CLARK IS USED TO LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
MEET the rookie Wessex League manager – a UEFA A licence holder, nevertheless – who has a link to Real Madrid and is on an FA Cup mission.
Step forward Adam Clark, 32, who pitched up at Tadley Calleva in May 2019 after a successful twoyear spell coaching in the Cayman Islands.
A young Englishman abroad, Clark led Academy Sports Club to third place in the 12-team Premier League – their highest ever finish – and the nation’s cup final.
Now he has already created a little bit of history in his short spell back in this corner of Hampshire.
After getting through to the first qualifying round for the first time Tadley have been rewarded with a home tie with Southern League South high-fliers Truro City on Tuesday.
Clark reckons the Cornish visitors will be impressed with the facilities on offer. He said: “Truro were going well before lockdown and are a really good side. I am just glad we are at home.
“We will just try and impose ourselves on them and see how it goes. I just need a couple more experienced heads, players who can manage it and slow the game down a bit.
“This is a lovely little ground, nice changing rooms, nice little clubhouse and stand. I really like the place. The pitch has been redone, we have new floodlights and are looking to reach Step 3 grading. But the club does not spend money they do not have.
“We are ambitious but realistic as well. You can throw all the money in the world around but if you can get a well structured side then there is no reason why you cannot challenge.”
One thing’s for sure, Clark is unlikely to be fazed by Truro after his experiences in the Caribbean.
“The Cayman Islands was a great experience,” he said. “We played in 37 degree heat. Over here you would have drinks breaks but not there.
“There was one game that really sticks in my mind when the rubber on the bottom of a player’s boot melted on the surface.
“The culture was obviously different. It was a lot more relaxed. The style of play was a lot slower. There are some good players out there, though.”