“Clarkie” was my original and boyhood Cardiff City hero whom I always revered and still felt hero worship for even in latter years as he was a frequent matchday visitor either commentating on Cardiff City World or club social events. He was a regular sight walking to and from games with Cardiff fans.
As a player, he was a work-horse and I well remember how he not only helped set up many of John Toshack’s goals at that time, which earned his move to Liverpool, but he usually matched him goal for goal as well and they were often jointly the league’s leading scorers!
He will forever be feted in Bluebirds history as the scorer of one of the club’s most famous goals, a trademark header that saw the club beat Real Madrid in a European Cup Winner Cup quarter-final game at Ninian Park in front of 47,500 official attendance that many swear was several thousand more than that.
That came in 1971, three years after he joined the club from Huddersfield in my first season watching City. His price was £8,000 and although a Bristolian who never lost that lilt to his accent, he was a Welsh adopted son living and working amongst Cardiff fans until his passing.
He was club top scorer for three consecutive seasons, outscoring Tosh, and moved in his later career to AFC Bournemouth and Millwall yet he still wasn’t finished with City and returned to see out his career in 1975 helping Jimmy Andrews’ exciting side win promotion back to the then Division Two.
I had the privilege of meeting him many times in later life and he fully lived up to my expectations unlike many footballers, he always had time for City fans and he was always a gentleman.
I am genuinely saddened at his passing. My sincere condolences to his family and closest friends.
Thanks for the memories Brian, you will never be forgotten.
Clark's winner vs Real Madrid
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