Clark Don Image 1 Bristol City 1948

Description

Bristol born centre forward Don Clark began his football career with North Bristol Old Boys, signing for Third Division (South) club Bristol City in May 1937, making his Football League debut against Mansfield Town in March 1939, Clark had made 7 appearances for The Robins before the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 forced a substantial interruption to his career, but after the War he returned and scored 5 goals in 8 appearances in their 1945-46 FA Cup campaign including a hat-trick as they knocked Swansea Town out in the third round.

In 1946-47 Clark missed 5 games in the campaign but still managed to score 41 goals in 39 matches firing Bristol City to third place in the Third Division (South), a total that included 4 goals in an FA Cup tie against Hayes and 4 against Torquay United in March 1947, and hat-tricks in wins over Exeter City and Mansfield Town. The following season he still managed a commendable 25 goals including 4 in a 7-2 win at Reading in October 1947 and trebles in an FA Cup win over Dartford and a derby win over Bristol Rovers, but his total was eclipsed by Len Townsend’s 34 strikes.

Described as “a strong go-ahead forward… well build and very strong on the legs and very difficult to dispossess when on the ball. Clever and keen, he is the ideal pivot”, Clark lost his place in February 1949 but stayed at Ashton Gate another two seasons, his final appearance coming in an FA Cup defeat at Birmingham City in February 1951, by when he had scored 82 goals in 136 appearances for The Robins. He is 12th in the list of top scorers for Bristol City had holds the club record for most goals scored in a season with his 1946-47 total.

His son Brian Clark had a long career as a professional footballer with Bristol City, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Bournemouth, Millwall and Newport County in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and is probably most famous for scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory for Cardiff City against Real Madrid in the first leg of the European Cup Winners Cup quarter-final in 1971.