[Football] Ray Clarke

[carlzeiss]

Interesting article in the Sun that may of interest to older supporters .
Have to confess my memories of him have faded over the years , nice to see though that he has been successful post retiring prematurely from professional football .

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8971434/ray-clarke-tottenham-ajax-feature/

Meet the unknown Brit who is Ajax’s ONLY ever English player.. and became hero by winning the double

Former Tottenham trainee Ray Clarke spent just one season in Amsterdam but is a local legend

 

[Icy Gull]

My memory may be wrong but wasn’t he brought in to spice up a dreadful forward line under Mike Bailey. Did a good job as I remember too

 

[drew]

My memory may be wrong but wasn’t he brought in to spice up a dreadful forward line under Mike Bailey. Did a good job as I remember too

Pretty sure he was here under Mullery. He headed the ball down for Ryan to stab home at Forest in the 79/80 season from a cross by Lawrenson.

 

[Mancgull]

Played well alongside Ward and created chances for him. A much better player than Maybank for that. Ward blossomed alongside Clarke in the same way as he did with Mellor.

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

I think he scored in the south stand goal against Liverpool 1st season

header maybe?

 

[Clarke's Consolation]

Scored the first Albion goal that I saw live, hence my user name. Didn't realise he only stayed for one season.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

Clinical in front of goal but all round play was pretty average. He left us for Newcastle where he was found wanting. Did a good job for us whilst he was here.

 

[Questions]

I think he scored in the south stand goal against Liverpool 1st season

header maybe?

We got him from Brugge. He took a bit of stick at times but was alright.

 

[8049]

One of my first Albion heroes - not sure why. He was the reason why, when I was about 9, I planned to change my name to Ray as soon as I was old enough.

 

[Stat Brother]

My memory may be wrong but wasn’t he brought in to spice up a dreadful forward line under Mike Bailey. Did a good job as I remember too

That doesn't really sound like the Albion, does it?

 

[studio150]

Also scored in the New Years Day 2-2 draw at Bristol City and the 3rd Round Cup win at Mansfield January 1980

 

[Brovion]

I think he scored in the south stand goal against Liverpool 1st season

header maybe?

Do believe you are correct. I think we lost 5-1 (or maybe 4-1) but his goal was described as a 'Ray of hope'. He was signed remember because none of our other strikers were able to score in the top division. Sound familiar?

 

[Nigella's Cream Pie]

His most memorable match for me was on 29/12/79, he scored twice in 4-1 home win over Manchester City.

Good article on his time with us and elsewhere: https://inparallellines.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/ajax-legend-ray-clarke-restored-peter-wards-goalscoring-form-at-brighton-then-quit-newcastle-at-28/

 

[trueblue]

Did he score a diving header in front of the North Stand? That's one of my earliest Albion memories, but I might be confusing him with a different player.

 

[carlzeiss]

Also scored in the New Years Day 2-2 draw at Bristol City and the 3rd Round Cup win at Mansfield January 1980

Was at the Bristol City New Years day game , seem to recall that we had 5000 fans , there or is time playing tricks on the memory cells ?

 

[studio150]

Was at the Bristol City New Years day game , seem to recall that we had 5000 fans , there or is time playing tricks on the memory cells ?

I was there as well, we certainly had a few as I recall the stand being jammed

 

[Eeyore]

Clinical in front of goal but all round play was pretty average. He left us for Newcastle where he was found wanting. Did a good job for us whilst he was here.

Less found wanting and more a career threatening hip injury diagnosed while at the Albion. They soon got rid of him.

Only lasted a few more matches.

 

[Ernest]

My memory may be wrong but wasn’t he brought in to spice up a dreadful forward line under Mike Bailey. Did a good job as I remember too

What a JCL you are . Robinson and Ritchie were top class

 

[Icy Gull]

What a JCL you are . Robinson and Ritchie were top class

More senile than JCL

 

[Hiney]

33 appearances, 8 goals in the 79/80 season