Rotherham's Clarke Joins City

4th June 2009

Last week, TFI revealed that Lincoln City were interested in Billy Clarke; we can now report that a Clarke has signed for The Imps, but it is Jamie and not Billy!

Readers might be wondering who Jamie Clarke is. Well, so was TFI when he signed; however, from doing some research it appears that he is a promising striker.

20-year-old Clarke began his career as a youth trainee at Blackburn Rovers. He failed to make a first team appearance for Blackburn but was the highest goal scorer in their academy for the 2005/06 season.

In an attempt to improve his football experience, Blackburn loaned Clarke to Accrington Stanley in July 2008. During his five month spell at Accrington, he scored five goals in seventeen appearances, including a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Grimsby Town in December 2008. Accrington manager John Coleman was sufficiently impressed to want to extend Clarke's loan spell until the end of the season. However, Blackburn decided to allow Clarke to leave on a free transfer and he joined Rotherham United in February 2009. Clarke had impressed Rotherham manager Mark Robbins when playing for Accrington against Rotherham.

Clarke made an instant impact at his new club by marking his debut with a goal in their victory over Gillingham. Clarke would score another goal during eleven appearances for Rotherham before the 2008/09 season's end. Unfortunately for Clarke, Rotherham decided not to extend his short-term contract and promptly released him in May 2009.

Clarke joins Lincoln on a free transfer having signed a one-year contract. He is a versatile player who as well as playing as central striker can also play either down the left or right.

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