Post 4 - A tribute to Brian Clark

Today is a sad day for Cardiff City as Brian Clark passed away aged 67.  Clark, born in Bristol, played 240 games for the Bluebirds in two spells scoring 91 goals.  Of the 91 goals he scored his most famous was undoubtedly the winner in a 1-0 victory against Spanish giants Real Madrid in the first leg of their 1971 cup winners cup quarter final encounter.  City lost the return leg in Spain 2-0, but the home leg lived on in the memories of all who were there with Clark's header ensuring he himself would go down in folklore.

I can't claim to have ever seen Brian Clark play as he had long hung up his boots before I was born, or even thought of (if I ever was) but over the years I've often heard my dad and uncle - city regulars since the 60s - speak highly of him, as did their dad before them, Clark was, as my dad put it 'a real legend.'

Clark started his career in the city he was born, plying his trade for Bristol City where he scored 89 goals in 215 appearances.  Although he played for Severnside rivals Cardiff in the future, Clark remained a hero in the city of his birth as well as at Cardiff, a feat which has rarely, if ever, has been matched before or since, which is a testament to him not only as a player, but as a person.

Clark is sure to get the tribute he deserves at our Carling cup match tomorrow against Burton and next home league match against Doncaster Saturday week.  From what I've heard he was a thoroughly nice gentleman as well as a fantastic footballer and personally feel a traditional minutes silence is more poignant than the sometimes favoured minute of applause

In the coming years Clark is sure to get a more fixed tribute at the Cardiff City Stadium and of the many ideas I've heard from various city fans over the last 12 hours I think the gesture of naming the family stand after him would be the most fitting.  The Brian Clark Family Stand certainly has a ring to it, I think you will agree.

Brian Clark - 1943-2010.