| Darrell Clarke joined Dale on a half season long loan from Hartlepool United in the Summer of 2006. With funds low on the ground, then manager Steve Parkin had to scratch around to bring in loan players, and Clarke fitted the bill. He was predominantly a right sided midfielder who had played for Parkin previously at Mansfield Town. He had moved on for £80,000 to have a successful time with Hartlepool United before suffering a particularly nasty injury which pretty much ruled him out of action for quite some time.
But that injury seemed to have affected much more than he would have wanted. All reports from Hartlepool had been that he was a good player when he was fit. Unfortunately, that injury he had suffered prevented us from seeing the player that he had been as he looked a shadow of his former self.
He made a total of twelve appearances for Dale during his loan spell, though he did suffer a bit with a change of tactics from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 in which he didn't really fit in with so for many games he was left sat on the sidelines.
He scored one goal during his time with us, which came in an away defeat to Barnet. He was well thought of at Spotland, certainly in the dressing room, but he couldn't quite cut in on the pitch any more and he returned to Hartlepool following the end of his loan spell for a continued spell on the sidelines.
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