By Nathan Jackson
February 13 2011

In one of the more unusual stories of the season, Ex-Imp Shane Clarke has decided to quit the English game to try his luck in America after a spell with Boston United.

Shane Clarke was one of the numerous players to come out of the youth system under Peter Jackson. He had been highly successful for the youth team and captained the reserves to the 2006/7 Pontins Reserve League Cup, beating Hartlepool in the final. Despite being a trier, Clarke went on to play 75 appearances for the club, although you'd be hard pushed to find many who thought he would go on to become a highly successful player.

After being forced to train with the youth team under Chris Sutton, Clarke left the Imps in the summer and joined Gateshead before eventually signing for Boston United. However, his stay at York Street has lasted less than three months and Rob Scott confirmed his departure in the Boston Standard.

“He wants to be a professional footballer and we won’t stand in the way of that,” said manager Rob Scott. "But it means we are down in numbers. We’ll look to bring somebody in. But I don’t know if we can do that by Monday (before Tuesday’s match at Stalybridge Celtic).”

There is a distinctive mix of ability in the MLS, with quality players such as David Beckham and Landon Donovan, as well as those players who are less able in terms of technical ability. City know that signing a player who has been a regular in the MLS doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be good. Khano Smith was one of Chris Sutton's first signings and he was voted as Lincoln's worst player of 2009/10.

Ex-Imp off to America

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 13/02/2011 13:20

theimps.ka
13/02/2011 13:20

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