Blues’ boss Steve Tilson presented the media with a smokescreen in Shrimpers supporter and comedian Terry Alderton as he looked around the country for a temporary shotstopper, but he has finally delivered the real goods as the Pirates’ reserve team custodian Ryan Clarke arrives in southeast Essex on Thursday morning to put pen to paper on a 29-day loan agreement.
Rovers manager Ian Atkins was a one-time target to become chief at Roots Hall after the departure of Steve Wignall, but despite denying links to the Essex side, Atkins has had nothing but kind words to say about the Seasiders since his arrival at the Memorial Ground, claiming that the club were in a “false position” when they visited the Avon outfit in August – a statement that has since proved to be correct with United leaping from 23rd to 12th in the past month.
Ex-Colchester United and Oxford United gaffer Atkins is famed for his lack of a goalkeeper on the substitutes bench, and was touted by Tilson himself as an example of a manager who doesn’t need a ready-made replacement when Bart Griemink was ruled out with a knee injury at Rushden & Diamonds. Darryl Flahavan has since stepped into the mantle, but his sending off against Boston United on Friday night left Tesfaye Bramble in goal for nearly an hour, and Blues without anyone to step into the breach for ninety minutes against table-topping Swansea City at the weekend.
Star of SKY One’s ‘The Match’, Terry Alderton showed off his goalkeeping prowess before drawing the nation’s attention to Southend’s problems in attracting a goalkeeper. He put pen to paper on non-contract terms on Tuesday evening. However, with Nick Morgan, the club’s Under-18 shotstopper, shipping four goals to Hornchurch in a reserve team friendly behind-closed doors at Roots Hall, Tilson’s predicament grew larger.
Thankfully, Atkins has stepped in to provide Clarke, who is second choice to Kevin Miller at the Memorial Stadium, as a replacement until Friday 12th November, with that being FA Cup weekend. He wants Clarke back so as not to become cup-tied, but by that time Griemink, who should be back in a fortnight, and Flahavan, who could resume shotstopping duties as early as Tuesday’s trip to Glanford Park and second-placed Scunthorpe United, will be back in contention.
Clarke’s signature is on the proviso that he is on an immediate recall system to Bristol, in the event of Miller being similarly injured or suspended. He will make the signature at Roots Hall on Thursday morning before undergoing a strenuous workout with the rest of the side as he gets acclimatised to his new surroundings.
The 22-year-old, who will undoubtedly be handed the number 25 shirt, is almost unbelievably the Gasheads’ longest serving player, having been offered three one-year deals after completing a three-year scholarship with the Pirates. He has consistently been the understudy to more illustrious custodians, with current Shrewsbury Town ‘keeper Scott Howie keeping him out of the reckoning in his first year as a pro in 2001/2. He made his debut on the final day of that season against Rochdale at Spotland as a second-half substitute.
Incredibly, that is not the end of the story. He conceded a spot-kick himself before making a magnificent save, only to have been adjudged to have moved forward before the kick was taken and being beaten at the second attempt to be defeated 2-1. In January of 2001 he trained with England Under-21s at La Manga, but in the past two-and-a-half years he has made just five further appearances as first Howie and now Rovers captain Miller have kept him out of the side.
Clarke joins two former Rovers captains at the Hall in Adam Barrett, who was skipper last year, and Che Wilson, who was in charge in his first season. He kept a clean sheet in October 2002, in his first full appearance against Lincoln City in Division Three, but conceded two against York and then one in 1-0 defeat to local rivals Exeter City in the LDV Vans Trophy. He let in just one against promoted Huddersfield in February this year, and then kept his second clean sheet against Bury in April, but still has precious little experience. We wish him well!
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com