James Clarke (footballer, born 1989) explained

James Clarke
Fullname:James Anthony John Clarke[1]
Birth Date:17 November 1989
Birth Place:Aylesbury, England
Height:1.83m (06feet)
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Newport County
Clubnumber:5
Youthyears1:2000–2006
Youthclubs1:Watford
Years1:2007–2009
Clubs1:Oxford United
Caps1:32
Goals1:0
Years2:2009–2012
Clubs2:Oxford City
Caps2:151
Goals2:0
Years3:2012–2014
Clubs3:Salisbury City
Caps3:74
Goals3:0
Years4:2014–2015
Clubs4:Woking
Caps4:30
Goals4:0
Years5:2015–2019
Clubs5:Bristol Rovers
Caps5:112
Goals5:2
Years6:2019–2021
Clubs6:Walsall
Caps6:58
Goals6:5
Years7:2021–
Clubs7:Newport County
Caps7:85
Goals7:1
Club-Update:18:32, 17 August 2024 (UTC)

James Anthony John Clarke (born 17 November 1989) is an English footballer who plays as centre back for club Newport County.[2]

Career

Clarke began his career at Oxford United making his debut by playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 Conference win at Kidderminster Harriers on 24 November 2007.[3] He made 18 league appearances in his first season, and was sent off for two bookings in a 0–3 home defeat to Burton Albion on 8 March 2008.[4]

He played 14 league matches in the ensuing campaign, but received a straight red card in the opening game, a 3–0 defeat at Barrow on 8 August 2008.[5] On 27 February 2009, with his contract terminated by mutual consent, he joined Southern Football League Premier Division team Oxford City for the rest of their 2009 campaign,[6] and from 2012 to 2014 he signed for Salisbury City after an unsuccessful trial at League one side Yeovil Town.

With Salisbury in financial distress, Clarke left for Woking, also of the Conference, on an undisclosed contract.[7] He made his debut on 9 August as they opened the season with a 3–1 win at Alfreton Town, and made 30 appearances across the campaign.[8]

Bristol Rovers

On 11 June 2015, with his contract expired, he signed for Bristol Rovers, newly promoted back into The Football League.[9] He made his debut for the club on 8 August, as they began the League Two season with a 0–1 home defeat to Northampton Town.[10] Clarke ended the season with several first team appearances as he provided a helpful role in Rovers' 3rd-place finish to receive promotion into the Football League One. In the same summer, Clarke signed a contract extension along with several other teammates.[11]

Clarke scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers at the start of the 2018–19 season[12] before he scored his second goal with a 95-minute winner in a 2–1 victory over Fleetwood Town.[13]

Walsall

Clarke was offered a new contract at Bristol Rovers at the end of the 2018–19 season[14] and despite being offered an improved two-year contract, he opted to follow former boss Darrell Clarke to Walsall having worked under him at Salisbury and Rovers on a deal worth £104,000 per year.[15] [16] Clarke made his debut on the opening day of the season, scoring the only goal as Darrell Clarke got off to a winning start against Northampton Town.[17] His impressive start with the club continued and after scoring two goals in the month, he was awarded the League Two Player of the Month award for September 2019.[18] One of these goals was a 30-yard screamer against Crawley Town that won him the league's Goal of the Month award.[19]

At the end of the 2020–21 season, Clarke was one of eight players to not be offered a new contract and would therefore depart the club at the expiration of their contract.[20]

Newport County

In June 2021 he joined Newport County on a one-year deal.[21] He made his debut for Newport on 7 August 2021 as a first half substitute in the 1–0 League Two win against Oldham Athletic.[22] On 18 September 2021, Clarke scored his first goal for the club with an 87th minute winner against former club Walsall, assisted by another former Walsall teammate Cameron Norman.[23] In May 2022 Clarke's contract at Newport was extended until the end of the 2022–23 season.[24] He signed a new two-year contract in May 2023.[25]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Oxford United2007–08Conference Premier1802000200
2008–09Conference Premier1402000160
Total3204000360
Oxford CityTotal15101510
Salisbury City2012–13Conference South3700030400
2013–14Conference Premier3703010410
Total7403040820
Woking2014–15Conference Premier3002050370
Bristol Rovers2015–16League Two370101010400
2016–17League One220101020260
2017–18League One110000000110
2018–19League One422202030492
Total11224040601262
Walsall2019–20League Two273201020323
2020–21League Two312001010332
Total585202030655
Newport County2021–22League Two351102000381
2022–23League Two230100020260
Total581202020641
Career total5158170802005608

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Walsall . English Football League . 74 . 27 October 2019.
  2. Web site: DONE DEAL | James Clarke joins Exiles on one-year deal.
  3. News: Kidderminster 0-2 Oxford. 19 August 2015. BBC Sport. 24 November 2007.
  4. News: Oxford Utd 0-3 Burton Albion. 19 August 2015. 8 March 2008.
  5. News: Barrow 3-0 Oxford. 19 August 2015. BBC Sport. 8 August 2008.
  6. News: Clarke joins Oxford City. 19 August 2015. Oxford Mail. 27 February 2009.
  7. News: James Clarke: Woking sign Salisbury City defender. 19 August 2015. BBC Sport. 1 July 2014.
  8. News: Alfreton 1-3 Woking. 19 August 2015. BBC Sport. 8 August 2014.
  9. News: James Clarke: Bristol Rovers sign ex-Woking defender. 19 August 2015. BBC Sport. 11 June 2015.
  10. News: Bristol Rovers 0-1 Northampton. 19 August 2015. BBC Sport. 8 August 2015.
  11. News: Clarke signs new Bristol Rovers deal. BBC Sport.
  12. Web site: Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Bristol Rovers. BBC Sport. 18 August 2018.
  13. Web site: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Fleetwood Town. BBC Sport. 22 December 2018.
  14. Web site: Retained List. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 8 May 2019. 30 May 2019.
  15. Web site: Walsall 2020 Wages Player & Team totals. 2020-08-15. salarysport.com. en.
  16. Web site: James Clarke joins Walsall. 30 May 2019. 30 May 2019.
  17. Web site: Northampton Town 0–1 Walsall. BBC Sport. 3 August 2019. 30 April 2021.
  18. Web site: James Clarke wins Player of the Month award. www.saddlers.co.uk. 11 October 2019. 30 April 2021.
  19. Web site: Walsall captain James Clarke wins goal of the month award. Express & Star. 18 October 2019. 30 April 2021.
  20. Web site: Club Statement: Released & Retained List. www.saddlers.co.uk. 11 May 2021.
  21. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57617598 Clarke joins Newport
  22. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58036216 Newport debut
  23. Web site: Newport County 2–1 Walsall. BBC Sport. 18 September 2021. 1 October 2021.
  24. https://uk.style.yahoo.com/dependable-defender-staying-county-clause-094846809.html Clarke contract extension
  25. Web site: James Clarke Signs Two-Year Contract Extension. www.newport-county.co.uk. 24 May 2023. 24 May 2023.
  26. Web site: 11 October 2019 . September Player of the Month winners . 8 January 2021 . www.efl.com . English Football League.