James Clarke (footballer, born 1989)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{other people|James Clarke}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = James Clarke
| image = James Clarke playing for Bristol Rovers in 2015.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Clarke playing for Bristol Rovers in 2015
| fullname = James Anthony John Clarke{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Walsall |publisher=English Football League |page=74 |accessdate=27 October 2019}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|11|17|df=y}}{{ENFA}}
| birth_place = Aylesbury, England
| height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Newport County
| clubnumber = 5
| youthyears1 = 2000–2006
| youthclubs1 = Watford
| years1 = 2007–2009
| clubs1 = Oxford United
| caps1 = 32
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009–2012
| clubs2 = Oxford City
| caps2 = 151
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2012–2014
| clubs3 = Salisbury City
| caps3 = 74
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2014–2015
| clubs4 = Woking
| caps4 = 30
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2015–2019
| clubs5 = Bristol Rovers
| caps5 = 112
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2019–2021
| clubs6 = Walsall
| caps6 = 58
| goals6 = 5
| years7 = 2021–
| clubs7 = Newport County
| caps7 = 107
| goals7 = 2
| club-update = 15:00, 21 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
James Anthony John Clarke (born 17 November 1989) is an English footballer who plays as centre back for {{English football updater|NewportC}} club Newport County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2021/june/new-page3/|title = DONE DEAL | James Clarke joins Exiles on one-year deal}}
Career
Clarke began his career at Oxford United, making his debut by playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 Conference win at Kidderminster Harriers on 24 November 2007.{{cite news|title=Kidderminster 0-2 Oxford|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7099678.stm|accessdate=19 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=24 November 2007}} He made 18 league appearances in his first season, and was sent off for two bookings in a 0–3 home defeat to Burton Albion on 8 March 2008.{{cite news|title=Oxford Utd 0-3 Burton Albion|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7272512.stm|accessdate=19 August 2015|date=8 March 2008}}
He played 14 league matches in the ensuing campaign, but received a straight red card in the opening game, a 3–0 defeat at Barrow on 8 August 2008.{{cite news|title=Barrow 3-0 Oxford|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7541311.stm|accessdate=19 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2008}} On 27 February 2009, with his contract terminated by mutual consent, he joined Southern Football League Premier Division team Oxford City for the rest of their 2009 campaign,{{cite news|title=Clarke joins Oxford City|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/4161742.print/|accessdate=19 August 2015|work=Oxford Mail|date=27 February 2009}} and from 2012 to 2014 he signed for Salisbury City after an unsuccessful trial at League one side Yeovil Town.
With Salisbury in financial distress, Clarke left for Woking, also of the Conference, on an undisclosed contract.{{cite news|title=James Clarke: Woking sign Salisbury City defender|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28108443|accessdate=19 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 July 2014}} He made his debut on 9 August as they opened the season with a 3–1 win at Alfreton Town, and made 30 appearances across the campaign.{{cite news|title=Alfreton 1-3 Woking|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28647193|accessdate=19 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2014}}
=Bristol Rovers=
On 11 June 2015, with his contract expired, he signed for Bristol Rovers, newly promoted back into The Football League.{{cite news|title=James Clarke: Bristol Rovers sign ex-Woking defender|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33093160|accessdate=19 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 June 2015}} He made his debut for the club on 8 August, as they began the League Two season with a 0–1 home defeat to Northampton Town.{{cite news|title=Bristol Rovers 0-1 Northampton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33744362|accessdate=19 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2015}} Clarke ended the season with several first-team appearances as he provided a helpful role in Rovers' 3rd-place finish to achieve promotion into the Football League One. In the same summer, Clarke signed a contract extension along with several other teammates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36499687|title=Clarke signs new Bristol Rovers deal|work=BBC Sport}}
Clarke scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers at the start of the 2018–19 season{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45152922|title=Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Bristol Rovers|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 August 2018}} and his second with a 95-minute winner in a 2–1 victory over Fleetwood Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46575756|title=Bristol Rovers 2-1 Fleetwood Town|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 December 2018}}
=Walsall=
