Captain departs after five years
In the latest of a series of reviews following the end of the 2013/14 season, htafc.com today looks at Peter Clarke’s time at Huddersfield Town.
After five years with the Club, defender Peter Clarke’s time at Huddersfield Town has come to an end.
The 32 year-old captained the Terriers throughout his five seasons, achieving promotion to the Championship via the Play-Offs in the 2011/12 campaign.
The committed central defender made over 200 appearances for the Club in all competitions, scoring eleven times, and today htafc.com looks back at the defender’s time with ‘The Yorkshire Club’.
Peter moved to Huddersfield Town in 2009 having won two ‘Player of the Year’ awards with previous club Southend United, with Lee Clark immediately appointing him Club Captain.
Clarke was a virtual-ever present in the Town side during the 2009/10 season, which eventually ended in defeat to Millwall in the Play-Off semi-final. His six goals and solid defensive displays earned him the first of his Huddersfield Town ‘Player of the Year’ awards at the conclusion of the season.
He was ever-present during his second campaign which saw Town finish third, just behind Southampton. Clarke scored four that year, including a memorable overhead kick at Walsall in a 4-2 victory. Despite again picking up the ‘Player of the Year’ award, the season ended in agony with another Play-Off defeat, this time in the Old Trafford final against Peterborough United. The passion Peter showed during the aftermath of that sad day will live long in the memory of many Town fans who felt exactly the same at the full-time whistle.
2011/12 was to be third-time lucky for Clarke and the Club, defeating Sheffield United at Wembley in the Play-Off Final on penalties. Clarke played a pivotal role in the shootout, being the first of eight consecutive scorers after three of his teammates had missed in the eventual 8-7 victory.
The skipper made 47 appearances in the Championship the year after, helping the side to priceless victories against Wolves, Millwall and Bristol City at the back end of the campaign as they secured safety by four points.
And despite suffering medial knee ligament damage this season, Clarke still managed 28 appearances in helping the Terriers to secure a third successive campaign in the Sky Bet Championship.
Speaking to the Examiner upon his departure, Clarke said: “I’ve been very fortunate to captain Huddersfield Town for five years and I’m immensely proud to have done it at Wembley and lifted a trophy there.”
On the Terriers’ future, he said: “It’s taken a while to get to this stage and we made this season harder than it needed to be. But the club is in the Championship with an excellent training ground in place and some fantastic people who want to go further.
“There is a process under way and hopefully it will bring the realisation of the Chairman’s hopes and dreams and those of the fans. They have been fantastic with me throughout my five years at the Club.
“Town’s will always be a result I look out for.”
Clarke became a terrace favourite for his endeavour and work ethic, as well as his important and trademark last-ditch tackles; he will be fondly remembered for his time with Huddersfield Town.
Everyone at the Club wishes Peter the best of luck for the future.
The next review – featuring the other players that departed HTAFC at the end of the season – will follow later this week.
