SZ's Southend United Hall of Fame - Paul Clark Pt II

[Yorkshire Blue]

Paul Clark was probably better remembered for his second spell at the club, so maybe it would be more apt to be elected on his second ballot.

His first ballot saw him receive the second highest number of votes so far (only Stan has had more than the Viking's 88). Now I'm sure a factor in this was the closeness of the vote that drove up the vote, but it would also have been a sense of injustice in how he hadn't quite made it. In the top five all-time list for appearances, an inspiration in four promotions, one of the toughest tacklers of all-time and a man whose commitment for his home-town club could never be doubted.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Here's what I said before about him
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The Viking

That alone might be enough words for many on here to vote yes to Paul Clark, but if you weren't fortunate enough to have witnessed his crunching tackles and never say die attitude, I suppose I should give a lengthier bio.

The first local player up for election, Clark was born in Benfleet and joined the club as an apprentice. An England schoolboy and youth international, he made his league debut on the opening day of the season at the tender (a phrase not normally associated with Clarky) age of 17, as Southend beat Watford 2-1.

The young Clark featured in around half the games that season as the Blues finished 10th in division 4. The following season saw Clarky open his Southend goalscoring account, with a goal against the real Dons, but just as he'd looked to establish himself in the Southend team, he was snapped up by 2nd division Brighton, with Gerry Fell moving in the opposite direction. Southend went on to finish 2nd and gain promotion with Fell a prominent part, whilst Clarky helped drive Brighton to the verge of the top flight, only to miss out to Spurs on goal average.

Clarky in the heart of the Brighton midfield helped them go one better and secure promotion the following season. In the top flight he struggled with injuries and made just 11 appearances the next season, although he still managed to score against both Liverpool and Man City. Unfortunately it was a similar story in the following two seasons and Clarky left to rejoin his hometown club.

A combination of injuries and suspensions (although I can't think why) meant that he missed a number of games over the next few seasons, and perhaps missing his influence, Southend were relegated in 1983/84 and then slumped to an unedifying 20th in division 4.

The appointment of subsequent Hall of Famer Dave Webb in 1986 however sparked Southend after the disappointment of finishing 9th the previous year. For the first time Clarky was an ever present playing all 56 games that year and helping inspiring Southend to promotion. Indeed such an inspiration was Clark that when Webb walked out after a bust up with Jobson (still no nominations!), it was the 27 year old Clark that the club turned to as caretaker manager. Clark didn't disappoint and finished the job of guiding the team back to the 3rd tier of English football.

Disastrously the following season the club appointed Dick Bate ahead Clark, but it took only 8 league games (and 28 goals conceded) for the club to realise its mistake and fire the useless Bate and hastily reinstate Clarky, making him the youngest manager in the league. Clark's first game back in charge was the small matter of top flight Derby County, boasting England internationals like defender Mark Wright, future useless manager John Gregory and the legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton in the league cup. Amazingly Southend pulled off arguably their biggest ever cup shock thanks to Roy McDonough's penalty and even more amazingly a clean sheet for Eric Steele. To show it wasn't a fluke the team then went and kept a clean sheet in the second leg at the Baseball Ground to pull off a stunning upset. As player-manager Clarky managed to guide Southend to the safety of 17th place.

Sadly those heroics couldn't be repeated the following season. Clark played just 16 games as Southend were relegated, with Dave Webb returning midway through the season as general manager.

Manager for 99 league games of which Southend won 35 but lost 38 might not sound that impressive, but a promotion and keeping the side up the following season was. Clark's biggest legacy as manager was however in the transfer market where he signed Hall of Fame nominees Paul Sansome and David Crown (the only manager to have signed two HoF nominees?) and midfielder Peter Butler. Along with Clarky himself these four were to form the spine of the legendary double promotion team.

Whilst his time as manager might have been over, his time as player most certainly wasn't. The Blues bounced straight back, with Clarkey forming a particularly effective partnership with on-loan Guy Butters in the second half of the season.

The 1990/91 season was at the time probably the greatest season in the club's history. Clark was a rock at the back, missing just 6 games all season and if elected, he'll be the first player who started at Bury, the most famous game in the club's history, to be so honoured.

