George Clarke (footballer, born 1894)

George Clarke

Personal information
Full name	George Clarke[1]
Date of birth	3 December 1894
Place of birth	Nantwich, England
Date of death	30 July 1960 (aged 65)[1]
Place of death	Willaston, England[1]
Playing position	Left half
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
–	Nantwich Town
1919–1924	Stoke	156	(4)
1925–1926	Crewe Alexandra	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

George Clarke (3 December 1894 – 30 July 1960) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Crewe Alexandra and Stoke.^[1]

Career

Clarke was born in Nantwich and played for his home town club, Nantwich Town.^[1] Stoke signed Clarke in the summer of 1914 for £125 plus the proceeds of a game between the two sides.^[1] He did not appear in the first team however until after World War I.^[1] Throughout his career at Stoke he was a part timer combining football with his job of as tailor's cutter.^[1] During the war he joined the Liverpool Scottish regiment and was involved in action in France. He was injured, suffering a broken leg but ironically it came playing football for the army.^[1]

He recovered and returned to Stoke and became a regular in the side playing in five seasons for the "Potters" helping Stoke gain promotion in 1921–22.^[1] He played as a hard working left half whose job was to win back possession of the ball, he did this for Stoke until he broke his leg again, this time in January 1924 against Leeds United in the FA Cup.^[1] He never played again for Stoke and spent almost two years out of football before joining Crewe Alexandra. He managed only two matches for Crewe before retiring and became a scout instead.^[1]

Career statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke	1919–20	Second Division	30	1	1	0	31	1
	1920–21	Second Division	41	0	1	0	42	0
	1921–22	Second Division	42	1	5	0	47	1
	1922–23	First Division	25	0	1	0	26	0
	1923–24	Second Division	18	2	1	0	19	2
	Total		156	4	9	0	165	4
Crewe Alexandra	1926–27	Third Division North	2	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	2	0
Career Total			158	4	9	0	167	4

Honours

Stoke City

• Football League Second Division runner-up: 1921–22

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.