An instructive goalscorer whose transfers to and from Leicester City both broke the existing British record (at £150,000 and £165,000), Allan began his Filbert Street year as a tangible symbol of the club’s ambition, soon integrated himself with the fans with hat-trick (against Manchester City) among early goal flow, but increasingly came to look something of luxury as 1969/69 unexpectedly developed into an earnest relegation struggle.
He was clearly a man for the big occasion (scoring the Cup semi-final winner against West Bromwich Albion, taking the Man of the Match award at Wembley), but his apparently leisurely style seemed at odds with the requirements of a scramble for safety points.
The slim striker added one England Under-23 cap to his burgeoning representative tally while with Leicester City, but only made the break-through to full international honours after being snapped up by Don Revie.
Nicknamed “Sniffer” at Elland Road in recognition of his clinical penalty-area poaching skills, Allna played in three FA Cup Finals for Leeds (scoring their winner in 1972), won a championship medal in 1974, and was also a scorer in their Fairs Cup victory in 1971.
He led Barnsley out of the Fourth Division in his first year of management, then returned to Leeds as boss, subsequently also managing Scunthorpe United, Barnsley again and Lincoln City.
Allan’s brothers Fran (who faced him for QPR on his City debut), Derek, Kelvin and Wayne each also carved out football careers at League level, and the later became another expensive Leicester City purchase in June 1989.
Allan Clarke played in two successive FA Cup finals ending runners-up at both occassions. First with Leicester City in 1969 and the year after with Leeds United.
Clarke played 19 times for England, making his debut in the 1970 World Cup against Czechoslovakia, scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
Clarke left football management and pursued a trade in business, working as a travelling salesman for MTS Nationwide and since retirement also been a critic of the game fiercely protecting of the former establishment at Leeds United.
FACTFILE
- Full Name: Allan John Clarke
- Position: Forward
- Date of Birth: 31.07.1946
- Birthplace: Short Heath
- Nation: England
- Caps / Goals: 19/10
- Major League Career:
- 1963-66, Walsall (72/41)
- 1966-68, Fulham (86/45)
- 1968-69, Leicester City (26/12)
- 1969-78, Leeds United (273/110)
- 1978-80, Barnsley (47/15)
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