He most notably had three spells with Bradford City and was also part of the Blackpool team that played in the Premier League during the 2010–11 season.

Born in Cork, Clarke is a product of the Ipswich Town Academy and signed professional for the club in May 2005.

At the end of the 2005–06 season he was sent on loan to Colchester United to gain first team experience, playing six league games.

Two days later he scored the second goal as Blackpool beat Barnstaple Town 5–0 in a 2009 South West Challenge Cup group stage match.

[8] On 8 August Clarke made his league début as a 73rd-minute substitute as Blackpool started the 2009–10 season with a 1–1 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

He scored his first goal for the Seasiders in a 4–3 defeat to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium in the third round of the 2009–10 League Cup on 22 September.

His first league goal came after just 23 seconds of the West Lancashire derby 1–1 draw with Preston North End on 30 November.

[11] After three months out through injury, Clarke made his return to action as a 78th-minute substitute in the 1–0 home win over his former club Ipswich Town on 6 March 2010.

With first team opportunities proving limited Clarke agreed a month's loan to Sheffield United in October 2011,[14] going on to make five appearances and score one goal for the South Yorkshire club.

[16] Clarke featured as a regular first team player in both 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons and missed a number of games due to injury.

[19] He made his debut on 9 August in a 3–2 win against Coventry City at Valley Parade, assisting James Hanson's opening goal of the game.

[23] In May 2019, following Bradford City's relegation to League Two, it was announced that he would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract on 30 June 2019, one of 11 players to be released.

[25] In September 2019 he said that he was still looking for a new club, after the move to Bolton fell through following the departure of manager Phil Parkinson, and also said that he was missing playing.

[31] Clarke announced his retirement from professional football on 30 August 2021, after making 390 appearances and scoring 89 goals at club level across 16 seasons.