Mark Clyde

Personal information
Full name	Mark Clyde
Date of birth	27 December 1982 (1982-12-27) (age 28)
Place of birth	Limavady, Northern Ireland
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2007	Wolverhampton Wanderers	47	(0)
2002	→ Kidderminster Harriers (loan)	4	(0)
2009–	Worcester City	19	(1)
National team
2002–2003	Northern Ireland U21	5	(0)
2004–2007	Northern Ireland	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Mark Clyde (born 27 December 1982, Limavady) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer, who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers and represented Northern Ireland. His career was cut short by persistent injuries aged 24 but later made a successful return to football with Worcester City, earning a contract after a successful trial.

Career

Clyde is a product of Wolves' academy, and moved into first-team contention in the 2002–03 season. He was initially loaned out to Kidderminster Harriers, then in League Two for four games. He made his league debut on 14 September 2002 in a 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe United. He returned to Molineux after this brief spell and quickly found a place in the first team, ahead of team captain Paul Butler. He made 17 league appearances for the club in this debut season, which saw Wolves win promotion via the play-offs. Clyde himself missed the conclusion of the campaign though as he suffered a knee injury which was later operated on. The defender recovered to feature in Wolves' Premier League season of 2003–04, playing in nine top-flight games, which earned him a contract extension in July 2004, that was due to keep him at the club until 2008. After featuring in Wolves' opening 13 games back in the Championship, he suffered another injury blow when he turned his ankle while training with Northern Ireland. He recovered but found his season later halted for good when his knee troubles flared up again in February 2005.

After missing all the 2005–06 season, struggling to recover from ankle surgery, he began Wolves' opening three games in 2006–07 under new manager Mick McCarthy. However, his injury problems quickly resurfaced and he was once again sidelined. On 8 February 2007, Clyde announced his immediate retirement from football, aged just 24, owing to his persistent injury battles.
 

Clyde has represented Northern Ireland three times, making his debut on 8 September 2004 in a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw in Wales. He has also been selected for their Under-18, U20 and U21 squads.

Under his Management Mark guided Bridgnorth to their first Shropshire Challenge Cup success since 1979/80.