Bury would have been a fitting send off to his Southend career, but the last two games of the season were anti-climaxes as we missed out on the title that we so richly deserved. At the end of the season Clarky left for the security of a longer contract at Gillingham, a move I certainly didn't begrudge him, although it was hard to take as the previous season they'd come in and knicked Crowny away.

The image of Clark with his flowing blonde mane and beard thundering into a tackle, is for me one of the defining images of being a Shrimper. In fact his tackle on Steve Bull, surely the most famous in Southend history, is arguably worthy of Hall of Fame inclusion alone. For those that didn't see it, he got the ball cleanly and he never touched Bull

These days Clarky is often to be found providing the radio commentary on Southend games, where his passion always shines through. His incisive analysis on Southend's defensive shortcomings is always particularly revealing.

The whole point of a Hall of Fame is surely to honour men like Clarky. Fifth in the all-time appearance list.... captain (de facto if not de jure) of the legendary 1990/91 side..... a local boy and former apprentice who represented Southend United at international level as a schoolboy and youth and then in the top flight as a Southend graduate..... player-manager guided the club to promotion, keeping them up.... inspiring the team to arguably our greatest cup upset.... signing the spine of the team of our glory years..... As player, captain and inspiration, driving us to consecutive promotions.... part of 4 promotions - surely a club record (shared with Spencer Prior).....If Southend have had a tougher tackler, I'd have loved to have seen them.

The word legend is over used these days: it should be reserved for men like Clarky.

Top five in appearances + would run through brick walls + 4 promotions + played at a higher level = Hall of Fame.

Paul Clark
Southend United 1976*-1977, 1982-1991
*Signed professionally, was an apprentice at Southend before this
Total appearances 358 (league 300+11, FA Cup 13+1, League Cup 15+2, Other cup 16+1)
Total goals 7 (4 league, 1 FA Cup, 1 League cup (an equaliser against Col Ewe no less) and 1 other cup
Promotions 4: 1977-78, 1986-87, 1989-90, 1990-01
Relegations 2: 1983-84, 1988-89

 

[Pubey]

never saw the guy play, but this sums up why I voted him in:

Top five in appearances + would run through brick walls + 4 promotions + played at a higher level = Hall of Fame.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Most definitely in, and please, if the only reason you have for voting against him is that you never saw him play then please just refrain from voting. The statements from those of us lucky enough to have seen him in action and YB's excellent introduction should be more than enough to convince any doubters.

 

[A Century United]

Well I think that this has run long enough now - and 100%. Surely time to close the vote and induct him?

:whistling:

 

[Napster]

I am abstaining. This is hardly democracy at work. If he fails again, will you all nominate again. It's like Zimbabwe.

 

[Pubey]

Most definitely in, and please, if the only reason you have for voting against him is that you never saw him play then please just refrain from voting. The statements from those of us lucky enough to have seen him in action and YB's excellent introduction should be more than enough to convince any doubters.

people can vote however they want and don't have to justify it to you. If people want to vote against someone because they are too young to have watched them then that's their right.

 

[OldBlueLady]

people can vote however they want and don't have to justify it to you. If people want to vote against someone because they are too young to have watched them then that's their right.

Get off your high horse! It's what everyone was saying on the last nomination. The only people brave enough to say why they'd voted no cited that as their reason, so as I said back then, does that mean none of us consider Stanley Matthews a legend, just cos we never saw him play? I'm not asking them to vote for if they don't feel able, just not to vote.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

I never saw Paul Clark play, and as last time I am voting YES again*. I can't really justify voting Spinner in if I don't vote for Clark who also acheived 4 promotions (albeit not to championship level), and made more appearances. 4 Promotions and 358 apps seems like logic to me.

*If anyone wants to vote against Clark for this, or any other reason that's their right. That's why it's a VOTE.

 

[Pubey]

Get off your high horse! It's what everyone was saying on the last nomination. The only people brave enough to say why they'd voted no cited that as their reason, so as I said back then, does that mean none of us consider Stanley Matthews a legend, just cos we never saw him play? I'm not asking them to vote for if they don't feel able, just not to vote.

people can vote which ever way they want (or abstain), even if it's a No and they didn't ever see them play... telling people not to vote is just patronising.

 

[OldBlueLady]

people can vote which ever way they want (or abstain), even if it's a No and they didn't ever see them play... telling people not to vote is just patronising.

