James Clarke (footballer, born 2000)

James Clarke
Personal information
Full name James Michael Neil Clarke[1]
Date of birth (2000-04-02) 2 April 2000 (age 24)[2]
Place of birth Birkenhead, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Solihull Moors
Number 2
Youth career
2014–2018 Burnley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Burnley 0 (0)
2019–2022 Mansfield Town 18 (0)
2021–2022 → Solihull Moors (loan) 15 (1)
2022– Solihull Moors 99 (3)
International career
2018 Republic of Ireland U18 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:18, 7 January 2024 (UTC)

James Michael Neil Clarke (born 2 April 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League side Solihull Moors. Born in England, he is a youth international for the Republic of Ireland.

Career

Burnley

Clarke came through the Academy at Burnley and earned a call up to the Republic of Ireland under-18 team in March 2018 where he earned two caps, both against Romania.[4] He turned professional at Turf Moor in April 2018 and was named as Clarets' Scholar of the Year the following month.[5] However he struggled with injuries in the 2018–19 season and he was allowed to leave the club after losing his place in the under-23 team.[6]

Mansfield Town

On 24 June 2019, Clarke signed a two-year deal with EFL League Two side Mansfield Town, alongside fellow Burnley youth-team graduate Aidan Stone.[7] He made his debut in the English Football League on 20 August, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute for Hayden White in a 3–2 defeat to Leyton Orient at Field Mill.[8] Manager John Dempster went on to hand Clarke his first start for the "Stags" four days later, in a 0–0 draw at home to Stevenage.[9]

Solihull Moors (loan)

In November 2021, he joined National League side Solihull Moors on a short-term loan. At the end of December 2021, after a successful loan spell (6 appearances and 5 clean sheets), the loan was extended to the end of the 2021–22 season.[10]

Solihull Moors

On 14 March 2022, Clarke's loan deal at Solihull Moors was made permanent, signing a deal until the end of the 2023/24 season.[11]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 June 2022
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Burnley 2018–19[12] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mansfield Town 2019–20[13] League Two 12 0 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 16 0
2020–21[14] League Two 2 0 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 4 0
2021-22[15] League Two 4 0 0 0 0 0 3[a] 0 7 0
Total 18 0 1 0 0 0 8 0 27 0
Solihull Moors (loan) 2021–22[16] National League 15 1 0 0 — 4[b] 0 19 1
Solihull Moors
2021–22[16] National League 15 1 0 0 — 0 0 15 1
Total 30 2 0 0 — 4 0 34 2
Career total 48 2 1 0 0 0 12 0 61 2
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy

Honours

Solihull Moors

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Mansfield Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 41. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. ^ James Clarke at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  3. ^ "James Clarke - Defender - First Team - Mansfield Town". www.mansfieldtown.net. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  4. ^ Scholes, Tony (20 March 2018). "Clarke gets first Ireland call". UpTheClarets. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Clarke Wins Scholar Award". burnleyfootballclub.com. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  6. ^ Scholes, Tony (21 August 2019). "League debut for James Clarke". UpTheClarets. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  7. ^ Scholes, Tony (24 June 2019). "Clarke and Stone to become Stags". UpTheClarets. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Mansfield Town 2-3 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Mansfield Town 0–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Moors snap up Mansfield defender". Solihull Moors. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Clarke pens permanent Moors deal". solihullmoorsfc.co.uk. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Games played by James Clarke in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Games played by James Clarke in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Games played by James Clarke in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Games played by James Clarke in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Games played by James Clarke in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  17. ^ "FA Trophy final: Gateshead 2–2 Solihull Moors (5–4 on pens) – Lineups". BBC Sport. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.