John Clark (footballer, born 1964) explained

John Clark
Fullname:John Brown Clark
Birth Date:22 September 1964
Birth Place:Edinburgh, Scotland
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:1976–1982
Youthclubs1:Dundee United
Years1:1982–1994
Clubs1:Dundee United
Caps1:242
Goals1:19
Years2:1994
Clubs2:Stoke City
Caps2:17
Goals2:0
Years3:1994–1996
Clubs3:Falkirk
Caps3:48
Goals3:10
Years4:1996–1997
Caps4:19
Goals4:2
Years5:1996
Clubs5:Ross County
Caps5:1
Goals5:1
Years6:1996
Clubs6:Ayr United
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Years7:1997–1999
Clubs7:Berwick Rangers
Caps7:26
Goals7:2
Totalcaps:354
Totalgoals:34
Manageryears1:2001–2004
Managerclubs1:Gala Fairydean
Manageryears2:2004–2005
Managerclubs2:Whitehill Welfare

John Brown Clark (born 22 September 1964) is a Scottish former footballer. He is best known for his achievements in a lengthy playing career with Dundee United. He top scored for them in the run to the 1987 UEFA Cup Final in which he scored in the defeat in the final. Among his four goals in that run was one against FC Barcelona at Camp Nou in the quarter-final.[1] [2]

He also played for Stoke City, Falkirk, Dunfermline Athletic, Ross County, Ayr United and Berwick Rangers.

Career

Dundee United

Clark was born in Edinburgh and joined Dundee United in 1976 and began to play for the reserves as a forward where he scored over 100 goals.[2] He made his debut in the 1982–83.

His best season was 1986–87 where he featured prominently at centre half. He was their top scorer on the way to the 1987 UEFA Cup Final with a goal against each of Universitatea Craiova, Hajduk Split and FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou. He also scored in the second leg of the final at Tannadice Park as United lost 2–1 to IFK Göteborg.[2] [3] [4]

That same season United also lost the 1987 Scottish Cup Final to St Mirren as they also did the season after to Celtic. Clark remained a regular in the Tannadice defence for the late 1980s and early 1990s making 330 appearances scoring 37 goals.

Stoke City

He moved to English club Stoke City in January 1994.[2] Clark started his Stoke against Barnsley in a 3–0 defeat.[1] He ended the 1993–94 season with 12 appearances.[1] In 1994–95 Clark played in six matches and scored his only goal for Stoke which came in a 2–0 victory over Cesena in the Anglo-Italian Cup.[1] When Lou Macari replaced Joe Jordan as manager in September 1994 Clark returned to Scotland.

Later career

Clark next joined Falkirk before transferring part way through his second season to Dunfermline. He had short spells also playing for Ayr United, Ross County and Berwick Rangers. He became Assistant Manager at Berwick.

Clark then dropped out of senior football with Gala Fairydean where he became player-manager. He became manager of Whitehill Welfare in 2004.

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1982–83Scottish Premier Division1010100030
1983–84Scottish Premier Division101305030211
1984–85Scottish Premier Division103103310156
1985–86Scottish Premier Division111000020131
1986–87Scottish Premier Division3036010104477
1987–88Scottish Premier Division283800032395
1988–89Scottish Premier Division202403030302
1989–90Scottish Premier Division291412032384
1990–91Scottish Premier Division182620010254
1991–92Scottish Premier Division341231000392
1992–93Scottish Premier Division372130000412
1993–94Scottish Premier Division140003221193
Total2421936323629933037
Stoke City1993–94First Division120000000120
1994–95First Division5000001161
Total170000011181
Career Total25919363236301034838

A.  The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup and UEFA Cup.

Honours

Dundee United

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lowe, Simon. Stoke City The Modern Era – A Complete Record. 2000. Desert Island Books. 1-874287-39-2.
  2. Web site: John Clark. Dundee United F.C. 20 April 2013.
  3. News: On This Day: Dundee United reach Uefa Cup final in 1987 . BBC Sport . 20 May 2020 . 21 May 2022. Richard . Winton .
  4. News: Dundee United photos found in attic show amazing Uefa Cup final scenes at Tannadice . The Courier . 20 May 2022 . 21 May 2022 . Graeme . Strachan .