Tom Clarke (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Clarke is an English
professional
footballer who plays for Leyton Orient
in Football League One
on loan from Huddersfield Town
. He plays in defence
or midfield
.
Clarke is a former England youth international, having represented England at both England under 18s
and under 19s
level.
, Clarke is a product of the Huddersfield academy. Clarke's older brother, Nathan Clarke
, is also a professional footballer with Huddersfield. He signed his first professional contract in January 2005. His debut came against the MK Dons
. Clarke scored his first goal for The Terriers in a 2–0 win over Blackpool
at the Galpharm Stadium
in January 2006.
Clarke made his first start of the 2006–07 season coming on as a 61st minute substitute replacing Danny Adams
, in a 2–0 loss away at Crewe Alexandra on 2 September. He made his first start of the season on 9 September in a 2–0 loss away at Cheltenham Town. He ruptured a ligament
in his left knee
during Huddersfield Town's League One
home match against Carlisle United
, on 14 October 2006 forcing him to sit out most of the 2006–07 season.
Clarke joined Conference National
side Halifax Town
on loan on 21 February 2008, in a bid to regain match practice. He made his debut for the Shaymen in their 0–0 draw at The Shay
against Stafford Rangers
on 23 February. His first goal for the club came in their 3–1 win over Histon
at Bridge Road on 8 March.
He returned to Huddersfield on 23 March and made his first appearance since returning in Huddersfield's 1–0 win over Tranmere Rovers
on 19 April.
-side Bradford City
in October 2008. He made his debut the following day against Grimsby Town, when he came on as a first-half substitute for Omar Daley
, following defender Matthew Clarke's sending off. City were leading 1–0 at the time and won the game 3–1. He made his full debut in a 1–0 victory over Bury
on 29 October. With a number of injuries, Bradford extended his loan spell for a second month, with Huddersfield caretaker manager Gerry Murphy
able to recall him at 24 hours' notice. Murphy recalled Clarke on 3 December following a training ground injury to left-back Joe Skarz
. Clarke's last game for City was their FA Cup
exit to Leyton Orient
four days previously; he also played six league games for City.
Following the injury sustained by regular right-back Andy Holdsworth
, Clarke found himself back in the first-team frame under Lee Clark and scored his first away goal for Huddersfield in a 2–1 win at Glanford Park
against Scunthorpe United
on 10 April 2009.
On 9 September 2011, Clarke signed for fellow League One
side Leyton Orient
on a 93-day emergency loan.
and under 19s
level. Clarke earned two caps for the under 19s
scoring once between 2006–2005.
, is also a professional footballer with Huddersfield.
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...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer who plays for 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...
in Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
on loan from Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. He plays in defence
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
or midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Clarke is a former England youth international, having represented England at both England under 18s
England national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
and under 19s
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
level.
Breakthrough to first team
Born in HalifaxHalifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, Clarke is a product of the Huddersfield academy. Clarke's older brother, Nathan Clarke
Nathan Clarke
Nathan Clarke is a professional footballer who currently plays in central defence for Macclesfield Town on loan from Huddersfield Town in Football League One in England.-Playing career:...
, is also a professional footballer with Huddersfield. He signed his first professional contract in January 2005. His debut came against the MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
. Clarke scored his first goal for The Terriers in a 2–0 win over Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
at the Galpharm Stadium
Galpharm Stadium
The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:...
in January 2006.
Clarke made his first start of the 2006–07 season coming on as a 61st minute substitute replacing Danny Adams
Danny Adams
Danny Adams is a former professional footballer who is now with Witton Albion.Adams turned professional in 1999 and has played for Macclesfield Town, Stockport County and Huddersfield Town....
, in a 2–0 loss away at Crewe Alexandra on 2 September. He made his first start of the season on 9 September in a 2–0 loss away at Cheltenham Town. He ruptured a ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
in his left knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
during Huddersfield Town's League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
home match against Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, on 14 October 2006 forcing him to sit out most of the 2006–07 season.
Clarke joined Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
on loan on 21 February 2008, in a bid to regain match practice. He made his debut for the Shaymen in their 0–0 draw at The Shay
The Shay
The Shay is a multi-use sports stadium in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England near Shaw Hill. FC Halifax Town and Halifax both play their home games at the Shay....
against Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
on 23 February. His first goal for the club came in their 3–1 win over Histon
Histon F.C.
Histon Football Club is an English football club based in the twin villages of Histon and Impington, approximately north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. From the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference National, the highest level that the club has ever reached in the English football league...
at Bridge Road on 8 March.
He returned to Huddersfield on 23 March and made his first appearance since returning in Huddersfield's 1–0 win over Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
on 19 April.
2008–09 Season
He signed on a month-long loan with League TwoFootball 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 Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in October 2008. He made his debut the following day against Grimsby Town, when he came on as a first-half substitute for Omar Daley
Omar Daley
Omar Daley is a Jamaican footballer, who plays as a winger for Scottish Premier League side Motherwell. He has also played for the Jamaican national side winning more than 50 caps. Daley was born in Kingston, Jamaica...
, following defender Matthew Clarke's sending off. City were leading 1–0 at the time and won the game 3–1. He made his full debut in a 1–0 victory over Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on 29 October. With a number of injuries, Bradford extended his loan spell for a second month, with Huddersfield caretaker manager Gerry Murphy
Gerry Murphy
Gerry Murphy was the Director of Football Development at Huddersfield Town between 1988 and 2009...
able to recall him at 24 hours' notice. Murphy recalled Clarke on 3 December following a training ground injury to left-back Joe Skarz
Joe Skarz
Joseph Peter "Joe" Skarz is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Bury in Football League Two as a defender, having started his career at Huddersfield Town.-Huddersfield Town:...
. Clarke's last game for City was their FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
exit to 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...
four days previously; he also played six league games for City.
Following the injury sustained by regular right-back Andy Holdsworth
Andy Holdsworth
Andrew "Andy" Holdsworth, is a professional footballer who currently plays for Alfreton Town. He has previously played for Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic and Morecambe. He can play both in defence or midfield.-Huddersfield Town:...
, Clarke found himself back in the first-team frame under Lee Clark and scored his first away goal for Huddersfield in a 2–1 win at Glanford Park
Glanford Park
Glanford Park is a football stadium in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and the current home of Scunthorpe United. It is the smallest stadium by capacity in the Championship ....
against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on 10 April 2009.
On 9 September 2011, Clarke signed for fellow League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side 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...
on a 93-day emergency loan.
International career
Clark has represented England at international youth level, being capped at both under 18sEngland national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
and under 19s
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
level. Clarke earned two caps for the under 19s
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
scoring once between 2006–2005.
Personal life
Clarke's older brother, Nathan ClarkeNathan Clarke
Nathan Clarke is a professional footballer who currently plays in central defence for Macclesfield Town on loan from Huddersfield Town in Football League One in England.-Playing career:...
, is also a professional footballer with Huddersfield.
External links
- Tom Clarke player profile at htafc.com