Colin Clarke (footballer, born 1946)

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.

Colin Clarke
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-04-04) 4 April 1946 (age 78)
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)
Managerial career
1979–1982 Kettering Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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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.

Coaching career

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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 contractual 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]

Honours

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Oxford United

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References

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  1. ^ David Garlant (25 July 1991). "Aspiring City bank on Colin". Lincolnshire Echo.
  2. ^ Chris Hutchings (18 January 1992). "Clarke out at the Bank". Lincolnshire Echo.
  3. ^ Clive Baskerville (24 November 1992). "Clarke loses youth post". Reading Evening Post. p. 32.
  4. ^ "Villa name new coach". Sandwell Evening Mail. 23 February 1993. p. 42.
  5. ^ "The Official Tulsa Golden Hurricane Soccer Media Guide 2011" (PDF). TulsaHurricane.com. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Colin Clarke Named 2009 NSCAA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year". TulsaHurricane.com. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Colin Clarke Named 2009 NSCAA Assistant Coach of the Year". TulsaHurricane.com. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Tulsa Men's Soccer Appoints Alumnus Terry Boss to Coaching Staff". TulsaHurricane.com. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Colin Clarke-Tulsa Soccer Club Hurricanes". TSC Hurricane.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
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