Leon Clarke’s Best Sheffield United Moments | OneFootball

A key player in Sheffield United’s rise from League One to the Premier League, Leon Clarke turns 40 today!

With a decent contribution in League One, then the season of his career in the first season in the Championship. Here is a list of Clarke’s best moments in Sheffield’s red-and-white.

First Sheffield United Goal

Before playing for the Blades, Clarke scored on five separate occasions against United, starting as early as 2005, totaling seven goals. In the two seasons before arriving at Bramall Lane, Clarke had scored for both Bury and Coventry City at Bramall Lane respectively.

So when he signed as a Blade on 27 July 2016, there was excitement about his arrival.

Blades wouldn’t have to wait too long for first goal as in his second game against Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup. Clarke opened the scoring in the sixth minute.

Starting from the left side playing towards the Bramall Lane stand. Mark Duffy on the edge of the box played the ball back to John Fleck. Who sent a curling ball into the box which was met by Clarke’s left foot as he held off a Crewe defender. With the ball ending up in the bottom left corner on the volley.

Promotion Goal vs. Northampton

In the 2016-2017 season, the Blades were promoted eighteen points clear of third placed Scunthorpe United. A win against Northampton Town on game-week 42 would be enough to finally escape League One.

Unfortunately, the game didn’t initially go to plan with Marc Richards giving Northampton the lead on the 45th minute.

On the 61st minute, Clarke drew the Blades level. Starting with Sharp bringing the ball down in Northampton’s half, then a short pass to Daniel Lafferty, who played the ball back to Fleck. Then Fleck, with a quick ball forward along the floor found Clarke who ran into the left side of the box. Leading Clarke to finish with his left foot with the ball firing past the Northampton keeper and sending the travelling Blades wild.

Allowing his assister, John Fleck to give the Blades the win and gain promotion to the Championship.

Steel City Derby Brace at Hillsborough

In the first Steel City Derby in the Championship for seven years, Leon Clarke, formerly of the Owls, made Hillsborough his own.

Whilst, the day is often stolen by memories of John Fleck’s free-kick goal and the infamous Bounce Slayer moment from Mark Duffy.

Clarke’s brace with the second and fourth goals in the Steel City Derby made the difference between drawing and winning.

On the fifteenth minute, a clearance from Wallace for Wednesday fell to Enda Stevens. Who with his own clearance hit the ball forward over the Wednesday defence. The ball bounced twice into Clarke’s path where he finished past Kieran Westwood from just inside the box.

For the Bounce Slayer goal itself, Clarke turned provider. Duffy brought the ball down in the middle of Wednesday’s half and passed to Clarke. The Blades forward fired the ball down the right-wing for Duffy to run onto and the rest is history.

On the 77th minute, David Brooks received the ball from Clarke before chipping it over Lees. Where Clarke ran onto it and finished easily with a strike across goal. With victory secured.

Four Goals vs. Hull City

(Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

After the Blades went behind to a Kamil Grosicki goal on the 29th minute. Leon Clarke took it personally. With goals on the 53rd, 76th, 80th, and 88th minute.

The first goal came when Basham sent the ball down the right to Cameron Carter-Vickers who at the by-line played the ball into the box. Where his pass found Clarke who smashed the ball into the net in front of the Kop.

For the second Clarke and Duffy combined with a one-two with Clarke finishing from the same place as his first.

The third saw Billy Sharp run to the by-line on the left of the box crossing over to the right. Where Clarke headed in to the bottom right corner. Again from almost the exact same spot as his first and second goals.

Not content with a hat-trick. Clarke brough the ball down from Simon Moore’s long ball forward that went from box-to-box. Before failing to pass to David Brooks and when the ball fell back to him scoring his fourth past a dejected Allan McGregor.

If only we’d had Leon in the side. three weeks ago on Friday,

Takeaways

Clarke’s rise to Sheffield United cult hero, from Wednesday striker to their Steel City Derby nemesis has been one of the great storylines of Sheffield United’s last decade. In a sea of great storylines.

Clarke is more than just a Derby day hero though. In his 96 games as a Blade, Clarke scored 32 goals and bagged 10 assists. He also stepped up from League One to the Championship expertly scoring 19 goals in 39 games in the 2017-2018 season.

Unlucky and fortunate to play alongside Billy Sharp, Clarke provided the goals to supplement the captain’s driving force. I say unlucky to have played with Sharp as he would be likely remembered even more fondly without the Boyhood Blade’s incredible record.

Even still, Clarke deserves a lot of credit for the Blades rise to the Premier League. Hopefully, he has a great 40th birthday.