// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Mattie Clarke a good golfer? Par-fectly Clarke.
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Mattie Clarke (23 November 1919 – 6 January 1960) was an Irish footballer.
Early life
[edit]Born Matthew Alphonsus Clarke in Dublin in 1919 to John Clarke, a constable in the Dublin Metropolitan Police, and Mary Cullen, he grew up in 12 Thirlestane Terrace, Thomas Court.[1][2] In 1944, he married Ellen Kinsella, giving his profession as professional footballer.[3]
Career
[edit]Clarke was a product of Drumcondra. He played for his country at youth level against England in 1938. Shortly after he joined Shamrock Rovers where he spent 12 seasons as a defender.[4] However, he joined Rovers as a striker and scored a hat-trick in one of his first games for the club. He went on to appear in five FAI Cup with Rovers, winning four of them.[5][4] He played nine times for the League of Ireland XI while at Glenmalure Park.
He won his one and only senior cap for Ireland on 10 May 1950 in a 5–1 defeat to Belgium in Brussels.
In the 1950–51 season Clarke was awarded a testimonial for his twelve years service at Milltown. He then moved to Dundalk, where he won another FAI Cup medal.[5] He signed for Waterford United in August 1954.[6]
Death and family
[edit]By 1960, Clarke was working as a commercial traveller and football coach, having previously worked for the Guinness Brewery.[7][8] On 6 January 1960, Clarke was killed when the car he was driving crashed into a gate pier near county council roadworks. He was survived by his wife Ellen and his four children.[7]
Following his death, a testimonial match in his memory was held in Tolka Park in November 1960.[9]
His son Jackie also played football, including for Shamrock Rovers and Celtic F.C..[5]
Sources
[edit]- Paul Doolan; Robert Goggins. The Hoops. ISBN 0-7171-2121-6.
References
[edit]- ↑ "Birth Register" (PDF). irishgenealogy.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
- ↑ "1926 Census return". nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
- ↑ "Marriage Register" (PDF). irishgenealogy.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Mattie Clarke". Dundalk F.C Who's Who. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Clarke following in father's footsteps". The Irish Times. 8 March 1967.
- ↑ "Clarke for Waterford". The Irish Times. 6 August 1954.
- 1 2 "Widow to be paid £3,000". The Irish Times. 31 October 1961.
- ↑ "Matthew Clarke". guinness-storehouse.com. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
- ↑ "To-night's game at Tolka Park". The Irish Times. 14 November 1960.
- 1919 births
- 1960 deaths
- Association footballers from County Dublin
- Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- Men's association football forwards
- Republic of Ireland men's international footballers
- Ireland (FAI) men's international footballers
- Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
- Dundalk F.C. players
- Waterford F.C. players
- League of Ireland players
- League of Ireland XI players
- Drumcondra F.C. players
- 20th-century Irish sportsmen