Colin Clarke (rugby league)
{{short description|English RL coach and former GB international rugby league footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Colin Clarke
|fullname =
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1945|6|28}}
|birth_place = Wigan, England
|death_date =
|height =
|weight =
|position = {{rlp|HK}}
|club1 = Wigan
|year1start = 1962
|year1end = 76
|appearances1 = 417
|tries1 = 74
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 222
|club2 = Salford
|year2start = 1976
|year2end =
|appearances2 = 12
|tries2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 0
|club3 = Wigan
|year3start = 1977
|year3end = 78
|appearances3 = 19
|tries3 = 1
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 3
|club4 = Leigh
|year4start = 1978
|year4end = 79
|appearances4 = 3
|tries4 = 0
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 0
|teamA = Lancashire
|yearAstart = 1965
|yearAend = 71
|appearancesA = 3
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = Great Britain
|yearBstart = 1965
|yearBend = 73
|appearancesB = 7
|triesB = 2
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 6
|coachteam1 = Leigh
|coachyear1start = 1980
|coachyear1end = 82
|coachgames1 =
|coachwin%1 =
|coachpremierships1 =
|coachteam2 = Wigan
|coachyear2start = 1984
|coachyear2end = 86
|coachgames2 =
|coachwin%2 =
|coachpremierships2 =
|retired = yes
|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/colin-clarke/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/colin-clarke/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{Rugby league records |id=8804 |title=Colin Clarke |access-date=11 March 2024}}
}}
Colin Clarke is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|hk}} in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Wigan (two spells), Salford and Leigh,{{cite book|last=Morris|first=Graham|title=Wigan Rugby League Football Club: 100 Greats|year=2005|publisher=Tempus Publishing|location=Stroud|page=33|isbn=978-0-7524-3470-4}} and coached at club level for Wigan.
Playing career
=Wigan=
Clarke joined Wigan at the age of 17 from Orrell rugby union club, making his debut in 1963.{{cite news |title=Clarke - a career to rank with the best |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0005196/19860605/551/0053 |work=Wigan Observer |date=5 June 1986 |page=49 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}
Colin Clarke played {{rlp|hk}} in Wigan's 20–16 victory over Hunslet in the 1965 Challenge Cup final during the 1964–65 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 8 May 1965, in front of a crowd of 89,016.{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=439|title=1964–1965 Challenge Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004343/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=439|url-status=dead}} Wigan returned to Wembley the following year in the 1966 Challenge Cup, but Clarke missed the final due to suspension.
Clarke played {{rlp|hk}}, and scored a try in Wigan's 16–13 victory over Oldham in the 1966 Lancashire Cup final during the 1966–67 season at Station Road, Swinton, on Saturday 29 October 1966.{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=440|title=1966–1967 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716170330/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=440|url-status=dead}}
Clarke played {{rlp|hk}} in Wigan's 7–4 victory over St. Helens in the 1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 17 December 1968,{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=441|title=1968-1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211418/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=441|url-status=dead}} and played {{rlp|hk}} in the 6–11 defeat by Leigh in the 1969 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1969–70 season at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 16 December 1969.
Clarke played {{rlp|hk}} in the 15–8 victory over Widnes in the 1971 Lancashire County Cup final during the 1971–72 season at Knowsley Road on Saturday 28 August 1971,{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=442|title=1971–1972 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-date=12 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212102809/http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=442|url-status=dead}} and played {{rlp|hk}} in the 19–9 victory over Salford in the 1973 Lancashire Cup final during the 1973–74 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, on Saturday 13 October 1973.{{cite web|url=http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2066|title=1973–1974 Lancashire Cup Final|publisher=wigan.rlfans.com|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713171648/http://wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=2066|archive-date=13 July 2018|url-status=dead}}
Colin Clarke's Testimonial match at Wigan took place in 1973.
=International honours=
Colin Clarke won caps for Great Britain while at Wigan in 1965 against New Zealand, in 1966 against France, and New Zealand, in 1967 against France, and in 1973 against Australia (3 matches).
Genealogical information
Colin Clarke is the father of the rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s; Phil Clarke.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=264 Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com]
- (archived by web.archive.org) [https://web.archive.org/web/20110812111947/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garyslater/4068531/Rugby_Leagues_Generation_Game/ Rugby League's Generation Game]
{{Wigan - 1964–65 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Wigan - 1984–85 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Great Britain squad – 1966 Tour}}
{{Leigh Centurions coaches}}
{{Wigan Warriors coaches}}
{{Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame inductees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, Colin}}
Category:English rugby league coaches
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players
Category:Lancashire rugby league team players
Category:Leigh Leopards coaches
Category:Leigh Leopards players
Category:Rugby league players from Wigan
Category:Salford Red Devils players
Category:Wigan Warriors coaches