Clarke focused on football

Grimsby defender Jamie Clarke is looking forward to concentrating on his football.

Last season the 24-year-old was a member of the Boston United side that endured months of off-pitch instability which culminated in players not being paid and the club eventually losing their Football League status on the final day of the season.

"It's great to be at a proper football club," he said this week as the Mariners kicked off their pre-season schedule.

"During the week at Boston, it was so hard to concentrate on the matches coming up at the weekend because there was so much going on with missed wages and no training.

"You'd look around the dressing room and see a bunch of lads down to the bare bones, so it's nice to come back after the summer to a club that's organised.

"We turn up at a proper training ground and concentrate on football - even getting dinner afterwards is new to me."

With Boston having reneged on Clarke's contract, Grimsby boss Alan Buckley picked up the experienced former Mansfield and Rochdale man for nothing, and much is expected of the versatile defender who may be charged with filling the boots of retired club legend John McDermott.

"John McDermott is a legend throughout the game really. When you think of how many one-club men there are these days, it just shows how loyal he was.

"They are big boots to fill but if I can be half as successful as John was at Grimsby, I'll be doing well."