{{short description|Irish footballer}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2021}} '''Mattie Clarke''' (23 November 1919 – 6 January 1960) was an Irish [[association football|footballer]].
==Early life== Born Matthew Alphonsus Clarke in [[Dublin]] in 1919 to John Clarke, a constable in the [[Dublin Metropolitan Police]], and Mary Cullen, he grew up in 12 Thirlestane Terrace, Thomas Court.<ref>{{cite web |title=Birth Register |url=https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1919/01233/1512851.pdf|website=irishgenealogy.ie |access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1926 Census return |url=https://nationalarchives.ie/collections/search-the-1926-census/census-record/#county=Dublin&townland=Thirlstane+Terrace&ded=Ushers+Quay&limit=50&offset=50&a_id=44028&browse=true|website=nationalarchives.ie |access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref> In 1944, he married Ellen Kinsella, giving his profession as professional footballer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marriage Register |url=https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/marriage_returns/marriages_1944/08759/5165725.pdf|website=irishgenealogy.ie|access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref>
==Career== Clarke was a product of [[Drumcondra F.C.|Drumcondra]]. He played for his country at youth level against England in 1938. Shortly after he joined [[Shamrock Rovers]] where he spent 12 seasons as a [[defender (association football)|defender]].<ref name="Mattie">{{cite web |title= Mattie Clarke|url=https://www.dundalkfcwhoswho.com/player.php?id=119|website=Dundalk F.C Who's Who|access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref> However, he joined Rovers as a [[striker (association football)|striker]] and scored a hat-trick in one of his first games for the club. He went on to appear in five [[FAI Cup]] with Rovers, winning four of them.<ref name ="Clarkefollowing">{{cite web|url=http://archive.irishtimes.com/titles/irishtimes/5088/publications/47952/pages/2|work=The Irish Times| title = Clarke following in father's footsteps | date = 8 March 1967}}</ref><ref name="Mattie"/> He played nine times for the [[League of Ireland XI]] while at [[Glenmalure Park]].
He won his one and only senior cap for [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland]] on 10 May 1950 in a 5–1 defeat to Belgium in [[Brussels]].
In the 1950–51 season Clarke was awarded a testimonial for his twelve years service at [[Milltown, Dublin|Milltown]]. He then moved to [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]], where he won another FAI Cup medal.<ref name="Clarkefollowing"/> He signed for [[Waterford United]] in August 1954.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1954/0806/Pg002.html|work=The Irish Times| title = Clarke for Waterford | date = 6 August 1954}}</ref>
==Death and family== By 1960, Clarke was working as a commercial traveller and football coach, having previously worked for the [[Guinness Brewery]].<ref name ="Widow">{{cite web|url=https://archive.irishtimes.com/titles/irishtimes/5088/publications/44905/pages/2|work=The Irish Times| title = Widow to be paid £3,000 | date = 31 October 1961}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Matthew Clarke |url=https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/discover/your-story/employee/40a3f6ef-6858-4257-a434-32af80347e4b-0|website=guinness-storehouse.com |access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref> On 6 January 1960, Clarke was killed when the car he was driving crashed into a gate pier near county council roadworks. He was survived by his wife Ellen and his four children.<ref name ="Widow"/>
Following his death, a testimonial match in his memory was held in [[Tolka Park]] in November 1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.irishtimes.com/titles/irishtimes/5088/publications/44374/pages/2|work=The Irish Times| title = To-night's game at Tolka Park | date = 14 November 1960}}</ref>
His son [[Jackie Clarke (footballer)|Jackie]] also played football, including for Shamrock Rovers and [[Celtic F.C.]].<ref name="Clarkefollowing"/>
== Sources == * {{cite book|title=The Hoops|author1=Paul Doolan|author2=Robert Goggins|ISBN=0-7171-2121-6}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, Mattie}} [[Category:1919 births]] [[Category:1960 deaths]] [[Category:Association footballers from County Dublin]] [[Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football defenders]] [[Category:Men's association football forwards]] [[Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers]] [[Category:Ireland (FAI) men's international footballers]] [[Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players]] [[Category:Dundalk F.C. players]] [[Category:Waterford F.C. players]] [[Category:League of Ireland players]] [[Category:League of Ireland XI players]] [[Category:Drumcondra F.C. players]] [[Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen]]