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Nicky Clark

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For the hair stylist, see Nicky Clarke. For the English footballer, see Nicky Clarke (footballer).
Nicky Clark
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
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Rangers
Number 14
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– Rangers 66 (18)
Medal record
Queen of the South
Winner Scottish Challenge Cup 2013
Winner Scottish Second Division 2013
Rangers F.C.
Winner Scottish League One 2014
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 February 2015

Nicky Clark (born 3 June 1991) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Rangers as a forward.

Early and personal life

Clark was born in Bellshill, Scotland; his father is former footballer – including with Rangers – Sandy Clark.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] To gain first team experience, Clark joined Peterhead on loan until January.[4] 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.[5] Clark's loan spell with Peterhead was extended until the end of the 2009–10 season.[6] 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.[7]

After being released by Aberdeen, Clark joined Peterhead permanently in August 2010.[8] 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,[1] signing a one-year contract extension in May 2012.[9] 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.[10]

The 2012–13 season was an improvement and breakthrough season for Clark after his dad, Sandy, joined the club as an assistant manager[11] and he formed a striking partnership with Derek Lyle.[12] Clark would score 41 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions, including scoring two hat-tricks against Stranraer[13] and Forfar Athletic.[14] 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.[15] 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,[16] and he also won the Ginger Boot Award for being the top scorer across all four Scottish divisions.[17] 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.[18]

Rangers

In May 2013 he signed a three-year contract with Rangers, effective from 1 September 2013.[19][20] The move was successful after Clark started talks with Ally McCoist.[21] Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Clark expressed that playing in the Scottish League One will not be easy.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25] This continued until he scored four goals in a 6–1 win over Forfar Athletic on 3 December 2013.[26] In the second half of the season, Clark suffered a broken foot that kept him out for five weeks.[27] After his return, Clark scored in a 2–1 win over Brechin City on 23 March 2014.[28]

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. [29]

Career statistics

As of 21 October 2015[30]
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

  1. ^ a b "Two more signings". Queen of the South F.C. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Eleven the dream, Nicky Clark fulfils a lifelong ambition by joining Rangers". Daily Record. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Dons midfielder Derek Young agrees new Pittodrie deal". Daily Record. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Dons' Clark on loan to Peterhead". BBC Sport. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Match Report – Division Two: Peterhead 3 Stirling Albion 2". Daily Record. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Players commit to the Balmoor cause". Bunchan Observer. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Dons duo moving on". Sky Sports. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Peterhead sign Nicky Clark". Scottish Football League. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  9. ^ Craig Robertson (30 May 2012). "Queens squad boosted by familiar faces". Dumfries and Galloway Standard. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Scottish Communities League Cup: Queen of the South 3 Forfar 0". Daily Record. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Queen of the South assistant Sandy Clark eager to get new era underway at Palmerston". Daily Record. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  12. ^ "Nick of time: Lyle eyes deadly partnership with Clark". Daily Record. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  13. ^ "QoS 4 Stranraer 1: Nicky Clark treble sends Queens nine-points clear". Daily Record. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  14. ^ "Match Report: Forfar Athletic 0 – 4 Queen of the South". Queens of the South Official Website. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  15. ^ "Queen of The South 1 – 1 Partrick (6–5 pens)". BBC Sport. 7 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Queens Duo Scoop Another Double at PFA Awards". Queen of the South F.C. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  17. ^ "Irn Bru Phenomenal End of Season Awards". Queen of the South F.C. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  18. ^ "PFA Scotland Team of the Year includes four from both Celtic and Motherwell". STV. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  19. ^ "Clark Agrees Three-Year Deal". Rangers F.C. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  20. ^ "Nicky Clark: Rangers agree deal to sign Queen of the South striker". BBC Sport. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Transfer News: Nicky Clark confirms talks about possible move to Rangers". Sky Sports. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  22. ^ "Rangers striker Nicky Clark: I know the second division... it's not going to be easy". Daily Record. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  23. ^ "Rangers 5 East Fife 0: Lee McCulloch scores a hat-trick as Rangers romp home against the Fifers". Daily Record. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  24. ^ "Nicky Clark nets on Rangers debut and then claims his side can hit 100 goals this season". Daily Record. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  25. ^ "Should Nicky Clark be a starter for Rangers?". Evening Times. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  26. ^ "Rangers 6 Forfar 1: Rampant Rangers set new post-war club record by bagging 19th consecutive win in style and hitting Forfar for six". Daily Record. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  27. ^ "Clark set to miss out with hurt foot". Evening Times. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  28. ^ "Brechin 1 Rangers 2: workmanlike Gers continue 34-game unbeaten run". Evening Times. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  29. ^ "Rangers 4-2 Hibernian - Rangers Football Club, Official Website". Rangers Football Club, Official Website. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  30. ^ Nicky Clark at Soccerbase
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