Toughest year for Motherwell striker Clarkson

Dec 31 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL striker David Clarkson this week revealed the past 12 months have been the toughest of his life since the tragic death of his uncle, former ‘Well skipper Phil O’Donnell.

The 35-year-old midfielder, known affectionately as ‘Uncle Phil’ by not only Clarkson, but everyone associated with the Lanarkshire club, died of left ventricular failure on December 29 last year, less than an hour after collapsing on the pitch whilst playing for Motherwell in a scintillating Premier League victory against Dundee United.

On Saturday, before, during and after Motherwell’s 3-2 victory over Inverness at Fir Park, various tributes marked the first anniversary of his death which sent shock waves throughout the footballing community all over the world.

And Clarkson admits that, 12 months on, he thinks about the footballer, friend and uncle, who scored a diving header for Motherwell in their 1991 Scottish Cup win over Dundee United, every day of his life.

“I think about Phil all the time – when I walk into the dressing room before training and every Saturday before the game,” he said.

“I think about what he would be saying to me, what would he be doing now?

“I don’t know about the other boys but he is obviously going to be in my thoughts. We spent lots of years together so he will never leave my memory.”

The Scotland international continued: “The peg in the dressing room where Phil’s stuff would hang isn’t empty any more – but I know where he sat and seeing it when I come in every day is something I have had to deal with.

“That’s the same for the other boys as well.

“Sometimes I can take strength from it knowing he would be looking down on me, wanting me to do him proud.”

During that tragic day, Motherwell had put on one of their best displays of recent seasons defeating Dundee United 5-3 at Fir Park.

In a whirlwind start the home side were three-nil up inside 17 minutes before Clarkson grabbed himself a brace just before the hour mark.

Shortly after O’Donnell left the field for the last time. Clarkson himself was substituted as he struggled to cope with the worrying nature of the way his uncle collapsed whilst standing alone on the pitch.

“That whole day is a blur and afterwards the days seemed to run into one,” he continued.

“The game didn’t matter, I didn’t know how the score finished and wasn’t interested.

“That is the same for most players – they couldn’t remember who scored.

“However, one of the things we all remember was that we were playing the best football we had ever produced and everyone was enjoying it.”