Clarke was offered a new contract at Bristol Rovers at the end of the 2018–19 season{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2019/may/8.5.19-retained-list/|title=Retained List|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=8 May 2019|accessdate=30 May 2019|archive-date=8 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508152401/https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2019/may/8.5.19-retained-list/|url-status=dead}} but, despite being offered an improved two-year contract, opted to follow former boss Darrell Clarke to Walsall (under whom he had worked at Salisbury and Rovers) on a deal worth £104,000 per year.{{Cite web|title=Walsall 2020 Wages {{!}} Player & Team totals|url=https://salarysport.com/football/sky-bet-league-two/walsall/|access-date=2020-08-15|website=salarysport.com|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2019/may/30.5.19-clarke-walsall/|title=James Clarke joins Walsall|date=30 May 2019|accessdate=30 May 2019|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530145715/https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2019/may/30.5.19-clarke-walsall/|url-status=dead}} Clarke made his debut on the opening day of the season, scoring the only goal as Darrell Clarke got off to a winning start against Northampton Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49135937|title=Northampton Town 0–1 Walsall|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 August 2019|accessdate=30 April 2021}} His impressive start with the club continued and after scoring two goals in the month, he was awarded the League Two Player of the Month award for September 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2019/october/james-clarke-wins-player-of-the-month-award/|title=James Clarke wins Player of the Month award|website=www.saddlers.co.uk|date=11 October 2019|accessdate=30 April 2021}} One of these goals was a 30-yard screamer against Crawley Town that won him the league's Goal of the Month award.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2019/10/18/walsall-captain-james-clarke-wins-goal-of-the-month-award/|title=Walsall captain James Clarke wins goal of the month award|publisher=Express & Star|date=18 October 2019|accessdate=30 April 2021}}
At the end of the 2020–21 season, Clarke was one of eight players to not be offered a new contract and departed the club at the expiration of his contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2021/may/club-statement-released--retained-list/|title=Club Statement: Released & Retained List|website=www.saddlers.co.uk|date=11 May 2021}}
=Newport County=
In June 2021 he joined Newport County on a one-year deal.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57617598 Clarke joins Newport] He made his debut for Newport on 7 August 2021 as a first-half substitute in the 1–0 League Two win against Oldham Athletic.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58036216 Newport debut] On 18 September 2021, Clarke scored his first goal for the club with an 87th-minute winner against former club Walsall, assisted by another former Walsall teammate Cameron Norman.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58525272|title=Newport County 2–1 Walsall|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 September 2021|accessdate=1 October 2021}} In May 2022 Clarke's contract at Newport was extended until the end of the 2022–23 season.[https://uk.style.yahoo.com/dependable-defender-staying-county-clause-094846809.html Clarke contract extension] He signed a new two-year contract in May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/20232/may/james-clarke-signs-two-year-contract-extension/|title=James Clarke Signs Two-Year Contract Extension|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|date=24 May 2023|accessdate=24 May 2023}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 7 April 2023}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Oxford United
|2007–08{{soccerbase season|48162|2007|accessdate=15 October 2019}} |18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09{{soccerbase season|48162|2008|accessdate=15 October 2019}}
|Conference Premier |14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!32||0||4||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||36||0 | ||||||||||
| Oxford City
!colspan=2|Total !151 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | |151 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan=3|Salisbury City
|2012–13{{soccerway|james-clarke/36269|accessdate=15 October 2019}} |37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in Conference South play-offs}} | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14
|Conference Premier |37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearances in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!74||0||3||0||colspan=2|—||4||0||82||0 | ||||||||||
| Woking
|Conference Premier |30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||
| rowspan=5|Bristol Rovers
|2015–16{{soccerbase season|48162|2015|accessdate=15 October 2019}} |37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Football League Trophy}} | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 2016–17{{soccerbase season|48162|2016|accessdate=15 October 2019}}
|22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|48162|2017|accessdate=15 October 2019}}
|League One |11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|48162|2018|accessdate=15 October 2019}}
|League One |42 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 49 | 2 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!112||2||4||0||4||0||6||0||126||2 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=3|Walsall
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|48162|2019|accessdate=15 October 2019}} |League Two |27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 32 | 3 | |
| 2020–21{{soccerbase season|48162|2020|accessdate=29 September 2020}}
|League Two |31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!58||5||2||0||2||0||3||0||65||5 | ||||||||||
| rowspan="3"|Newport County
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|48162|2021|access-date=20 April 2023}} |League Two |35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|48162|2022|access-date=20 April 2023}}
|League Two |23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!58 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 1 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!515||8||17||0||8||0||20||0||560||8 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
;Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerway}}
{{Newport County A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, James}}
Category:Footballers from Aylesbury
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Oxford United F.C. players
Category:Oxford City F.C. players
Category:Salisbury City F.C. players
Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Southern Football League players