Carlisle: Clarke James (Clarke)

2004-2005 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Central Defender

Born: Preston: 14-10-1979

Debut v Nottingham Forest (h): 21-08-2004

6’3” 12st 7lb (2005)

Signed as a trainee with Blackpool in August 1997, he made his debut for them on 2nd September 1997 in a 4-3 away win at Wrexham in a Division Two fixture. After scoring seven goals in eighty-five starts in the League together with eight from the bench, one goal in three F.A. Cup ties, and four starts and one game from the bench in the League Cup and another five starts in other games, without scoring, he moved to Queens Park Rangers in May 2000, for £250,000. The classy defender made his Rangers debut in a goal-less home draw in the EPL with Birmingham City on the opening day of the 2000-01 season at Loftus Road on 12th August 2000 and scored his first goal for the club in only his second appearance in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 20th August 2000. On 31st August 2000, he made his debut for the England Under-Twenty-One Team when he came on as a second half substitute in the Friendly International against Georgia at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough as England won 6-1. He soon picked up a second cap as he again came on as a substitute against Germany on 6th October 2000 in a 1–1 draw at Pride Park. On 10th October 2000 he played his third and final game, again coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Finland at the Tehtaan Kentta Stadion in Valkeakoski. His first season at Loftus Road was cut short after he sustained a serious knee injury against Fulham in January 2001 and Rangers were relegated to Division Two. The injury kept him out of the 2001-02 season but he returned in 2002-03, playing forty-three times and scoring twice, in all games, while forming an impressive central defensive partnership with Dan Shittu, as Rangers finished fourth. He helped Rangers gain promotion to the CCCL in 2003-04, before being signed on a free transfer by Leeds in July 2004, after well publicised alcohol related problems. While at Loftus Road he scored six League goals and amassed ninety-five starts and three games from the bench in the League as well as starting six times in the F.A. Cup, five times in the League Cup and three times in other games. Leeds were trying to re-establish themselves after being relegated from the EPL and had seen the exodus of their costly star players being replaced by less expensive journeymen and it came as no surprise when they finished fourteenth and used thirty-seven different players. Aidy Boothroyd had been Assistant Manager at Elland Road and he knew that Carlisle was one of their better players. Therefore, when he left to take over at Watford, it came as no surprise when Watford paid £100,000 and gave him a three year contract on 5th August 2005. He had a strong first season at Vicarage Road, as Watford beat Leeds in the Play-off Final at the Millenium Stadium to gain promotion to the EPL. However, after being a regular in their promotion season a series of injuries sidelined him as Watford battled relegation in 2006-07. On 2nd March 2007 he was sent on a one month loan to Luton Town to try and regain match fitness, after his enforced lay-off, and he started a further four League games, making his debut as a substitute in the home 2-3 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers on 3rd March 2007. While at Vicarage Road he started thirty-four League games and made another two appearances as a substitute and scored three goals, as well as scoring twice in two games in the League Cup and starting two further games in the F.A. Cup. In the summer of 2007 he was signed on loan by Burnley. On 16th August 2007 Burnley paid £200,000 for the defender who signed a three year contract. He formed a solid central defence with former Leeds United loanee Stephen Caldwell and Burnley beat Sheffield United 1-0 in the CCCL play-off Final to gain promotion to the EPL at the end of the 2008-09 season. Unfortunately the team from Turf Moor were unable to avoid relegation from the EPL at the end of the 2009-10 season. Carlisle was one of several players who were seen as central in a promotion push and he was given a two year extension to his contract in May 2010. He remained a regular throughout the 2010-11 season but was not seen as a first choice player anymore by the new Manager, Eddie Howe. In July 2011 he was sent on a season-long loan to his hometown team, Preston North End. He had scored seven goals in the League from one hundred and twenty-eight starts and three games from the bench, and had also scored once in seven F.A.Cup and once in eleven League Cup ties and figured in four other games. He appeared on the TV programme "Countdown" and was recognised as "Britain's Brainiest Footballer". The possessor of ten GCSEs, he is on the Management committee of the PFA and was appointed Chairman on 17th November 2010.