Matt Clarke (footballer, born 1973)

Matthew John Clarke (born 3 November 1973 in Sheffield) is an English former football goalkeeper.

Matt Clarke
Personal information
Full name Matthew John Clarke[1]
Date of birth (1973-11-03) 3 November 1973
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
000?–1992 Rotherham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1996 Rotherham United 124 (0)
1996–1999 Sheffield Wednesday 4 (0)
1997–1998 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) ? (?)
1999–2001 Bradford City 38 (0)
2001 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) 8 (0)
2001 → Fulham (loan) 0 (0)
2001–2004 Crystal Palace 38 (0)
Total 212+ (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Clarke's first club was Rotherham United, where his nickname was Matt the Cat, in reference to his agility. He won the 1996 Football League Trophy with Rotherham.[2] He then signed with Sheffield Wednesday where he served as cover to Kevin Pressman.

He joined Bradford City after they won promotion to the Premier League in 1999 and helped Bolton Wanderers two years later into the Premier League, playing in the play-off final. His impressive displays for Bradford City led to many, including the Bradford supporters, calling for him to receive international selection.[3]

In the summer of 2001 Clarke signed for newly promoted Premier League side Fulham on a one-month loan, which effectively acted as a trial.[4] However, he returned to Bradford after just one week.[5]

He later joined Crystal Palace but his career was curtailed by an injury he suffered which caused his premature retirement in 2004.

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References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 88. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. Struthers, Greg (18 January 2009). "Caught in Time: Rotherham United win the Auto Windscreens Shield, 1996". Times Online. The Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  3. Sunderland get a rude awakening Northern Echo, 28 August 2000
  4. "Fulham take Clarke on loan". fulhamweb.co.uk. 6 July 2001. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  5. "Clarke snubs Fulham". fulhamweb.co.uk. 10 July 2001. Retrieved 23 November 2016.


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