West Brom legend Tony 'Bomber' Brown pays tribute to Clive Clark
Albion legend Tony Brown today led the tributes to "priceless" Hawthorns hero Clive Clark following his death at the age of 73.
The FA Cup-winning winger passed away at a nursing home in Scarborough following a long illness. Baggies icon Brown today hailed the talents of Clark, who was known to team-mates as 'Chippy'.
The diminutive wideman, who was once Albion's £20,000 record signing, played in three cup finals for the club in as many years, winning the League Cup in 1966 and the FA Cup in 1968 and losing the 1967 League Cup final to QPR, where he had started his career.
Brown, the Baggies' record appearance-maker and record goalscorer, said: "I was so sad when I heard the news. He was such a great lad and a really terrific player – a great player in fact.
"Chippy was in the team when I made my debut and I was lucky enough to play with him for a few years, including that FA Cup win in 1968. He had speed and skill and was as brave as a lion because he was small and defenders used to kick him all over the place, but he never shied away from any of it.
"You could rely on him for 10 or 15 goals a season. There is no-one around today who plays like Chippy. He was an old-fashioned winger who would stay on the wing and get crosses in, and in the team we played that was crucial as Jeff Astle would either head the crosses in or knock them down for me. I dread to think what Chippy would be worth today. You couldn't put a price on him."
Clark made 351 starts and two substitute appearances for Albion and scored 98 goals during eight years at The Hawthorns after moving from QPR in 1961.
He scored in the 1966 League Cup Final victory over two legs against West Ham and the following season he topped the club's scoring chart with 29 goals.
