Clark Joe Image 1 Southampton 1922

Description

Willington Quay, Northumberland born outside left Joe Clark had a somewhat disjointed football career, which started at Wallsend Park Villa in 1910, from where he joined Hull City spending 1911-12 on their books without making the first eleven, returning to North East non league football with Hebburn Argyle in 1912. He then joined Southern League Cardiff City in May 1913, but his career with The Bluebirds was significantly affected by the First World War, but after the War he remained with Cardiff, and when they joined the Football League in 1920 Clark had to wait to 3 days shy of his 31st birthday to make his Football League debut at Barnsley in February 1921, playing 14 times in a season in which Cardiff were promoted to the First Division at the first time of asking.

Having had a spell on loan with Aberaman Athletic in 1921, he played his last game for Cardiff City in April 1922, his only First Division match fittingly at Newcastle United, and then moved to Southampton in June after 6 goals in 26 appearances either side of the War. With The Saints he played 20 games in the 1922-23 season before he was replaced by Len Andrews in December 1922, playing only once more the following March. A free transfer move followed to Rochdale in May 1923, where he scored his only League goal against Grimsby Town in a 4-2 win in March 1924, one of 16 appearances for ‘Dale before his retirement at the end of the season.