Jeff Clarke
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Clarke is a Canadian
former professional soccer player, who is currently playing for Surrey United Firefighters and works as head coach by Surrey United Women. Clarke earned nineteen caps, scoring one goal, for the Canadian national team
. He most recently played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the First Division
of the United Soccer Leagues
.
where he played youth soccer with Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC. During his time with the team, Metro Ford won three provincial and two Canadian championships. Clarke attended Centennial School, and after graduating in 1996, attended Simon Fraser University
where he played on the men's soccer team for one year. While he left college prior to completing his degree, he has since begun taking courses again in order to gain a degree in Criminology
.
. After the 1997 season, he moved to Belgium
, where he had a trial with Royal Antwerp. However, the first of several work permit
problems prevented him from signing with Antwerp. In 1998, he joined League of Ireland
club St. Patrick's Athletic F.C.. He scored his only goal against Bray Wanderers in May 1999 to clinch the league title for St. Pats.
After the 1999 season, Clarke moved again, this time to the Hampton Roads Mariners. At the time, he was attempting to join clubs in several European leagues, including England
, Denmark
, and Austria
, but, once again, he had difficulty gaining a work permit. In July 2000, he signed with Longford Town. However, he left the team and returned to Canada in August when Canadian national team coach Holger Osieck
threatened to not call him into the national team. Clarke then decided to sign with the Edmonton Drillers
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). However, the Drillers folded in December 2000, half way through the NPSL season. The Baltimore Blast
then selected Clarke in a dispersal draft
. When the Blast were eliminated from the playoffs, he joined the Portland Timbers
on February 14, 2001. In 2002, he returned to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
As team captain, he helped the Whitecaps capture their first USL First Division Championship
, beating the Rochester Raging Rhinos
3 to 0 in the championship. After the game, he was named the Championship's MVP. On 12 October 2008 he helped the Whitecaps capture their second USL First Division Championship, beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 in Vancouver but he was released from the team on 8 December 2008.
in Japan
, in a team alongside Paul Stalteri
and Jason Bent
. He then also played at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
in Malaysia, again with Stalteri and Bent.
He made his senior debut for Canada
in an August 1997 friendly match against China
. He earned a total of 19 caps, scoring 1 goal. He has represented Canada in 2 FIFA World Cup qualification
matches. In 2000 he was part of Canada's squad that won their first 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. In 2000, he was the captain of the Canadian Olympic side as it attempted, but failed to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics
.
His final international was a May 2002 friendly match against Switzerland
.
. He is currently serving as the Technical Director of the Surrey United Soccer Club and coach of the U16 Metro Girls team of the Surrey Guildford United. Jeff was formerly the Technical Director of the Guildford Athletic Club and was instrumental in rebuilding their soccer program.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
St. Patrick's Athletic
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former professional soccer player, who is currently playing for Surrey United Firefighters and works as head coach by Surrey United Women. Clarke earned nineteen caps, scoring one goal, for the Canadian national team
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
. He most recently played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
of the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
.
Youth and college
Clarke grew up in Coquitlam, British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
where he played youth soccer with Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC. During his time with the team, Metro Ford won three provincial and two Canadian championships. Clarke attended Centennial School, and after graduating in 1996, attended Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
where he played on the men's soccer team for one year. While he left college prior to completing his degree, he has since begun taking courses again in order to gain a degree in Criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
.
Professional
In 1997, Clarke signed with the Vancouver 86ers, becoming the team's starting sweeper. After one season in Vancouver, Clarke decided to move to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. After the 1997 season, he moved to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where he had a trial with Royal Antwerp. However, the first of several work permit
Work permit
Work permit is a generic term for a legal authorization which allows a person to take employment.It is most often used in reference to instances where a person is given permission to work in a country where one does not hold citizenship, but is also used in reference to minors, who in some...
problems prevented him from signing with Antwerp. In 1998, he joined League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
club St. Patrick's Athletic F.C.. He scored his only goal against Bray Wanderers in May 1999 to clinch the league title for St. Pats.
