Chris Conn-Clarke

Chris Conn-Clarke
Personal information
Full name Christopher Seamus Michael Conn-Clarke [1]
Date of birth (2001-11-22) 22 November 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Peterborough United
Number 9
Youth career
Linfield
0000–2018 Glentoran
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Glentoran 1 (0)
2018–2021 Burnley 0 (0)
2020 → Chorley (loan) 2 (0)
2021–2023 Fleetwood Town 4 (0)
2022 → Altrincham (loan) 2 (0)
2022–2023 → Altrincham (loan) 33 (10)
2023 → Waterford (loan) 15 (1)
2023–2024 Altrincham 46 (23)
2024– Peterborough United 5 (0)
International career‡
2017 Northern Ireland U17 2 (0)
2019 Northern Ireland U19 3 (0)
2021 Northern Ireland U21 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:27, 9 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:26, 1 October 2021 (UTC)

Christopher Seamus Michael Conn-Clarke (born 22 November 2001) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One side Peterborough United.

Having started his senior career at Glentoran, Conn-Clarke joined Premier League club Burnley as a scholar in 2018. He had a spell on loan at Chorley in 2020 and signed for Fleetwood Town on EFL League One in February 2021, making his debut in September of that year.

Early life

Conn-Clarke is from Antrim.[2]

Club career

Having previously played for Linfield's youth academy, he joined Glentoran aged 11.[3] In summer 2017, he was offered a scholarship by English Premier League club Burnley, but remained at Glentoran for the 2017–18 season due to his age.[4] He made his senior debut for Glentoran on 28 April 2018 as a substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Ballinamallard United.[5] He joined English Premier League club Burnley on a two-year scholarship in summer 2018.[2][6] In summer 2020, he was given a one-year extension to his scholarship.[7] In October 2020, he joined National League North club Chorley on a work experience loan,[8] where he made 2 appearances.[5]

In February 2021, it was announced that Conn-Clarke had joined Fleetwood Town on an 18-month contract with an option to extend by a year.[9][10] On 1 July 2021, Fleetwood Town announced that his contract had been extended until the end on the 2022–23 season, with the option of a further year.[11] He made his debut for the club on 25 September 2021 as a substitute in a 2–2 draw away to Cambridge United.[12] On 4 February 2022, he was sent out on loan to National League side Altrincham on an initial one-month loan.[13] In July 2022, Conn-Clarke returned to Altrincham until January 2023.[14]

On 31 January 2023, Conn-Clarke signed for League of Ireland First Division club Waterford on a season long loan.[15]

On 16 June 2023, Conn-Clarke signed for National League side Altrincham for a club record fee.[16] Having scored twenty-three goals and assisted a further twelve, he was named National League Player of the Year for the 2023–24 season.[17] Following his stellar season, Conn-Clarke was linked with moves away from Altrincham with a host of League One clubs interested.[18]

On 17 June 2024, Conn-Clarke signed for EFL League One side Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth.

International career

Conn-Clarke has represented Northern Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.[6][19]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Glentoran 2017–18[20] NIFL Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Burnley 2018–19[20] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019–20[20] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2020–21[20] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chorley (loan) 2020–21[20] National League North 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
Fleetwood Town 2021–22[20] League One 4 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 5 0
2022–23[20] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
Altrincham (loan) 2021–22[20] National League 2 0 — — — 2 0
Altrincham (loan) 2022–23[20] National League 28 9 2 1 — 2[b] 0 32 10
Waterford (loan) 2023[20] LOI First Division 15 1 — — 1[c] 0 16 1
Altrincham 2023–24[20] National League 46 23 1 0 — 3[d] 0 50 23
Peterborough United 2024–25[20] League One 5 0 0 0 1 0 2[a] 0 8 0
Career total 103 33 3 1 1 0 9 0 116 34
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
  3. ^ Appearance in Munster Senior Cup
  4. ^ 2 appearances in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in National League play-offs

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". premierleague.com. Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Magilton hails 17 players who are aiming to further their careers in Britain". irishfa.com. Irish Football Association. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  3. ^ Jones, Andy (30 January 2020). "'Cheeky chappy' Conn-Clarke is a symbol of Burnley's burgeoning academy set-up". The Athletic. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Glentoran Academy End of Season Review". glentoran.com. Glentoran F.C. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "C. Conn-Clarke: Summary". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b Fullerton, Gareth (17 January 2020). "Meet the West Belfast "magician" making headlines at Burnley FC". BelfastLive. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  7. ^ "New Deals for Young Players". burnleyfootballclub.com. Burnley F.C. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Winger Conn-Clarke Flies into Magpies". burnleyfootballclub.com. Burnley F.C. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Chris Conn-Clarke joins Town's Development Squad". fleetwoodtownfc.com. Fleetwood Town F.C. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  10. ^ Boden, Chris (1 February 2021). "Burnley sign young winger, as Conn-Clarke joins Cod Army". Burnley Express. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Chris Conn-Clarke earns new deal with Town". fleetwoodtownfc.com. Fleetwood Town F.C. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  12. ^ Fullerton, Darren (27 September 2021). "'West Belfast magician' praised after Fleetwood Town debut". BelfastLive. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  13. ^ Fullerton, Darren (4 February 2022). "Chris Conn-Clarke heads to Altrincham on an initial month-long loan". BelfastLive. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Major boost for Alty as Chris Conn-Clarke joins until the New Year". altrinchamfc.com. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Waterford FC". 31 January 2023.
  16. ^ "WHAT A SIGNING - IT'S CHRIS CONN-CLARKE AND PHIL IS BACKING HIM TO BECOME AN ALTY CULT HERO!". altrinchamfc.com. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Your Three Players Of The Season Are Recognised". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  18. ^ McMahon, Mark (7 June 2024). "Transfer latest: Portsmouth cool interest in in-demand attacking midfielder linked with Ipswich, Wigan and Peterborough". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Christopher Conn-Clarke". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Chris Conn-Clarke at Soccerway
  21. ^ "Spireites quartet in Vanarama National League Team of the Season". Chesterfield FC. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.