Are you serious? :stunned:

to patronise - "to behave in an offensively condescending manner toward"

I'm sorry but that just does NOT apply here, and I don't think I was TELLING but ASKING - slight difference.

Several people have said that the lack of an option to abstain has cost some nominees, which I guess is why this one has come round again (to respond to Napster's comment earlier) as it was incredibly close.

 

[number11]

people can vote which ever way they want (or abstain), even if it's a No and they didn't ever see them play... telling people not to vote is just patronising.

In fairness if this is a serious thing then it makes sense for people to put a bit of thought into their voting. Ive voted for some people who I didnt see play to be inducted based upon the testimonies posted by other posters, and likewise have voted against people I had no knowledge about when I felt the testimonies were not sufficient in my mind. Those that voted no in the last poll but either justified their opinion from personal experience or the posts in the thread were fully entitled to but if you have no view than surely abstention rather than a no vote should be appropriate.

For me, Clark was one of the first images I remember when I first started going to watch Southend. He just seemed ferocious and whole hearted. Not sure how he would fare in todays non contact game, but at the time when you could kick lumps out of opposing strikers 'to let them know you are about' ...he was imposing. 5th in all time appearances, shrewd signings as manager, committed to the cause ....legend for me.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I never saw Paul Clark play, and as last time I am voting YES again*. I can't really justify voting Spinner in if I don't vote for Clark who also acheived 4 promotions (albeit not to championship level), and made more appearances. 4 Promotions and 358 apps seems like logic to me.

*If anyone wants to vote against Clark for this, or any other reason that's their right. That's why it's a VOTE.

Actually one of them was: he was a key part of the legendary 1990-91 team that won the historic first ever promotion to the second tier.

ps Pubey and OBL get a room.

 

[number11]

I agree in part with Napster's point (despite me nominating Clark for these votes). Maybe a 2 month exclusion needs to be put on failed candidates. Though interestingly I note Napster did still vote for Ron Poutney in when he was swiftly nominated a second time around ;)

 

[Napster]

I agree in part with Napster's point (despite me nominating Clark for these votes). Maybe a 2 month exclusion needs to be put on failed candidates. Though interestingly I note Napster did still vote for Ron Poutney in when he was swiftly nominated a second time around ;)

Do as I say, not as I do. ;)

ps agree with the 2-month exclusion - a good compromise.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I agree in part with Napster's point (despite me nominating Clark for these votes). Maybe a 2 month exclusion needs to be put on failed candidates. Though interestingly I note Napster did still vote for Ron Poutney in when he was swiftly nominated a second time around ;)

I'm content with the way it works. The reason Clark has come up again so quickly is that no-one else was deemed worthy enough of nomination in this round of nominations. If people feel strongly enough that alternative people should be up for the vote, then they should nominate alternative people. If people feel Clark doesn't belong in the HoF it is pretty easy to veto it given the 90% criteria.

It is probably the purest form of democracy earth has ever seen. Unlike Ancient Greece it doesn't discriminate against women and slaves, unlike the mother of all Parliaments you get to vote directly rather than for a representative (who here has ever had a chance to vote for or against the current PM?).

 

[Napster]

It is probably the purest form of democracy earth has ever seen. Unlike Ancient Greece it doesn't discriminate against women and slaves, unlike the mother of all Parliaments you get to vote directly rather than for a representative (who here has ever had a chance to vote for or against the current PM?).

Disagree. Only people with a SZ username can vote, plus you can't register your disappointment by spoiling the ballot.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Disagree. Only people with a SZ username can vote, plus you can't register your disappointment by spoiling the ballot.

Anyone can register to get their SZ username (except Blue Tonic, free the Blue Tonic One!) and you've registered your disappointment by spamming my thread:thump:

I'll probably introduce a limit to the number of times someone can get nominated, but I don't consider it necessary at the moment.

 

[A Century United]

Disagree. Only people with a SZ username can vote, plus you can't register your disappointment by spoiling the ballot.

Agree with the last point - I think it would help to have an "Abstain" option on the poll.

 

[Napster]

Anyone can register to get their SZ username (except Blue Tonic, free the Blue Tonic One!) and you've registered your disappointment by spamming my thread:thump:

I'll probably introduce a limit to the number of times someone can get nominated, but I don't consider it necessary at the moment.

Fair enough.