Ex-Wolves player Leon Clarke tells of sorrow and loss after father dies following pub attack

Darel Clarke, father of former Wolves footballer Leon Clarke, suffered head injuries in the attack, in the outside area of The Boat pub in Wednesfield, at around 10.30pm on New Year's Eve.

Leon asked for privacy for his family after the tragedy saying: "My dad has passed away and my family are very sad about the loss and we just want to grieve in our own time." He declined to comment further.

After the attack at the Church Street pub, near St Thomas' CofE Church, Mr Clarke was said to have made his way to the Royal Tiger Pub just down the road where an ambulance was called. He died in New Cross Hospital on Saturday.

Following his death, police launched a murder investigation.

A source close to the family said that Leon Clarke had been estranged from his father for over a decade.

Clarke is now on the books of League One side Bury and is their top goalscorer. In a statement the club said: "Bury Football Club are aware of an incident over the weekend that brought the unfortunate death of Leon Clarke's father.

"As a club we extend our deepest sympathies towards Leon and the Clarke family.

"Leon will be allowed the time to grieve and will receive the full support of everyone at the football club during this difficult time."

Leon Clarke played 87 minutes of an away League game for Bury at Fleetwood on Saturday.

Wolves have also paid their condolences to the family of Mr Clarke.

Donna Wilkinson, licensee at The Boat, said family members were at Mr Clarke's bedside when he died in hospital and drove to the pub immediately afterwards to see where the attack had taken place.

The family group, which included his mother, two brothers, two sisters and his daughter and her partner, were shown the outside decking area, where he had been struck.

She said: "It was an emotional visit. His mother, in particular, wanted to see where it had happened. Everyone was very tearful. The atmosphere in the pub was quite tense because Darel had only just died, and everyone was very respectful of the fact. We took them to a table a little bit away from people so they could have some privacy."

She said that although Mr Clarke was not a regular at the pub, he was well known in the area. In recent weeks he had been sleeping on people's sofas following the end of a relationship.

She said: "He used to ride around Wednesfield on his bike. He was pleasant enough and quite chatty. He'd recently spent a couple of weeks at a friend's place after splitting up with his partner."

She said he had been the victim of an attack on the previous New Year's Eve and was in a coma for several weeks. "He was told he was lucky to still be alive. It's hard to believe this has happened again," she said.

Neighbours in West Avenue, where Mr Clarke used to live, spoke about him. His ex-partner Anne Marie Carter said: "He was a brilliant dad, no matter what anyone else says."

Linda Wooley, who has lived in West Avenue for 10 years, said: "He used to help us with the garden. He always asked us if there was anything we wanted doing. He absolutely idolised his kids. It's really sad."

Another man, who didn't want to be named, added: "He was a neighbour of ours for five years. I don't think he's had much contact with Leon for years. I'm sorry to hear he's been killed."

Bouquets of flowers from friends have been left at the scene in memory of the tragic Mr Clarke.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault on Saturday. He has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Leon Clarke, 30, played for 11 different clubs - including Coventry City - after leaving Molineux for the first time in 2007, making over 100 appearances in two spells.

Bury signed Clarke on a three-year contract last July after his release from his hometown club.

Twitter users have sent their sympathies to Leon Clarke: