# Mattie Clarke > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mattie_Clarke > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mattie_Clarke.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattie_Clarke > Source revision: 1352193806 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Irish footballer This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Mattie Clarke" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) **Mattie Clarke** (23 November 1919 – 6 January 1960) was an Irish [footballer](/source/Association_football). ## Early life Born Matthew Alphonsus Clarke in [Dublin](/source/Dublin) in 1919 to John Clarke, a constable in the [Dublin Metropolitan Police](/source/Dublin_Metropolitan_Police), and Mary Cullen, he grew up in 12 Thirlestane Terrace, Thomas Court.[1][2] In 1944, he married Ellen Kinsella, giving his profession as professional footballer.[3] ## Career Clarke was a product of [Drumcondra](/source/Drumcondra_F.C.). He played for his country at youth level against England in 1938. Shortly after he joined [Shamrock Rovers](/source/Shamrock_Rovers) where he spent 12 seasons as a [defender](/source/Defender_(association_football)).[4] However, he joined Rovers as a [striker](/source/Striker_(association_football)) and scored a hat-trick in one of his first games for the club. He went on to appear in five [FAI Cup](/source/FAI_Cup) with Rovers, winning four of them.[5][4] He played nine times for the [League of Ireland XI](/source/League_of_Ireland_XI) while at [Glenmalure Park](/source/Glenmalure_Park). He won his one and only senior cap for [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team) on 10 May 1950 in a 5–1 defeat to Belgium in [Brussels](/source/Brussels). In the 1950–51 season Clarke was awarded a testimonial for his twelve years service at [Milltown](/source/Milltown%2C_Dublin). He then moved to [Dundalk](/source/Dundalk_F.C.), where he won another FAI Cup medal.[5] He signed for [Waterford United](/source/Waterford_United) in August 1954.[6] ## Death and family By 1960, Clarke was working as a commercial traveller and football coach, having previously worked for the [Guinness Brewery](/source/Guinness_Brewery).[7][8] 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.[7] Following his death, a testimonial match in his memory was held in [Tolka Park](/source/Tolka_Park) in November 1960.[9] His son [Jackie](/source/Jackie_Clarke_(footballer)) also played football, including for Shamrock Rovers and [Celtic F.C.](/source/Celtic_F.C.).[5] ## Sources - Paul Doolan; Robert Goggins. *The Hoops*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7171-2121-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7171-2121-6). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Birth Register"](https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1919/01233/1512851.pdf) (PDF). *irishgenealogy.ie*. Retrieved 24 April 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["1926 Census return"](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). *nationalarchives.ie*. Retrieved 24 April 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Marriage Register"](https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/marriage_returns/marriages_1944/08759/5165725.pdf) (PDF). *irishgenealogy.ie*. Retrieved 24 April 2026. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mattie_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mattie_4-1) ["Mattie Clarke"](https://www.dundalkfcwhoswho.com/player.php?id=119). *Dundalk F.C Who's Who*. Retrieved 24 April 2026. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Clarkefollowing_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Clarkefollowing_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Clarkefollowing_5-2) ["Clarke following in father's footsteps"](http://archive.irishtimes.com/titles/irishtimes/5088/publications/47952/pages/2). *The Irish Times*. 8 March 1967. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Clarke for Waterford"](http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1954/0806/Pg002.html). *The Irish Times*. 6 August 1954. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Widow_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Widow_7-1) ["Widow to be paid £3,000"](https://archive.irishtimes.com/titles/irishtimes/5088/publications/44905/pages/2). *The Irish Times*. 31 October 1961. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Matthew Clarke"](https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/discover/your-story/employee/40a3f6ef-6858-4257-a434-32af80347e4b-0). *guinness-storehouse.com*. Retrieved 24 April 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["To-night's game at Tolka Park"](https://archive.irishtimes.com/titles/irishtimes/5088/publications/44374/pages/2). *The Irish Times*. 14 November 1960. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mattie Clarke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattie_Clarke) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattie_Clarke?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.