Graham Clarke (footballer)

English footballer

Graham ClarkePersonal information

Full name|  Graham Peter Clarke
Date of birth|  (1935-08-11)11 August 1935
Place of birth|  Nottingham, England
Date of death|  27 April 2010(2010-04-27) (aged 74)
Place of death|  Southampton, England
Position(s)|  Full-back
Youth career
|  Nottingham Boys
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
1953–1959|  Southampton|  3|  (0)
1959–1961|  Ashford Town[1]|  56|  (1)
1961–1963|  Heanor Town|  |
1963–1966|  Arnold St Mary's|  |
1966–19??|  Totton|  |
International career
1951–1953|  England youth|  |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Graham Peter Clarke (11 August 1935 – 27 April 2010) was an English professional footballer who played as a full-back for Southampton in the 1950s.

## Football career[edit]

Clarke was born in Nottingham, where he made a name for himself playing for Nottingham District as a wing-half. At 16, he was capped for England in the 1951 youth internationals going on to captain the side twice in the following season.[2]

Despite his father's wishes that he should continue his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic, Clarke signed for Southampton as a part-time professional in 1953. He made his debut for the reserve team on 26 December 1955, replacing former England international Bill Ellerington, playing at right-back against Watford.[3] By the start of the 1957–58 season, Clarke was a regular in the reserves and on 19 October 1957 he made his first team debut, becoming the fourth right-back in as many games with first-choice Len Wilkins out with a broken wrist. Despite the "Saints" holding Shrewsbury Town to a 2–2 draw, Clarke was replaced by John Page for the next match.[4]

The form of Wilkins and then Ron Davies at right-back restricted Clarke to two further first-team appearances, against Colchester United on 1 May 1958 and at Rochdale on 4 April 1959.[5] He was released in the summer of 1959 into non-league football.[2]

## Later career[edit]

Clarke returned to Nottingham to live, taking up employment with the Raleigh Bicycle Company before moving back to Southampton where he worked for the General Post Office.[2]

Clarke died in Southampton on 27 April 2010, survived by his wife, Phyllis, and three children.[6]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Graham Clarke player profile". www.nutsandboltsarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
2. ^ a b c Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. pp. 495–496. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
3. ^ In That Number. p. 440.
4. ^ In That Number. pp. 48, 51.
5. ^ In That Number. pp. 54–55.
6. ^ "Obituaries". Saints Official Matchday Programme: 47. 7 August 2010.

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals