*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Joe Clark
Appearances: 71 Goals: 1
Date / Year of birth: 2nd March 1920
Position: Left-back
Season of first appearance: 1947/48
Season of last appearance: 1948/49
Also played for: Erith & Belvedere, Dartford, Gravesend United, Ramsgate Athletic and Clapton Orient (19,0)
5' 9" tall defender born in Bermondsey who started his career with spells at Erith & Belvedere and Dartford before moving on to Gravesend.
During 1945/46 Joe had a spell with Ramsgate as a guest player and in February 1946 he joined Clapton Orient. He went on to make 19 first team appearances for the London club during the 1946/47 season.
In July 1947 Joe signed for Margate and made his debut in a 5-2 win over Gravesend & Northfleet in the Kent League at Hartsdown Park on 23.8.47 - the opening day of the 1947/48 campaign. He became a fixture in the first team, firmly establishing himself as the club's first-choice left-back, and formed a formidable full-back partnership with Jack Roberts.
Joe made a total of 45 appearances without scoring during the season as Margate won the Kent League title and he was also was part of the side that beat visitors Ramsgate 2-1 to win the Kent League Cup Final on 6.5.48. In addition he featured as Margate won 4-1 at Gravesend & Northfleet to claim the Kent Senior Shield on 8.5.48 to complete a three trophy haul for the campaign.
Joe was also a fixture in the side during the first half of the 1948/49 campaign and on 21.8.48, the opening day of the season, he found himself having to play over half a game in goal after Doug Read was carried off. Margate's opponents at Hartsdown were Gillingham Reserves and Joe did well as the game finished 1-1. On 15.1.49 he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 Kent League win at Sittingbourne but in February 1949 Joe failed to report for training and as a result he was suspended for 14 days by the club. This effectively brought his Margate career to an end and he was released in March having made 26 appearances during the season.
A month later Joe signed for Ramsgate and he was still involved with the Rams during the 1956/57 season. He was known as 'Nobby' at Southwood.
During his time with Margate Joe worked at a timber yard in Ramsgate and he later went on to run the business.
He owned two greyhounds who raced at the local Dumpton track and could play the piano and bugle.
In 2002 he was still living in Ramsgate aged 82 and helping out at the Odds Social & Snooker Club run by his son Keith who himself played for Margate Reserves as a 17 year-old during the 1963/64 season.
By late 2007 Joe had moved into a nursing home in Broadstairs and he died on 31.1.08 aged 87.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1947/48 (MFC) |
45 (47) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1ST OF 18) |
1QR |
1R |
W |
W |
|
|
Margate
won Kent League title. Played in Kent League Cup Final (06.05.48 - beat Ramsgate Athletic 2-1). Played in Kent Senior Shield Final (08.05.48 - beat Gravesend & Northfleet 4-1). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1948/49 (MFC) |
26 (41) |
N/A |
1 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (10TH OF 18) |
PR |
2R |
2R |
1R |
|