Marty Clarke leaves Collingwood for Ireland

Down-man Marty Clarke has ended the speculation over his future by revealing that he will leave Collingwood FC for Ireland.

The 24-year-old will pursue a teaching career and play Gaelic Football for Down.

He becomes the fourth Irishman to abandon AFL for Ireland in the past year after Tadhg Kennelly, Brendan Murphy and Michael Shields.

Here is the open letter he wrote to Collingwood fans explaining his decision:

After three wonderful years in Australia with Collingwood, I have decided to return to Ireland. From the very first day Derek Hine (National Recruiting Manager) came to my house on the north east coast of Ireland, in his black and white Magpie jacket, I knew that Collingwood was a special organisation. 

After a four week trial at the Lexus Centre in July 2006, I decided to come and try and be part of the club’s huge tradition. The high-tech facilities, daily training, the chance to be professional, and the club’s home ground all represented utter quality. But the deciding factor in my decision to leave friends, family, the Gaelic Athletic Association and life in Ireland behind was the quality of the people who made up the heart of the club. 

Everyone from Eddie McGuire, Mick Malthouse and Nathan Buckley to the youngest one-eyed supporter on the street treated me with a lot of respect. The fact that such a huge organisation could feel so personal was hard to believe and a credit to the club.

The challenges I faced when I first came over were huge. With the help of fitness and development coaches my progress was fast tracked and I was able to play my first game of AFL in Round 12, 2007. I pulled on the famous black and white stripes a further 45 times and I am proud of how I represented the club on each occasion. Playing with Collingwood helped me truly understand the beauty of being part of team sport. 

My decision to return home was not an easy one. But I simply miss my home and the people close to me too much. I also have a burning desire to be a teacher and I want to start that stage of my life as soon as possible. 

I am also looking forward to playing Gaelic football again. I strongly believe my best moments of my sporting life are ahead of me and at this stage and I want to show them on the GAA stage. 

The latter stages of this year were forgettable ones on a football level. I suppose the uncertainty in my mind didn’t help. 

I hope I provided the fans with some good memories and I would like to thank you for all your support. 

I would like to thank Derek Hine and his wonderful family for their love and support over the past three years. I would like to thank all the coaching staff who each contributed to my development in no small way. All the backroom staff and volunteers who made the biggest sporting club in Australia seem like my local team in County Down.

And finally I’d like to thank all my teammates. The memories of running out to play with you in big games will remain with me for a long time. I have no doubt that I will be reading about a Premiership success in the very close future. 

Led by a great coach and a magnificent captain I wish you boys and the whole club every happiness in the future. 
Thank you Collingwood. 

Slan Go Foill, 

Marty C

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