Background
Isaac, called Ike everywhere he went, was born at Tipton during the First World War on 9 January 1915.
Isaac, called Ike everywhere he went, was born at Tipton during the First World War on 9 January 1915.
He began playing in an amateur Wolverhampton league for Toll End Westley, and then signed as a professional for West Bromwich Albion, then a First Division club, in 1937. Ike was officially on their books for ten years, but most of that career was lost through the Second World War. By the end of his time there he had played 108 games and scored 39 goals.
As football began again in fits and starts after the War had ended Clarke moved to in November 1947.
West Bromwich were in the Second Division by then, and it is recorded that the Fratton Park faithful initially weren"t very impressed that £7,000 had been spent on a striker already in his thirties from a lower division. He was a big brave centre forward in the classic British tradition, but also had a good footballing brain and some skill, and linked up what was the formidable forward line that Pompey boasted at that time.
Clarke went on to serve Pompey sporadically in the 1950s and in all he clocked up 129 appearances, 116 in the League, and 58 goals, 49 in the League. In 1953 Clarke gave up playing full-time football at the age of 38 and looked for his first job in management.
Yeovil Town in the Southern Football League were advertising for a new manager, The Supporters Club offered to help with the wages of the new appointee, and a tied house was thrown in.
On 10 May 1953 Clarke became The Glover"s fourth manager since the War. His first season in charge ended with Yeovil finishing third in the Southern League and Clarke himself made 48 appearances scoring 20 goals at the age of 36. The next season Clarke took Yeovil to the Southern League and Southern League cup double.
Although Clarke had led Yeovil to their most successful season in terms of trophies just four seasons earlier Clarke was relieved of his managerial duties at the end of the 1956-1957 season.
After Yeovil Town Clarke moved to Kent. He took into the Southern League Division One in 1959-1960 and they missed out on promotion on goal average and the same fate awaited them the following season, again missing out on promotion to the Premier Division on goal average.
He later took charge of Canterbury City before retiring to Herne Bay in Kent, where he lived until his death in April 2002 at the age of 87. Player Managerial.
The following season, Clarke"s contribution was greater in Pompey"s need to defend the title, he played in 37 games and finished top scorer with 17 goals.