anyone else see the new comment on his fa.com profile: http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Tea...C/Ciaran-Clark
anyone else see the new comment on his fa.com profile: http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Tea...C/Ciaran-Clark
Hands up!.......who was it?
Just a quick well done to Grealish who played all 3 games as the under 16s finished 2nd in the 4 nation tournament well done lad and he is still eligible for under16 next year.Dont let the FA bully you into switching over young man keep it GREEN!
Great, all sorted...what could possibly go wrong
After the last 10-15 years of promise, I've almost given up being hopeful of a batch of young players coming through at once like that and all living up to their potential. Here's a thread from a few years ago heralding McShane, Kelly and Paddy McCarthy among others as the future of Irish football.
http://foot.ie/threads/25138-Future-back-four
Its interesting, and very encouraging for Ciaran Clark ,that Villa have allowed Curtis Davies to go out on loan to Leicester, not that long ago a very expensive O'Neil purchase.
Clark has confirmed that he has declared for us.
http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/pa...n-2385960.htmlASTON VILLA star Ciaran Clark is hoping to get the call from Giovanni Trapattoni for next month's friendly against Norway following his decision to 'defect' from England to Ireland.
Defender Clark is very highly rated at Villa Park and he was called on to fill in for Richard Dunne when Dunne picked up an ankle injury during Saturday's Premier League game with Chelsea, Clark's fourth appearance of the season.
He had been capped by England at underage level but after some persuasion by Dubliner Dunne, Clark has decided to throw in his lot with Ireland, the 21-year-old qualifying as his mother is from Leitrim and his paternal grandmother is from Donegal.
"I played for England at youth level but I didn't think I was going anywhere in that department. So when a young lad gets an opportunity like I have with Ireland, it's very hard to turn down," says Clark.
"Richard Dunne played a big part in me linking up with the Republic. He mentioned it to the Irish officials. And then they contacted me and Aston Villa at the start of the season.
"They gave me time to think about it to make a decision and I think I could be in contention for the next international if all the paperwork has gone through. It's fingers crossed. I have to keep working hard and hoping that it will happen," added Clark.
Well done, Richard Dunne!!!
http://www.independent.ie/breaking-n...d-2389443.html
Clark chooses Ireland
Ciaran Clark
Thursday October 21 2010
Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark has pledged his international future to Ireland - to repay his mother and father for the support they have shown him.
Clark, who played 78 minutes of last Saturday's goalless draw with Chelsea, was born in London and has captained England Under-18s. But he has decided to commit to playing at senior level for Giovanni Trapattoni's side as an act of faith for the backing he received from his Irish-born mum and dad.
Clark said: "Why have I chosen to play for Ireland? For myself and my family. My family have done a lot for me over the years, since I was a little boy. I owe them a lot so I've made this decision for them."
He added: "Richard Dunne (Villa and Ireland defender) mentioned it to Ireland and they looked into it and got in contact with me and the club. They gave me time to think about it and about my decision.
"If all the paperwork has gone through by the next game, I'll be in contention so fingers crossed that happens."
Clark, regarded as one of Villa's brightest prospects, added: "I was England Under-18 captain but I didn't think I was going anywhere really with that.
"When a young lad gets an opportunity like this, it is hard to turn down."
No messing about. Great news. A real prospect in a crucial position for any team.
Is it time to start getting excited again?
Duffy/Clark/Coleman etc etc
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
Any time we get young players who play regularly and well in the Premier league it is always exciting
Its really not that complicated!!!
Didn't someone say that Hogan Ephraim was about to declare. He looks like a seriously decent prospect.
I love it when a little spark like this can lift the gloom a little.
Wilson, Duffy, Clark, St Ledger.
I'm liking that. A lot.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Very clear and precise as to why he is declaring for Ireland. Delighted for him and his family and for us fans! Let's hope he works out in the long term but lt's a credit to him that he was so up front about it.
There is no such thing as a miracle cure, a free lunch or a humble opinion.
Without referring back to article 18, even a friendly cap ties him because this will be his one change of association? I think he must have had at least one competitive underage cap already for this to hold.
I know he has declared and all, it's just the frustrated lawyer part of my brain asking (not a big part), not the part that tries to see reality.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 21/10/2010 at 8:08 PM.
I don't think there's a test case for it yet, but the language of the article seems to support your argument. geysir might know otherwise.
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