After the 1999 season, Clarke moved again, this time to the Hampton Roads Mariners. At the time, he was attempting to join clubs in several European leagues, including England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, but, once again, he had difficulty gaining a work permit. In July 2000, he signed with Longford Town. However, he left the team and returned to Canada in August when Canadian national team coach Holger Osieck
Holger Osieck
Holger Osieck is a German football coach and current coach of the Australian national association football team. Prior to the Australian role, he most recently managed J.League club Urawa Red Diamonds, where he won the 2007 AFC Champions League. He served as an assistant coach of West Germany...
threatened to not call him into the national team. Clarke then decided to sign with the Edmonton Drillers
Edmonton Drillers (NPSL)
-Resurrection:On August 23, 1996, at a hastily arranged press conference at Telus Field it was announced that Peter Pocklington has purchased the Chicago Power of the National Professional Soccer League and was moving them to Edmonton for the rapidly approaching 96/97 season...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). However, the Drillers folded in December 2000, half way through the NPSL season. The Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (current)
Baltimore Blast is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1992, the team plays in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
then selected Clarke in a dispersal draft
Dispersal draft
A dispersal draft is a process in professional sports for assigning players to a new team when their current team goes out of business, consolidates with another team, or for some other reason ceases to exist. Since most sports drafts are held in North America, this is where most dispersal drafts...
. When the Blast were eliminated from the playoffs, he joined the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
on February 14, 2001. In 2002, he returned to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
As team captain, he helped the Whitecaps capture their first USL First Division Championship
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, beating the Rochester Raging Rhinos
Rochester Raging Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having self-relegated from the USSF D2 Pro League...
3 to 0 in the championship. After the game, he was named the Championship's MVP. On 12 October 2008 he helped the Whitecaps capture their second USL First Division Championship, beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 in Vancouver but he was released from the team on 8 December 2008.
International career
Clarke played at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship was held in the cities of Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Kobe, Nagoya, and Gifu City in Japan between 21 August and 4 September 1993...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, in a team alongside Paul Stalteri
Paul Stalteri
Paul Stalteri is a Canadian association football player who has spent most of his professional career in Germany. He won the league and cup double with Werder Bremen in the 2003-04 season, and is currently a Free Agent...
and Jason Bent
Jason Bent
Jason Andrew Bent is a former Canadian international football player. He currently works as an assistant coach for Toronto FC.-Club career:...
. He then also played at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
in Malaysia, again with Stalteri and Bent.
He made his senior debut for Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in an August 1997 friendly match against China
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
. He earned a total of 19 caps, scoring 1 goal. He has represented Canada in 2 FIFA World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
matches. In 2000 he was part of Canada's squad that won their first 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fifth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was held in the United States, in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego. The format of the tournament changed from 1998; it was expanded to twelve teams,...
. In 2000, he was the captain of the Canadian Olympic side as it attempted, but failed to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
His final international was a May 2002 friendly match against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
.
International goals
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 27 May 2000 Varsity Stadium Varsity StadiumVarsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
1-0 1-0 Friendly match
Coaching career
Clarke serves as an assistant coach with Simon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
. He is currently serving as the Technical Director of the Surrey United Soccer Club and coach of the U16 Metro Girls team of the Surrey Guildford United. Jeff was formerly the Technical Director of the Guildford Athletic Club and was instrumental in rebuilding their soccer program.
Honours
Canada- CONCACAF Gold CupCONCACAF Gold CupThe CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
: (1): 20002000 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fifth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was held in the United States, in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego. The format of the tournament changed from 1998; it was expanded to twelve teams,... - CONCACAF U-20 ChampionshipCONCACAF Under-20 ChampionshipThe CONCACAF Under-20 Championship is the second longest running international association football event in the North America, Central America and the Caribbean region, CONCACAF, and is the qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The format of the tournament has undergone changes...
(1): 1996
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- USL First DivisionUSL First DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
Championship (2): 2006United Soccer Leagues 2006-General:* Miami FC joined the First Division.* The Richmond Kickers departed the First Division for the Second Division.* The Northern Virginia Royals departed the Second Division for the Premier Development League ....
, 2008United Soccer Leagues 2008The 2008 Season is the 22nd edition of the United Soccer Leagues season.The season kicked off on Friday, April 12 with two First Division games, as the Charleston Battery visited Miami FC and the Montreal Impact visited the Vancouver Whitecaps.-General:...
St. Patrick's Athletic
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: (2): 1997–98, 1998–99
External links
- Career overview - PaulStalteri.com
- Portland Timbers stats
- Career stats - National Football Teams