Neil Clarke

Neil Gallacher Clarke (sometimes listed as Clark) (born in Scotland) was a Scottish American soccer player who began his career in the Scottish Football League before migrating to the United States. He played in both the National Association Football League and American Soccer League, and won numerous American Cup and National Challenge Cup honours. In 1916, he played in the first two U.S. national team games.

Professional career Clarke began his career as a center forward but later moved to center half back. He played for Celtic in the Scottish Football League. In 1913, now based in the United States, he was with the Paterson True Blues of the National Association Football League (NAFBL) when Paterson won the American Cup finals against Diston The first game and first replay both ended in ties with Clarke scoring the tying goal in both games. In the second replay, Paterson won, 2–1, to take the Cup. He then moved to Brooklyn Field Club, winning the 1914 National Challenge Cup with them.

In 1914, Clarke is listed with Bethlehem Steel. In 1915 and 1916, Bethlehem won the National Challenge Cup. It was around this time that he was referred to as the "king of centrehalf backs." He then moved to Babcock & Wilcox for a single season before moving to the Fall River Rovers of the Southern New England Soccer League in 1918. That year, Clarke was with Fall River when they lost the National Challenge Cup final to Bethlehem Steel. In 1920 and 1921, he played for Robins Dry Dock, which won the 1921 Challenge Cup, and American Cup.

Honours

Paterson True Blues

American Cup: 1912–13

National Association Football League runner-up: 1912-13

Brooklyn Field Club

National Challenge Cup: 1913–14

National Association Football League: 1913-14

Bethlehem Steel Football Club

National Challenge Cup Winners: 1914–15, 1915–16 Runners-up: 1916–17 American Cup: 1915–16, 1916–17 ALAFC: 1914-15

Babcock & Wilcox New Jersey State Challenge Cup: 1917

Fall River Rovers National Challenge Cup runner-up: 1917-18 Times Cup: 1917

Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock National Challenge Cup: 1920-21 American Cup: 1920–21