Ike Clarke

Ike Clarke 10/05/1953 - xx/xx/1957

Played 204, Won 100, Drew 45, Lost 59, Win Rate 49.02%

One of Yeovil’s most successful managers, certainly as trophies were concerned, was Ike Clarke. Born in Tipton, West Midlands in 1915, he initially joined West Bromwich Albion, before moving to Portsmouth where he won back to back Football League titles in 1948/49 and 1949/50. Indeed it was Ike who scored the goal that won Pompey their first League title in April 1949.

In 1953 he moved to Yeovil as player-manager, where the supporters club assisted with his wages and the club provided him with a house. In 1953/54 season he made 48 appearances for Yeovil and scored 20 goals. The following season he won the Southern League title and the Southern League Cup, with the Somerset Professional Cup thrown in for good measure. Ike made 103 league appearances during his stay in Somerset, and scored 49 goals. He was relieved of his duties at the end of 1956/57 season and moved to Kent, where he managed local teams, before retiring to Herne Bay. He died there in April 2002 aged 87.