This could be biggest club of all, says Clarke
JACK Clarke has hailed Sunderland as potentially the biggest club he’s been at after their 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers earned promotion.
Clarke was controversially dropped for the play-off final at the expense of local lad Elliot Embleton but Alex Neil’s decision paid instant dividends as the 23-year-old – who has been with the club for 16 years – fired home the opener and played a pivotal role in the victory.
Clarke came into the fray for Embleton on 61 minutes and caused Wanderers problems with his pace and dribbling as legs tired and minds became desperate. He was the first to join Ross Stewart after the striker’s drilled finish found the bottom corner.
He said: “It feels amazing to get over the line.
“We worked so hard all season for stuff like this and we’ve had a few bumps in the road but we feel it’s fully deserved and we’re just delighted to get the job done. It’s massive pressure on us every single game but we go out there and give our best.
“Sometimes the results don’t come out for us but the fans are still there.
“They stick by us and you can see today they came out in numbers and it was a big driving force which helped get us over the line in the end.
“It’s what you dream of doing, playing at Wembley in front of thousands and thousands of fans and I’m just delighted me and the boys could get the job done for all these people here.”
There’s no doubt the Black Cats’ four-year hiatus from the Championship was a low point for a massive club.
Their return to the second tier will be welcomed as a big name of English footballing history moving closer to where it feels it belongs.
Clarke – who came through the ranks at Leeds United before signing for Tottenham – admitted Sunderland are ‘right up there’ as the biggest club he’s been part of.
He went on: ““As you can see today 46,000, meant to be League One – now the Championship – and it’s only going to get bigger and better here so it’s right up there.”