Neil Clarke (soccer)

Neil Clarke
Personal information
Full name Neil G. Clarke
Place of birth Scotland
Playing position Forward / Fullback
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Celtic
1913 Paterson True Blues
1913–1914 Brooklyn Field Club
1914–1916 Bethlehem Steel
1917–1918 Babcock & Wilcox
1918 Fall River Rovers
1920–1921 Robins Dry Dock
1921–1922 Todd Shipyard 9 (2)
1922–1923 Fall River Marksmen 2 (0)
1923–1925 Philadelphia Field Club 58 (0)
National team
1916 United States 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Neil G. Clarke (sometimes listed as Clark) (born in Scotland) was a Scottish American soccer player who began his career in the Scottish Football League before moving to the United States. He played in both the National Association Football League and American Soccer League. In 1916, he played in the first two U.S. national team games.

Professional career

Clarke began his career as a center forward but later moved to center half back. He played for Celtic in the Scottish Football League.[1] In 1913, he was with the Paterson True Blues of the National Association Football League (NAFBL) when Paterson won the American Cup finals against Diston The first game and first replay both ended in ties with Clarke scoring the tying goal in both games. In the second replay, Paterson won, 2-1, to take the Cup.[2] He then moved to Brooklyn Field Club, winning the 1914 National Challenge Cup with them. In 1914, Clarke is listed with Bethlehem Steel. In 1915 and 1916, Bethlehem won the National Challenge Cup.[3][4] He then moved to Babcock & Wilcox for a single season before moving to the Fall River Rovers of the Southern New England Soccer League in 1918. That year, Clarke was with Fall River when they lost the National Challenge Cup final to Bethlehem Steel. In 1920 and 1921, he played for Robins Dry Dock, which won the 1921 Challenge Cup.[3] In 1921, the American Soccer League replaced the NAFBL as the top U.S. league. Todd Shipyards, the parent company of Robins Dry Dock, took over sponsorship of the team, renaming Todd Shipyard. The team folded at the end of the 1921-1922 season, and Clarke moved to the Fall River Marksmen. He saw little playing time and in 1923, he made his last move, this time to the Philadelphia Field Club. He left the ASL in 1925.[1]

National team

Clarke earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1916. In the first official U.S. national team game, the U.S. defeated Sweden on 20 August 1916. On 3 September 1916, Clarke and his team mates drew with Norway before returning to the U.S.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Jose, Colin (1998). American Soccer League, 1921-1931 (Hardback). The Scarecrow Press. ( ISBN 0-8108-3429-4).
  2. ↑ The Year in American Soccer - 1913 American Soccer History Archives, 10 April 2005
  3. 1 2 Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club
  4. ↑ USA - List of US Open Cup Finals RSSSF, 28 January 2011
  5. ↑ USA - Details of International Matches 1885-1969 RSSSF, 29 June 2003
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