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'Sniffer' Clarke was signed by Don Revie for a British record
fee of £165,000 from relegated Leicester in 1969 to build on
the strength of Revie's first championship-winning squad. "Who put
the ball in the Arsenal net?" is the question: in May 1972, the
answer was most definitely "Allan Allan Clarke", his powerful
header being the only score in the FA Cup Final. Clarke was a
strong and skilful player and his tally of just 19 caps for England
is a shamefully low count for a man who was top scorer with one of
the leading clubs in England for four seasons. He linked up with
Mick Jones to form the most formidable front line of the early
1970s, and with the addition of "Hot-shot" Lorimer's goals, he
provided the powerhouse that drove Leeds on to win so many
games.
With his best years as a player behind him, he joined Barnsley
as player-manager in 1978 and his efforts in leading them to
promotion stood him in good stead when Leeds came looking for
somebody to reinvigorate an aging side in 1980. Sadly, Clarke
failed to turn the team around and with Leeds relegated, he
resigned.
Sudhaman.n says: Allan is a great player, he was my idol. When I
played for my schools my favourite jersey no. was 8, because it was
Allan's jersey no. at Leeds, which is my favourite club since 1972
and I still support them.
Steve says: Quite simply the most gifted striker I've seen. And
I'm from Lancs! Some his elegance when scoring was unbelievable. He
was an artist with the ball. Everything about him was class. I'm
only 33, but I remember his stunning goal against Zurich on the way
to the 75 Euro final, and sod Villa, Whiteside and the rest. The 72
diving header was a masterpiece of football, like oil on canvas.
Even the streamlined look with the cold eyes in the white strip was
bloody fantastic. I'm surprised a whole video has not been made of
him, there are so many classic examples of his goals on film. If
England would have got to the 74 finals we would have been talking
here about a truly world class player as he never got chance to
prove it on the world stage. True, he could be a bit nasty off the
ball, but the balance and skill of the man were terrific. I can
never understand why Revie, who knew him better than most, didn't
pick him for England more than once. Allan would be chuffed to bits
if he knew how much he was idolised by us lads from near Manchester
when we were kids. Even now I find everything about the guy
magnetic, and he should still be involved in the game instead of
selling ventilators!! Best goal? Either v Leicester in 75 or
against Liverpool in the cup run in 72, when he took the mickey out
of Smith and co. A truly classic goal which is hard to find on
film. Allan was a true winner. He got the winner in the Fairs cup
final, the FA cup final, the 73 Cup winners cup semi final and the
75 Euro semi final. With Bremner and Giles, unquestionably, in my
my view, the finest player to play for Leeds United. Even the name
and the nickname are bloody marvellous. You look at some of the
goals and have to think, how the bloody hell did he manage that
one?
Mike Egan says: Allan Clarke was my favourite player at Walsall
and I was devastated when he left the Saddlers. Although I probably
didn't know what devastated meant then. I remember skipping off
from my cousin's wedding just to see Allan and the lads in action.
His strike partner at the time was George Kirby who later moved on
to Halifax and eventually became their Manager.
Peter Sapsed says: I used to watch Allan play home & away
when he played for FULHAM when he moved to LEEDS UTD after
LEICESTER CITY, I (much to my Father's Disgust) changed my team (I
was 15 at the time) and I have supported LEEDS UTD ever since -
though coming from SURREY I don't get to matches so thank whoever
for LIVE games on TV. I too used to wear No8 when I played and
tried to play like him as he was the GREATEST goal scorer I have
ever seen and would give some of today's strikers a run for there
money.
Ed Holford says: As a Fulham supporter saw "Twiggy" as we called
him (as he was so thin)play at the cottage with the likes of Johnny
Haynes, and George Cohen. A truly great player who's distinctive
elbows raised and pointing out as he ran with the ball. He
terrorised defences and I think he was top scorer one season with
29 goals. Played out of position at Leicester he finally blossomed
and hardened at Leeds (well you had to)and was a great servant to
them. Happy memories..
