Jeff Clarke (Canadian soccer) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jeffrey Clarke | ||
| Date of birth | October 18, 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Surrey United Firefighters | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Metro Ford | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996 | Simon Fraser Clan | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997 | Vancouver 86ers | 15 | (1) |
| 1997–1999 | St. Patrick's Athletic F.C. | 6 | (1) |
| 1999–2000 | Longford Town | ||
| 2000 | Hampton Roads Mariners | 7 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Edmonton Drillers (indoor) | 7 | (3) |
| 2000 | Baltimore Blast (indoor) | 9 | (0) |
| 2001 | Portland Timbers | 21 | (3) |
| 2002–2008 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 155 | (12) |
| 2008 | → Vancouver Whitecaps Residency (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2009– | Surrey United Firefighters | ||
| International career | |||
| 1997–2002 | Canada | 19 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2009 | Simon Fraser University (assistant) | ||
| 2010– | Surrey United Women | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jeffrey Clarke, born on October 18, 1977, is a Canadian soccer star. He used to play professionally and now coaches. He plays for Surrey United Firefighters and coaches the Surrey United Women's team. Clarke played 19 games for the Canadian national team, scoring one goal. He also played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL First Division.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Youth and College Soccer
Jeff Clarke grew up in Coquitlam, British Columbia. He played youth soccer for Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC. His team won three provincial and two Canadian championships. After graduating from Centennial School in 1996, he went to Simon Fraser University. He played on their men's soccer team for one year. Later, he finished his degree in Criminology and got a diploma in Legal Studies.
Professional Soccer Journey
In 1997, Clarke joined the Vancouver 86ers as a starting player. After one season, he wanted to play in Europe. He tried out for a team in Belgium, Royal Antwerp, but couldn't sign due to work permit issues.
In 1998, he moved to Ireland and joined St. Patrick's Athletic F.C.. He scored his only goal for them in May 1999. This goal helped his team win the league title!
After the 1999 season, Clarke moved to the Hampton Roads Mariners in the U.S. He tried to join teams in England, Denmark, and Austria, but again faced work permit problems. In July 2000, he signed with Longford Town F.C. in Ireland. However, he returned to Canada in August. This was because the Canadian national team coach wanted him back.
Clarke then joined the Edmonton Drillers, an indoor soccer team. But the Drillers team closed down in December 2000. The Baltimore Blast then picked Clarke in a special draft. After the Blast finished their playoffs, he joined the Portland Timbers in February 2001. In 2002, he returned to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
As the team captain, he led the Whitecaps to win their first USL First Division Championship in 2006. They beat the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-0. After the game, he was named the Championship's Most Valuable Player (MVP). On October 12, 2008, he helped the Whitecaps win their second USL First Division Championship. They beat the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 in Vancouver. He left the team in December 2008.
Playing for Canada
Clarke played for Canada in youth tournaments. He was part of the team at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan. He also played in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia.
He played his first senior game for Canada in August 1997 against China. He played a total of 19 games for Canada and scored 1 goal. He also played in two FIFA World Cup qualification matches. He was part of Canada's team that won the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. This was a big win for Canada! In 2000, he was the captain of the Canadian Olympic team. They tried to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics but didn't make it.
His last game for Canada was in May 2002 against Switzerland.
International Goals for Canada
Here is the goal Jeff Clarke scored for Canada:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 27, 2000 | Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada |  Trinidad and Tobago |
1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly match |
Coaching Career
Jeff Clarke has also been a coach. He worked as an assistant coach at Simon Fraser University. Since 2009, he has been the Technical Director and Director of Operations for Surrey United Soccer Club.
For 14 years at Surrey United SC, Jeff has been key to their BCSPL Program. This program is known as one of the best in the country. It has won many national championships. He created a club-wide plan that helps players develop at all ages. This includes academy programs and team development programs. It covers players from under 5 years old to over 55-year-old masters programs. Jeff also helped rebuild the soccer program at the Guildford Athletic Club.
Awards and Achievements
Jeff Clarke has won several important awards and championships during his career:
- Canada
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: (1): 2000
- CONCACAF U-20 Championship (1): 1996
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- USL First Division Championship (2): 2006, 2008
- St. Patrick's Athletic
- League of Ireland: (2): 1997–98, 1998–99
