F.C. is an English football club based in Maldon, Essex. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Isthmian League and play at the Wallace Binder Ground.-History:...
. He has also spent time as manager of Singaporean
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
side Woodlands Wellington where he was also a player and Leyton
Leyton F.C.
Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
. In 2009 he briefly took over as caretaker manager of Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
.
Playing career
Clark started his career as a junior with Lincoln CityLincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
followed by spells in local non league football with Boston Town
Boston Town F.C.
Boston Town F.C. is an English football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Tattershall Road.-History:...
, Holbeach United
Holbeach United F.C.
Holbeach United F.C. is an English football club based in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Carters Park.-History:...
and King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
, 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 left 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...
with Paul Fairclough
Paul Fairclough
Paul Fairclough is the current manager of the England C national football team, formerly known as the National Game XI, England non-League team or the England semi-pro team, and in charge of youth development at Barnet having been caretaker for two months in 2011.As a player he made five...
signing him for 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...
, Clark making his debut in the 2-0 Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
victory at Dulwich Hamlet
Dulwich Hamlet F.C.
Dulwich Hamlet Football Club is an English football club who play at Champion Hill stadium in Dulwich, in the London Borough of Southwark. Formed in 1893, they joined the Isthmian League a few years later, winning it a total of 4 times, between 1920 and 1949, and wear a famous pink and blue...
on 15 January 1994.
At the age of 27 Clark returned to professional football with a move to Peterborough United. After three years and 136 appearances at the club he moved on to Leyton Orient for a fee of £25,000. At Orient he made 118 appearances over a three year period. One of his most impressive performances was a hat trick against Doncaster Rover during his first season at the Os in 1997. He went on to be a vital part of the Orient defence and along with Dean Smith (Captain) and Stuart Hicks, he became one of the "Three Amigos". He is still a very popular player at the Os.
Clark spent the next two seasons (64 appearances) at Colchester United. He captained the side and coached the club’s under 17 team.
Management & coaching career
After leaving Colchester he spent three years in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
as player coach and then player manager for Woodlands Wellington. While in Singapore Clark obtained the Asian Federation A licence as a coach, following up by obtaining the English FA, UEFA A qualification on his return to Europe. Simon returned to the UK in 2005 and joined King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
as a player before taking on a player coach role at Maldon Town. On September 1, 2005 Clark was appointed player-manager at Isthmian League Premier Division club Leyton
Leyton F.C.
Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
but was sacked after just over a month in charge and returned to King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
.
Clark joined the Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in the Centre of Excellence in April 2007 where he spent a year coaching before being appointed Centre of Excellence 9s-16s co-ordinator at Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
. Whilst at the club he went on to coach the Youth team and reserve team as well as being the clubs chief scout.
In January 2008, Clark rejoined Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
again as a youth team coach. He later became chief scout and first team coach for the club. On 2 September 2009, Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
's Board of Directors agreed to part company with Manager Peter Jackson and Assistant Manager Iffy Onuora
Iffy Onuora
Ifem "Iffy" Onuora is a coach a former professional footballer born in Scotland of Nigerian descent.He was recently the head coach of the Ethiopia national team...
with immediate effect with Clark being placed in temporary charge of the club. His first game in charge saw a 3-0 home victory over Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on 5 September 2009 but was followed by three defeats against league leaders Bournemouth, Notts County and Shrewsbury Town. Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton
Christopher Roy "Chris" Sutton is an English football manager and former player.In his career, Sutton played for Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. Sutton scored over 150 career goals in over 400 league appearances spanning 16 years in the English...
replaced him as manager on 28 September 2009. Clark took the 3-0 home defeat to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
on the following day before leaving the club by mutual consent.
Clark went on to working as a scout and match analyst for his former Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
boss Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...
at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. In May 2010 he was appointed manager of Stamford.
Personal life
After departing Sincil BankSincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
, Clark worked as a personal trainer
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
for Total Fitness
Total Fitness
Total Fitness is a chain of health clubs in the UK, operated by Total Fitness UK Limited.-History:Total Fitness was established by Kwik Save founder Albert Gubay in 1993 on the Isle of Man...
.