Richard Norman says: I will always remember back page
photographs of the great Allan Clarke as he was walking off the
pitch after an international match having scored a hat trick for
England. I believe he was playing alongside Mick Channon and Martin
Chivers at the time and the press referred to them as the 'C' Men!
The magnificent way in which he scored his goals at all levels and
the one fingered salute that generally followed is an inmage that
will stay with me forever. Allan was one of my early footballing
heros and I remember buying his biography many years ago and being
totally absorbed with the inside stories about Leeds United and the
tips he included about tucking the ball away into the net. Thanks
Allan for for some tremendous memories and although I come from
Surrey the Leeds/Liverpool fixture in those days was a meeting my
wife and I always looked forward to in the early '70's hoping to
see you carrying out your craft superbly. You rarely let us down
and it was great to see you tuck that penalty away a few days ago
when some re-runs of World Cup matches were shown on the TV. Cool
or what!
Chris Lancaster says: My brother-in-law was digging through his
garage and found a boxed Allan Clarke Sondico Soccer Ball. The ball
was still deflated had never been used and still had the free gifts
inside the box of an Allan Clarke Soccer skills wallchart and a
carrier bag. Before my son (aged 10) starts to kick the ball around
the park is it woth anything ?? contactable at
MPC3591Lancaster@aol.com
Laura Clark says: My dad works with the great man himself and I
have to say he's a top bloke, as well as being a great (ex) player!
I can't believe that someone as good as him still has to work for a
living.
Tim Lyttle says: Like some of your other contributors I also had
to have number 8 on my back in my school days. Allan Clarke was
always my absolute hero. I remember my brother had a fantastic
poster on his wall of the moment the ball went over the line in the
'72 cup final. The picture was shot from the other end of the
ground looking down the pitch & Sniffer is still in mid air !
It's a superb shot & I would love to find a copy of the
photograph, anybody seen it ? If you have I would willingly give
you my house & all it's belongings for a copy ! (Well maybe
!)
Gary Brant says: I come from Walsall and Sniffer was my hero. I
remember seeing him score a hat trick v Norwich City at Villa Park
in an FA Cup 3rd Replay - he came off injured before half time.
What a genius !!! How much would he be worth at todays prices ?
linda says: Allan was my absolute heart-throb when I was 13. I
used to buy "Shoot" in case there were any photos of him, amd hide
it so my sisters wouldn't tease me. I cried when Leeds lost to
Sunderland in the FA Cup final. Later on, when I was at Hull Uni
around 76 or 77 I saw him in Clifford Dunns supermarket in Hull
with Paul reaney promoting Lyons cakes, and I pushed my trolly past
several times but couldn't work up the courage to talk to him and
say "You are still the man of my dreams..." He still is...
Mick Ball says: Does anyone have any kind of address where Allan
can be contacted. I would like to try and get my Sniffer book
autographed if I can.
Dave Brownhill says: Just returned from Leeds v West Brom. We
went in the Hospitality club where we met Allan, wot a great bloke,
loved to talk to you, being from the midlands he lots of stories to
tell, together with Paul Reaney & Peter Lorimer they really
made our day. If Mick Ball contacts me I'll give him contact for
Allan
Neil Turnham says: As a lifelong Chelsea fan you would not
expect me to praise Leeds players but I've always admired quality
and he was a bit of a favourite when I was young along with Mick
Channon and Pete Osgood. He was ice cool too. Remember that penalty
against Poland at Wembley in 1973. What pressure but he bowled it
into the top corner. Marvellous.
Logdis "the sniffer" Wonkie says: this guy is my uncle. I am
famous
John Harrison says: So many fantastic memories of Allan Clarke.
I once saw him score all 4, I think, in a 4-1 win against Burnley
in the early 1970s, the last a solo effort from the half way line
that no-one was going to stop. You felt it right away. Deadly, but
always with such grace. The sculptor Henry Moore described another
goal from that game as a work of art, slotted home through a gap
no-one else could even see. I've never seen a striker with greater
poise. The famous 72 goal against Arsenal: was there even the
slightest chance he would miss? He and the tireless Mick Jones, who
set up so many of Sniffer's goals, were as great a duo as I've seen
in British soccer.
