Albert Clarke

More about Albert Clarke in a sad story reported locally a couple of years ago:

www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Memories-stolen-FA-Cup-medal/story-16759458-detail/story.html

And in a programme from Burleigh's collection:

torquayfansforum.co.uk/thread/9959/06-newport-south-western-division

Albert Clarke is player 113 in Jon's all-time list of players. At first glance you may assume he was a local lad who had a fleeting first-team career. The references to Watcombe and the Devonshire Regiment certainly point to this.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Albert Clarke was actually from Sheffield and had started his playing career in South Yorkshire coalfield football. From Torquay United he soon moved on to better things with Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers.

Yet he met his wife in Torquay. That, I guess, eventually determined he joined the Devonshires with the consequences that followed. The Western Morning News story also shows how his wife and daughter continued to live in Torquay.

I bumped this thread on the anniversary of D-day, but worth bumping again ten days later to mark 75 years since Albert laid down his life liberating Europe from Nazi oppression.

This was a man who walked from Mosborough (between Sheffield and Chesterfield) to Torquay for a trial.

Scored shed loads of goals for us in 1939/40.

Would have gone on to great things.

Actually good timing with VE Day just about upon us. Really pleased that one of his relatives got to read this.
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