At school he excelled at sports, representing Wales in a schoolboy baseball international,[1] and winning a local table tennis championship.

When league football resumed after the war, Clarke was an integral part of the Cardiff City team which gained promotion from the Third Division in 1946–47.

[6] He made his debut in Manchester City's final match of the season, against Newport County, his home town club.

Clarke made his next appearance in the First Division against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day of the 1947–48 season, scoring his first goal for the club in the process.

Clarke scored the winning goal in a semi-final against Sunderland, heading in a Joe Hayes cross to send City to Wembley, but suffered a knee injury late in the match.

[10] Early in the match Clarke exchanged passes with Don Revie, who set up Joe Hayes for Manchester City to take the lead with less than three minutes played.

By the 1957–58 season injuries had taken their toll upon Clarke and first team appearances were sparse, though he became one of the first players to gain from a new benefit; upon completing ten years' service for the club he was given a cheque for £1,000.

[13] He made seven appearances in his final season at the club, the last in a 5–1 FA Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion, in which he played centre-forward instead of his customary position on the wing.

Through his friendship with Bert Trautmann he gained a contract to become the first Adidas merchant in the area,[17] but the shop closed a few years later as Clarke wished to concentrate upon activities at Manchester City.

[1] The social club was open seven days a week, providing an opportunity for players, management and supporters to form closer bonds.