Nick Davies says: Allan now works as a rep for an engineering
company - he visits my brother regularly at Immingham Docks. My
brother, being a Leeds Utd fan all his life, never gets any work
done when Allan is there - all they talk about is football and his
Leeds days. A true great of English football - like an artist on
the pitch, could score a goal from anywhere - can't honestly think
of anyone to match him nowadays! Hey Allan - you must know this
website exists, how about a comment?
Chris Gunn says: I'm 40 now, and took my 8 year old son to
Elland Road to see Leeds play Southampton for his first ever
football match. We were lucky enough to have been invited to sit in
an executive box as guests of Peter Lorimer's son, and were even
luckier to have Allan Clarke's company throughout the match. My
hero as a lifelong fan, and still prepared to make the evening
special for my son who only really understood who sniffer was when
he was told that he was the Alan Shearer of his day, but that he
scored a lot more goals than Shearer ever will. Sniffer's boast,
not mine. But it makes you think just what sort of superstar would
he be in today's football? A great player, and a pleasure to watch
a match with. Thanks Allan. Chris and son Sam.
Mike Taylor says: Saw him play in the 70s on the TV - and met
him at a wedding this weekend (Dec '03). He signed my 1972 Leeds v
Arsenal FA Cup Programme (twice!) and we had a photo taken. Thanks
Allan - a genius and a nice man.
Andy Sage says: Allan Clarke was my favourite manager, at my
beloved Barnsley FC. I remember watching a training session with my
dad, and "Sniffer" was giving them a real roasting! Also one season
Barnsley's half priced season tickets had one ticket void in the
book, has the game had already passed, when my dad mentioned this
the staff at Oakwell, Mr Clarke himself gave back my dad the money
for the ticket out of his own wallett! I'll always remember
that!
Salim Baroudi says: I am from Ghana and grew up in England and
Allan Clarke was my favourite player and I would still love to meet
him one day. I grew up watching him and even went on to become a
professional in Germany.I was inspired by him and still am.
Alan warren says: Pure poetry in motion, cool head with a killer
instinct
David T. says: Hi, Does anyone knows what he is doing these
days? Any news will be good.
Carole Symonds says: Allan Clarke began my interest in
Football...........need I say more!!1 Gorgeous..
Jim says: I want to know about him, who can e-mail me and tell
me? How come he only got 19 English caps to his name? With the
strike rate like his, he should have been a superstar for both club
and country... How come not so many people know him? Just looking
at his pictures and statistics I think he is both awesomely good
looking, and with a magnificent scoring record... e-mail me...
sattaravy _at_ hotmail.com
Mark says: Sniffer is a Sales Executive for a company selling
golf buggies in Wakefield, Met him last week when he delivered a
demo for us, Top bloke
Graham says: I never knew he was such a good player. I only
visited this site because someone told me that I look like him
(which I do)
George says: no i haven't seen him play, but looks like he was a
faboulous player. do you have recent picyures with him. please send
me some.
Kelly says: Sniffer was the best goal taker Leeds have ever had,
i remember so many times watching Sniffer 1 on 1 with the goal
keeper to beat, you just knew he would score and that the Goal
keeper would not have any chance in saving the shot.I have recently
met Allan when i went to the game at Elland Road, we where playing
Preston Leeds won 1.0 but what a crap game it was. I thanked Allan
for all the years of enjoyment he gave me, and for helping Leeds to
be put on the map in the 60s and 70s, he looked at me and said it
was a pleasure to play for the great Leeds United and gave me a
kiss for my support to him and his team mates. Just has i was about
to leave Allan to other keen Leeds supporters, i guy in his 40's
asked Allan how many goals the old Leeds team would put past the
new team , Allan thought for a moment and said his leeds team of
the 70's would win 1.0, the guy sain only 1.0 Allan, Sniffer said
yes only 1.0 Sniffer looked at the man and sain you have to
appreciate non of us are under 55 years old now, everyone fell
apart laughing, he knew the old leeds team has old as they might be
would give a game to the present team. Allan was a great footballer
but better than that,he is a gentleman and not an over paid and
over rated player like they are today.
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