Matty Clarke has become the fourth member of last season’s Workington Reds squad to leave the Borough Park club.
He follows Ruben Jerome, Charlie Birch and Ben Hughes in making the decision to move on, although it has not been announced where he will be playing next season.
Clarke became a popular member of the Workington squad in his four years at the club, although he was not a regular choice in the season just ended.
He joined the club a month into the 2019/20 season, having previously played for Kendal Town and Bradford Park Avenue.
Although his first two seasons with Reds were interrupted by Covid he was an ever-present in the 2021/22 season making 42 appearances.
He only ever scored two goals in his time at the Reds – at Newcastle Town and then a superb effort in the 1-1 home draw with champions Warrington Rylands which was voted Goal of the Season.
Although he had lost his regular starting spot towards the end of the season Clarke did play in the Cumberland Cup final at Brunton Park when Reds beat Penrith 9-1.
He said: “After four unbelievable years with Reds my time is up. I have loved my time at the club and will be forever grateful to Workington and Danny for all of the opportunities they have give me.
“I have special memories that I will take with me, but nothing will beat the feeling we had when we finally got our deserved promotion this season after narrowly missing out in previous years and the celebrations to go with it.
“The support that has been shown to me has been class. I feel the time has come for a new challenge and one I’m looking forward to. Thank you for everything.”
Manager Danny Grainger said: “Matty is a player I liked from the first time I saw him and that was the reason I was so keen to sign him up and he became a huge part of our success in my first couple of seasons, and again last season.
“Matty has been a huge part of the success we have achieved and we want to wish him nothing but good luck in the next part of his own career wherever that may take him.”
