Leon Clarke has spoken out about his controversial move to Sheffield United, six years after he left Sheffield Wednesday.
Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, the striker claimed he had ‘little hesitancy’ about moving to Bramall Lane.
Leon Clarke joined Sheffield Wednesday from Wolves in 2007, where he made only five substitute appearances before he was sent out on back-to-back loan spells with Oldham Athletic and Southend United.
The forward managed only 18 goals and six assists in 87 appearances for the Owls, before he was released in 2010 following their relegation to League One.
After spending time with the likes of QPR, Charlton Athletic and Coventry City, Clarke eventually returned to Sheffield with the Blades. He spent four years there and won two promotions.
Clarke is particularly disliked at Hillsborough after his move to Chris Wilder’s side, though he has claimed he ‘knew’ he had to join United after speaking to the manager.
He said: “It was spoken about. There was a little hesitancy from myself to join, I knew there was going to be a backlash from Sheffield United fans and from Sheffield Wednesday fans. I spoke to Chris Wilder and Alan Knill about it.
“Chris Wilder was really good with me, he was just really honest. He said ‘if you try your hardest, these fans will back you, win lose or draw, scoring goals or not’. He said if I show them 110 per cent then they’d be on my side and back me. Once he said that, I knew what I had to do.”
Leon Clarke hadn’t understood the ‘magnitude’ of the rivalry
Leon Clarke knew the backlash he was going to receive from the switch, but it wasn’t until he participated in a Steel City derby as a Sheffield United player, that he really understood how big it was.
“I played in one [derby] at Sheffield United and I played in one at Sheffield Wednesday,” Clarke continued.
“The Sheffield Wednesday one, I don’t remember the atmosphere being that electric.
“When I’d made the move to Sheffield United, we played Sheffield Wednesday and it kind of dawned on me how big the game actually was.
“It was when we arrived at the stadium. I think it was me and Ched [Evans], we spoke to each other and said ‘shall we get off the coach together?’. We knew we were both going to be in the firing line. I don’t really wear AirPods or anything like that on my way to a game but I had mine in and I was listening to music.
“I could hear people giving me abuse, giving Ched abuse. It dawned on me, the magnitude of how big the game actually was.”
Clarke went onto play for a further five clubs following his departure from Bramall Lane, and is now plying his trade in the Southern League Premier Divison Central with Kettering Town.