Billy Clarke (footballer, born 1878)

Billy Clarke

Personal information
Full name	William Gibb Clarke
Date of birth	3 March 1878
Place of birth	Mauchline, Scotland
Date of death	1940 (aged 61–62)
Place of death	Marylebone, England
Playing position	Winger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Benburb
	Crown Athletic
	Third Lanark
	Arthurlie
	East Stirlingshire
	Bristol Rovers
1901–1905	Aston Villa	41	(5)
1905–1908	Bradford City	92	(15)
Total		133	(20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

William Gibb Clarke, known as Billy or Willie, (3 March 1878 – 1940) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a winger.

Career

Born in Mauchline, Clarke played for Benburb, Crown Athletic, Third Lanark, Arthurlie, East Stirlingshire, Bristol Rovers, Aston Villa and Bradford City.^[1][2]

In 1901, while playing for Aston Villa, Clarke became the first mixed-race player to score in the First Division.^[3]

References

1. "Profile". Aston Villa Player Database.
2. Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City: A Complete Record 1903-1988. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
3. Dave Pendleton (6 July 2011). "Celebrating 106 Years of Black Footballers at Valley Parade". Boy From Brazil.