| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Leslie Clarke[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1946-10-23)23 October 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Northampton, England | ||
| Date of death | 1 January 2011(2011-01-01) (aged 64) | ||
| Place of death | Northampton, England | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1965–1975 | Northampton Town | 233 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| England Youth | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
John Leslie Clarke (23 October 1946 – 1 January 2011) was an English professionalfootballer who played as acentral defender. Clarke was aone-club man who played his entire career with his home-town club,Northampton Town.
John "Nobby" Clarke won youth International honours forEngland in the early 1960s, beforeNorthampton Town managerDave Bowen signed him on in the summer of 1965 beatingLeeds United to his signature. He played (and scored) in the side that lost 8–2 toManchester United in 1970. Overall he made 262 league and cup appearances for the club, with his only goal coming in his penultimate season, when he scored againstBarnsley. He retired due to injury in 1974 and was awarded a testimonial againstLeicester City. Following his professional football career, Clarke took over as manager ofBritish Timken's football team. He was also a talented cricketer a once turned out for theNorthamptonshire Second XI.[2]
Clarke died in 2011 onNew Year's Day after suffering aheart attack.[2]