Now then, happy new year and all that.. As the thread title says, a 'simple question' that has baffled me for a long time, me being a bit Joey and all that, I might have missed the obvious but why did Lee Clarke sign for us? I mean moments after the transfer went through, Hoddle called him up into the England squad. We had been relegated, Championship and all that and with Murray looking after the purse strings it can't have been money. I don't think he was getting his game at the mags but to sign for the bitter rivals always beggars the question.. Why did Lee Clarke sign for us? Happy New Year you all &
Wow Joe. You've dug that one out of the history booms. Maybe he just did it to piss us off. Can't think of any other reason.
He signed for a bigger club !, canny player and what about Chopra and Graham, I believe Graham will not score for us at all if he gets back into the team to spite us.
Thing is he didn't Sandy, the tee-shirt crap was crap but think back to his 1st season when the SOL opened, he was banging in goals left right and centre and then we had the brilliant promotion the year after. I mean you want out of a club like maybe he did but ffs you don't sign for your bitterest? I actually at the time thought that David Kelly & Paul Bracewell might have been behind it all..
Whatever the reason, he did play the best football of his career in a red and white shirt, and I dare bet that deep down he very much regrets sporting that top shoved on him by the Skunk fans..
Your memory's better than mine Joe. I just remember the crap at the end which kinda soured things a bit.
This.. All the best A to you and the family. Hope to see you down here soon or me up there sooner if that makes sense. The very very best..
I first saw LC playing for England schoolboys when he was 16/17 , and was absolutely gutted when I read in the programme he was signed to the Mags. He was a cut above the other England players and was obviously going to make the grade. Years later when he signed for us I was delighted. Sad that the memories that should be good have been soured by Lee's t-shirt. He could have been a North East hero to both sets of fans.
