Frank Clarke (footballer)

Frank James Clarke (15 July 1942 – 2 June 2022) was an English footballer. Clarke was the eldest of five brothers who all played in the Football League.

For the Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest footballer, see Frank Clark (footballer).
For other people named Frank Clarke, see Frank Clarke (disambiguation).

Frank Clarke
Personal information
Full name Frank James Clarke
Date of birth (1942-07-15)15 July 1942
Place of birth Willenhall, Staffordshire, England
Date of death 2 June 2022(2022-06-02) (aged 79)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Willenhall Town
1961–1968 Shrewsbury Town 188 (77)
1968–1970 Queens Park Rangers 67 (17)
1970–1973 Ipswich Town 66 (15)
1973–1978 Carlisle United 126 (30)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

After playing non-league football for Willenhall Town, he played in the Football League as a centre forward for Shrewsbury Town, Queens Park Rangers, Ipswich Town, and Carlisle United.[1] He made his debut for Shrewsbury Town in 1962 and made 188 appearances for the club.[2] His goal tally of 77 goals was joint-second on the club's all-time scorers list.[2] He was inducted into Shrewsbury Town Hall of Fame.[2]

His younger brothers Allan, Derek, Kelvin and Wayne all played in the Football League. Frank was the only one of the five who did not represent Walsall.[3]

Personal life

After his retirement from football, Clarke returned to Shrewsbury and worked as a newsagent, and at the Adams Sports Centre in Wem[2] as a supervisor for 28 years, until 2010. He dedicated much of his time caring for his family and looking after his grandchildren.[4]

Clarke died on 2 June 2022, surrounded by his family, at the age of 79,[2] leaving wife Sylvia and two daughters, five grandchildren and great grandchildren.[4]

References
  1. "Frank Clarke". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  2. "Frank Clarke: Former Shrewsbury Town, QPR, Ipswich Town and Carlisle United striker dies". BBC Sport. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  3. Edwards, Leigh. "Ultimate Saddlers A-Z 4". Walsall F.C. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  4. "Shrews goal legend Clarke dies aged 79". Shropshire Star. 4 June 2022. p. 80.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.