Clark: 'I may have overstepped that line on a couple of occasions but I got away with it!

Clarkey was always known for his tough tackling and his passion for the cause and is affectionatly remebered by fans of both clubs.

Talking to www.theargus.co.uk, the Viking recalls those times: "I used to run about making tackles and they seemed to enjoy that. It's a bit different in this day and age. The game has changed and they have limited a large amount of the tackling. That was going on over the course of my career. It wasn't always the case that you could kick anybody you like. There has always been a line you could go up to. The smart ones knew where the line was and went right up to it. I couldn't make tackles at the end of my career that I made at the start of my career but I am quite proud of the fact that, even with the reputation I had, I never got myself sent off."

Clark, who turned 51 last Wednesday, has a varied post playing life, running a driving school and tiling business while summarising for BBC Radio Essex on the Blues, and even filing reports for the Press Association from Roots Hall.

He even out took time out to help long-time mate Joe Dunne, when he became caretaker manager of the Farmers due to Paul Lambert going to Norwich.

For Southend fans they will not only recall the playing but also the time he took over as the Blues boss.

Clarke continued: "When David Webb left the first time, with a third of the season to go, I took over and we carried on and won promotion. They gave the job to someone else in the summer and there was quite a furore about it. Certain promises had been made so it was a bit of an upsetting time. I took over again when they were near the bottom of the table and then the following season David Webb was brought back so I was kind of pushed aside. I went away in a bit of a strop at the time but went back to just playing and won another two promotions with them so it would be a bit churlish to say it affected things with them too much."

As for the game Saturday?

"My loyalties are completely divided. The highest point of my playing career was at Brighton and winning up at Newcastle to get promoted to the old First Division. I got married in Brighton and my daughter was born in Brighton so it played a large part not just in my footballer career but in my personal life as well. It still breaks my heart every time I drive past the Goldstone and see a ****** retail park"

The Clarke Files

Personal information
Full name	Paul Peterson Clark
Date of birth	September 14, 1958 (1958-09-14) (age 51)
Place of birth	Benfleet, England
Playing position	Defender
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1976-1977 1977-1982 1981 1982-1991 1991-1994 1994-1995 1995-1996 1996-? ?	Southend United Brighton & Hove Albion Reading (loan) Southend United Gillingham Chelmsford City Cambridge United Leyton Orient Billericay Town	033 (1) 079 (9) 002 (0) 278 (3) 090 (1) 002 (0) 000 (0)
Teams managed
1987-1988	Southend United
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Clark_(footballer)