A MUCH-LOVED father and grandfather who was the only man to play professional football and cricket for Darlington died last Sunday aged 94.

Born in Darlington on March 27, 1921, Harry Clarke played for Darlington FC and Leeds United, as well as appearing in 46 games as a cricket all-rounder for Durham County Cricket Club, after his cricketer father introduced him to the sport.

His only daughter Penny Edwards said: "Cricket was always his favourite. He saw it as a more gentlemanly game, he preferred the essence of cricket and he preferred the social life. He liked the banter as he was from a very male household."

The Northern Echo: LATER LIFE: Mr Clarke (pictured on his 70th birthday in 1991) was the only man to play professional football and cricket for Darlington
LATER LIFE: Mr Clarke (pictured on his 70th birthday in 1991) was the only man to play professional football and cricket for Darlington

Mr Clarke played as a Durham County cricketer against Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and India, and was the opening batsman and bowler for each game.

Probably the most prolific games to goals scorer in Darlington FC's history, he also netted 50 goals in 73 games for the Quakers and earned a £6,000 transfer to Leeds in 1946.

Mr Clarke left his "jolly bachelor" days behind and married his girlfriend Celia in 1958. They had a daughter in 1963 and three grandchildren.

Aside from being a legendary sportsman Mr Clarke was known for his devilish sense of humour and revelled in funny nicknames, one-liners and pranks.

Mrs Edwards recalled one particular joke around the time the family were trying to sell their house in Whitley Bay.

"Me and my mum got a phone call from a Scotsman wanting to view the house so obviously we went into a crazy cleaning spree. Harry came home and we told him to sit there and not do anything while we cleaned.

"We finally realised it was my dad who had put on an accent and made a joke call."

Mr Clarke, with his four sisters - Joan, Peggy, Thelma and Paddy - was born in Cockerton, Darlington, trained at the Railway Athletic Club and, after living in Leeds, Newcastle and Bishop Auckland, eventually moved back to Hummersknott Avenue in Darlington.

Mrs Edwards said: "He was like a stick of rock; I reckon if you cut him open it would say Darlington. He loved the people, he loved the sports grounds, he loved the very tarmac on the ground."

After being diagnosed with dementia in the late 1990s, Mr Clarke was moved to a care home in Derbyshire near his daughter in 2009, where he called the care workers 'pet' to remind him of Darlington.

"His decline since those early signs of dementia was very slow, like a marble rolling down a very gentle slope.

"He used to make me promise he would go back to Darlington. I have never known anybody love a place as much as Harry."

Mr Clarke's funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Darlington where his daughter was married on Monday, November 23, at 1pm.