Matthew Clarke programme article
Posted : 17th December 2022
Linfield full-back Matthew Clarke says that although it was disappointing to exit the SPFL Trust Trophy on penalties away to Kelty Hearts last week, the Blues will remain optimistic and will hope for a return to winning ways when returning to domestic action against Dungannon Swifts this afternoon.
“It was disappointing to lose on penalties last week. I thought we were decent in the first half and I should have scored to make it 2-0 in the second half. I missed a good chance before I came off. I hold my hands up for that – I definitely should have scored. Some people are suggesting that it might not be too much of a bad thing for us to go out given our fixture list, but at Linfield we hate losing and we were disappointed to go out. We will need to move swiftly on because at the minute, we are fighting on all fronts on the domestic front.”
The former Rangers Youth defender has been ever-reliable for his manager David Healy this season, racking up 32 appearances already and it’s only mid-December. Injury frustration for the Blues’ other senior left back, Niall Quinn, has meant Clarke hasn’t had much of a break, but he says he’ll never complain about playing football and he was delighted to see his friend return to action in Fife last weekend.
“As a player at a big club, you want to be playing games and you’d be complaining if you weren’t playing enough games, so I definitely haven’t been complaining about playing too much. I’m always happy to be on the pitch and trying to help the lads try to pick up results. I feel physically fine, despite already playing something like 32 matches this season.
“I was okay last Saturday when I was replaced by Quinny at Kelty Hearts. He’s just back from injury, so that was nice to see him back fit. I’m hoping he can enjoy better luck now and stay injury free. He got valuable minutes in the legs and showed no signs of rustiness.
“Quinny and I are good friends and I am delighted for him having a Testimonial year this season. Ever since I joined the Club, he’s been one of my best friends – we get on like a house on fire. It is fully deserved for his ten years of service to Linfield. That’s an amazing achievement at a massive club like Linfield and he deserves every appreciation coming his way.”
28 year-old Clarke also had glowing praise for legendary club captain, Jamie Mulgrew who could be in for a special day, if selected, as he stands on the verge of a 700th Linfield appearance.
“To make 700 appearances for the biggest club in Northern Ireland is an unbelievable achievement. You just have to look at the career that Jamie Mulgrew has had and the things he has won, to see why everyone looks up to him. To reach that milestone, you’re doing something right! He’s another person who has been very good to me over the years and he welcomed me with open arms the day and hour I arrived at Windsor. Jamie is another good friend and someone who I have massive respect for.
“Jamie is 36 now and yet, he is still flying in the midfield which is a credit to him, to be able to do that at that age and at this level. Fair play to ‘Mulgers’ and if current form is anything to go by, then there will be a good few more appearances and hopefully honours to come.”
As Linfield look to continue to claw back ground on the league leaders, we asked ‘Clarkey’ what has sparked a run of form of eleven matches unbeaten, narrowing the gap from twelve points to five – and now eight points, but with a vital game in hand.
“As players, we had to take responsibility for performances that weren’t good enough. Perhaps there was still a bit of a European hangover on the mental side of things, but we regrouped after the 4-2 defeat to Larne at Windsor and had an open discussion between players and manager. It was a productive meeting and something that needed to be done. We had a long hard look at ourselves and accepted that we needed to do better, and I think getting everything that out in the open laid a platform for us to turn a corner.”
The Blues now have two matches left to round off 2022 - today’s match against Dungannon Swifts and then the traditional Boxing Day derby away to Glentoran. Normally, NIFL would schedule a match between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, but that’s not the case this year and the Artigarvan native welcomes the change.
“It’ll be a quieter festive period this year but I don’t mind that at all because it gives us more family time, and that’s something we don’t normally get a lot of, at that time of year. This is probably the first year – bar the Covid year – where we’ve had a break between Boxing Day and New Year’s, and it’s probably a good thing for us, given the amount of midweek matches we’ve already had compared to our competitors.”
Looking ahead to today’s Danske Bank Premiership clash with Dungannon Swifts, Clarke – who joined the Blues from Rangers in 2013 – said he would enjoy the battle against the Swifts’ pacey wingers, if selected. Having scored a fine goal in this fixture last season, he’s also hoping that’s a good omen coming into today’s match.
“I enjoy defending as much as going forward. If you ask any defender, they’ll tell you they enjoy a good battle and I’m no different – especially as a full-back, up against a quick winger which is something Dungannon Swifts possess. They’ve had a few good results recently and that will have lifted them. We won’t take them for granted, that’s for sure. We might be on a good run but we still can’t afford slip-ups, so hopefully, we will put on a strong and professional performance and most importantly, pick up three points. I’m due a goal and I’ve been hearing that from my teammates for a good couple of months now. I hope it’s not too far away.”
All the best to Clarkey for today’s important match and special congratulations to him and his partner, Ashley, on their recent engagement. Here's hoping for good results ahead to round off a special year.