Colin Clarke (born 4 April 1946) is a Scottish former professional football player and manager. Clarke, who played as a central defender, spent the majority of his career in England – minus a one-season stint in the North American Soccer League – and made nearly 500 career league appearances.
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Personal information | |||
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Date of birth | (1946-04-04) 4 April 1946 (age 76) | ||
Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
Position(s) | Central defender | ||
Youth career | |||
0000–1963 | Arthurlie | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1963–1965 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
1965–1978 | Oxford United | 444 | (23) |
1978 | Los Angeles Aztecs | 17 | (0) |
1978–1979 | Plymouth Argyle | 35 | (3) |
1979–1982 | Kettering Town | 0 | (0) |
Total | 496 | (26) | |
Teams managed | |||
1979–1982 | Kettering Town | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Born in Glasgow, Clarke began his career in his native Scotland with Arthurlie, before moving to English giants Arsenal in 1963. Clarke never made a league appearance for Arsenal, and later played for Oxford United, the Los Angeles Aztecs, and Plymouth Argyle before becoming player-manager of Kettering Town.
Clarke spent three years in charge of Kettering Town.[citation needed] In July 1991, Clarke became assistant manager at Lincoln City.[1] After six months in the role, the club activated a contractural clause to cancel his two-year contract following his failure to relocate his home to Lincoln as agreed.[2] In July 1992 he became youth development officer at Reading but lasted just four months before departing with the Royals youth team bottom of the South East Counties League Division Two.[3] He was then appointed youth team coach at Aston Villa in February 1993.[4]
In 2003 he was appointed assistant head men's soccer coach at the University of Tulsa.[5] He was named both the 2009 NSCAA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year,[6] and the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Assistant Coach of the Year.[7] After nine seasons at Tulsa, the conclusion of the 2011 season saw Clarke announce his retirement from coaching.[8]
Kettering Town F.C. – managers | |
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Stafford Rangers F.C. – managers | |
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