x

Ex Files - Jamie Clarke

Right back, midfielder, and one time makeshift forward (makeshift goalscoring forward let it be said). Step forward, Jamie Clarke.

border="0" alt="" width="470" height="102" />
Player Profile: Jamie Clarke

Name Jamie Clarke
Position Defender / Midfielder
Date of Birth 18th September 1982
Born Sunderland
Height 6'2
Weight 12'4
Signed for Dale Mansfield - 12.06.04
Fee Free Transfer
Debut Dale 0 Swansea 2 - 10.08.04
Other Clubs Mansfield Town
Rochdale
Boston United
Grimsby Town
Left Spotland 20.01.06

Dale Stats
  League Cup Total
Season App Sub Goals App Sub Goals App Sub Goals
2005-2006 21 1 0 3 1 0 24 2 0
2004-2005 33 9 1 5 1 0 38 10 1
Total 54 10 1 8 2 0 62 12 1
Clarke was brought to the club following his release from the Mansfield Town. He was originally drafted in to add strength to the squad, as he was described as someone who could play anywhere along the back. However, his form dictated that rather than just making up the numbers, he became a most vital member of the Dale first team.

Indeed, it looked like we had picked up the bargain of the Summer as Clarke proved to be so much more than just a versatile defender. If anything, defending proved to be the weaker aspect of his game, and he played a number of games in central midfield.

In midfield, he added a level of intelligence which hadn't previously been there, and his passing became essential to the way the club was playing. He looked confident at all times, and did the simple things very well indeed.

However, around the start of December 2005, things seemed to take a turn for the worst. Despite being a regular in the side up until that point, he found himself out of the side, with rumours of a bust up with Dale boss Steve Parkin doing the rounds.

The rumours were denied, but with the team's overall form heading South, there was still no place in the Dale side for Clarke and eventually he was given away to Boston United in January 2006.

Whilst with Boston, he failed to prevent their relegation to the Conference in 2006-7, after which he left the club and joined neighbours Grimsby Town.

Interactive Ex Files
Click here to add any updates, any memories or any reviews of this player on our interative Ex Files board for him.

What to read next:

Pompey head to Hull with boss insisting: We're still in positive mood
John Mousinho is confident Pompey will be in the right frame of mind as they bid to recover from their latest Championship setbacks by gaining some reward from their trip to Hull.
Pompey have so much room for improvement - but doomed already? No way!
Twelve games into Pompey's season, and it would appear we've landed slap bang in the middle of relegation fight. Not what we wanted, not what many expected, I don't think, and not a very nice prospect for the long winter months ahead.
Queens Park Rangers 1 - 2 Portsmouth - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
'At the start of the journey' - Pompey chief outlines spending strategy
Pompey chief executive Andy Cullen has promised Pompey are not shirking away from spending money on players - but stressed they're at the start of the sort of journey that's brought major success to the likes of Brighton and Brentford.
Pompey in 84-85: the Santa game, 4-4 with Fulham, Biley, Webb, Dillon and Vince - and last-day heartbreak
When I decided to devote this season's View From the North Stand columns in the PFC programme to our past 21 seasons in the second tier, there was only one it was legal to feature in the Oxford programme... 1984-85.
Pompey v Oxford - a must-win game for Blues, or is such talk too early?
October does seem early to talk about must-win games. There are, after all, 38 Championship games to go before we see the final league table.
The power of partnerships - and why Michael Eisner is happy to put faith in this pairing
Michael Eisner calls it the power of partnerships - and he is convinced the pairing he has put faith in to carry Pompey upwards is the right one.
Returning Pompey defender reflects on 'lonely place' as he looks to kick on
One of Pompey's returning casualties has spoken of the tough time he has had on the sidelines.
Fratton foursome give fans and manager good news - but one Pompey new boy is crocked
Pompey's treatment room is starting to thin out somewhat - although it does now have a new casualty.
Pompey's 1985-86 season: Bans, crushes, a Carlisle nightclub and an agonising end
Everything has a spin-off these days, so why should View From The North Stand not follow suit? If you don't know, that's the name of my column in the Pompey programme, now in its 18th season in its current guise.