Paul Clarke (Scottish footballer)

Paul Clarke (born 11 October 1956) is a Scottish former semi-professional footballer who played for Kilmarnock as a centre-back.[2][3]

Paul Clarke
Personal information
Date of birth (1956-10-11) 11 October 1956
Place of birth Ardrossan, Scotland
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1971–1972 Saltcoats Star[1]
1972–1973 Kilmarnock Star
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1974 Ardrossan Winton Rovers
1974–1986 Kilmarnock 362 (25)
International career
1978–1980 Scottish League XI 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Clarke spent some time in the youth team Kilmarnock Star alongside future team-mate at senior level, Stuart McLean,[1] and had a loan spell in the Junior leagues with local Ardrossan Winton Rovers after signing provisionally with Kilmarnock.

His debut for Killie was versus Partick Thistle at Rugby Park in the Scottish League Cup on 9 August 1975,[1] he scored Kilmarnock's first goal in the Premier Division format on 4 September 1976 at home to Motherwell,[1] and his final game was also at home versus Ayrshire derby rivals Ayr United in a league match on 3 May 1986.[4]

He left the club and retired from football at the age of 29 to join Strathclyde Police before reaching their upper recruitment age limit;[1] despite ending his career early, he is ranked 11th on Kilmarnock's all-time appearance list, having played in 436 matches across 11 seasons in the three major competitions.[5]

Clarke's two Scottish League XI caps were versus Italy B in 1978 and League of Ireland in 1980.[6][7]

He later became involved in coaching the youth teams at Kilmarnock.[1]

Clarke was inducted in the Kilmarnock Hall of Fame in 2018.[8]

Personal life

Paul is the older brother of the current Scotland national football team manager and former Chelsea defender, Steve Clarke.[1][9] The siblings played against each other during the 1982–83 season when Steve was with St Mirren; on 4 December 1982, Paul scored both Kilmarnock goals in a 2–2 draw between the sides at Rugby Park.[1][4]

References
  1. Donny Muir (2001). "Interview with Paul Clarke". KillieFC.com. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  2. "Profile". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  3. Paul Clarke, Killie Histories, 29 May 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022
  4. "Kilmarnock player Paul Clarke". Fitbastats. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  5. "Kilmarnock FC player records". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  6. Cairns, Richard (2011). Killie 'Til I Die. Fasprint Services (Irvine) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9541653-1-4.
  7. "Scottish League XI Paul Clarke". London Hearts. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  8. "Hall of Fame - Kilmarnock FC Board of Directors". Kilmarnock FC. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  9. "Kilmarnock: Steve Clarke believes his managerial record deserves more respect". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.


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