Ciaran Clark D Stoke City b.1989

**tommy_c12000** · 16/10/2010, 6:38 PM

Originally Posted by The Fly

I'd say the management of the English youth set-up are going to fight to keep hold him, so lets not get ahead of ourselves.

All the indications are that he has publicly declared for Ireland so a call up next month will seal it

**tetsujin1979** · 16/10/2010, 7:24 PM

anyone else see the new comment on his fa.com profile: http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Tea...C/Ciaran-Clark

**The Fly** · 16/10/2010, 7:30 PM

Hands up!.......who was it?

**liamoo11** · 17/10/2010, 2:42 AM

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!

**Eirambler** · 17/10/2010, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by TrapAPony

Coleman, Duffy, Clark, Cunningham...not a bad future defence.

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

**Razors left peg** · 17/10/2010, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

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

Even back then the hunt had started to find a new left back, 5 years later and the debate still goes on

**CraftyToePoke** · 19/10/2010, 2:18 AM

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.

**Charlie Darwin** · 20/10/2010, 5:57 AM

Clark has confirmed that he has declared for us.

ASTON 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.

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/pa...n-2385960.html

**SwanVsDalton** · 20/10/2010, 1:09 PM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

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.

Not only that but Houllier opted to throw Clark on when Dunne got injured at the weekend ahead of Carlos Cueller. He's very much in the first team setup.

**The Fly** · 20/10/2010, 2:31 PM

Well done, Richard Dunne!!!

**Sullivinho** · 20/10/2010, 2:50 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Not only that but Houllier opted to throw Clark on when Dunne got injured at the weekend ahead of Carlos Cueller. He's very much in the first team setup.

Vote of confidence from the new man in charge, good stuff.

**HammerNThongs** · 21/10/2010, 10:18 AM

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."

**Noelys Guitar** · 21/10/2010, 11:40 AM

No messing about. Great news. A real prospect in a crucial position for any team.

**paul_oshea** · 21/10/2010, 12:00 PM

Is it time to start getting excited again?

Duffy/Clark/Coleman etc etc

**Razors left peg** · 21/10/2010, 12:09 PM

Any time we get young players who play regularly and well in the Premier league it is always exciting

**third policeman** · 21/10/2010, 2:51 PM

Didn't someone say that Hogan Ephraim was about to declare. He looks like a seriously decent prospect.

**Kingdom** · 21/10/2010, 3:26 PM

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.

**Fergie's Son** · 21/10/2010, 5:16 PM

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.

**Stuttgart88** · 21/10/2010, 5:29 PM

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.