Nicky Clark

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For the hair stylist, see Nicky Clarke. For the English footballer, see Nicky Clarke (footballer).

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Nicky Clark
File:Nicky Clark 2013.jpg
Clark playing for Rangers in 2014
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Clark
Date of birth (1991-06-03) 3 June 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
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Position(s) Striker
Youth career
2003–2006 Rangers
2006–2009 Aberdeen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Aberdeen 0 (0)
2009–2010 → Peterhead (loan) 23 (4)
2010–2011 Peterhead 24 (4)
2011–2013 Queen of the South 66 (32)
2013–2016 Rangers 76 (18)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 February 2015

Nicky Clark (born 3 June 1991) is a Scottish professional footballer who last played for Rangers as a forward. He is the son of former Rangers and Hearts striker Sandy Clark.[1]

Early and personal life

Clark was born in Bellshill, Scotland; his father is a former footballer, Sandy.[2] While growing up, Clark once participated in the half-time entertainment during a pre-season friendly clash with Everton in 2003. At 15, Clark was released by the Murray Park youth academy before joining Aberdeen.[3]

Career

Early years

Clark began his career with the youth team of Aberdeen, where he appeared as an unused substitute in the 2008–09 season. In early 2009, Clark signed a contract extension with the club.[4] To gain first team experience, Clark joined Peterhead on loan until January.[5] Clark made his debut for the club on 19 September 2009, where he came on as a substitute in the 74th minute as Peterhead drew 1–1 with Arbroath.[6] Clark's loan spell with Peterhead was extended until the end of the 2009–10 season.[7] In the 2009–10 season, Clark would make twenty-five appearances and score four times. Clark, along with Jonathan Crawford, was released by the club after being told they wouldn't be offered a new contract.[8]

After being released by Aberdeen, Clark joined Peterhead permanently in August 2010.[9] Like his loan spell, Clark continued to be a first team regular for the club, where he made twenty-nine appearances and scored four times.

Queen of the South

He moved to Queen of the South in July 2011,[2] signing a one-year contract extension in May 2012.[10] The first season with Queen of the South was a struggle for Clark, as he failed to score his first goal, though it eventually happened in the second round of Scottish League Cup against Forfar Athletic.[11]

The 2012–13 season was an improvement and breakthrough season for Clark after his dad, Sandy, joined the club as an assistant manager[12] and he formed a striking partnership with Derek Lyle.[13] Clark would score 41 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions, including scoring two hat-tricks against Stranraer[14] and Forfar Athletic.[15] Clark also played a role in winning the Challenge Cup Final when he scored the opener before Partick Thistle equalised, leading to a penalty shootout. Queen of the South would win the penalty shootout 6–5 to lift the cup.[16] With the club also winning the Second Division, this gained the club their inaugural league and cup double.

Clark was the SFL Division 2 Player of the Year for the 2012–13 season,[17] and he also won the Ginger Boot Award for being the top scorer across all four Scottish divisions.[18] Clark was also named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for the Second Division alongside team-mates Chris Mitchell, Mark Durnan, Chris Higgins, Daniel Carmichael and Lee Robinson.[19]

Rangers

In May 2013 he signed a three-year contract with Rangers, effective from 1 September 2013.[20][21] The move was successful after Clark started talks with Ally McCoist.[22] Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Clark expressed that playing in the Scottish League One will not be easy.[23]

Clark scored on his debut on 31 August 2013 after 30 seconds, as Rangers won 5–0 against East Fife, just one day before the end of the club's transfer embargo.[24] After the match, Clark said he believed the club could score 100 goals by the end of the season after scoring 18 goals at such an early stage.[25] Clark initially struggled to make an impact, as he was often on the bench. This led to the Evening Times questioning whether Clark should become a first team starter.[26] This continued until he scored four goals in a 6–1 win over Forfar Athletic on 3 December 2013.[27] In the second half of the season, Clark suffered a broken foot that kept him out for five weeks.[28] After his return, Clark scored in a 2–1 win over Brechin City on 23 March 2014.[29]

On 3 May, Rangers became the first side in 116 years to go an entire league season unbeaten after a 1–1 draw with Dunfermline during which they clinched the Scottish League One championship.

On 28 December 2015, Clark scored in the 65th minute in a crucial match against Hibernian, which put Rangers three points clear of Hibs.[30]

On 23 May 2016, Clark was released by Rangers.[31]

Honours

Club

Queen of the South

Rangers

Career statistics

As of 21 October 2015[32]
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aberdeen 2009–10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Peterhead 2009–10 23 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 4
2010–11 24 4 2 0 1 0 0 0 27 4
Total 47 8 2 0 1 0 0 0 50 8
Queen of the South 2011–12 30 0 2 0 3 1 1 0 36 1
2012–13 36 32 2 2 3 3 5 4 46 41
Total 66 32 4 2 6 4 6 4 82 42
Rangers 2013–14 23 9 4 0 0 0 3 0 30 9
2014–15 33 8 1 0 3 0 8 1 45 9
2015–16 8 1 0 0 3 1 4 2 15 4
Total 64 18 5 0 6 1 15 3 90 22
Career Total 174 58 11 2 12 5 20 7 217 72

References

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External links

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  31. ↑ http://stv.tv/sport/football/1355038-nicky-clark-released-as-rangers-begin-their-summer-squad-reshuffle/
  32. ↑ Nicky Clark career statistics at Soccerbase
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