David Alan Clarke is an English retired footballer who played predominantly at left back but also in midfield. Clarke began his career as an apprentice with Notts County, a club his father had appeared for in the 1960s. On 6 October 1982, he made his debut for the Magpies as a goalscoring substitute in a Football League Cup tie away to Aston Villa and went on to make 16 appearances that season in the then First Division of the Football League. He would go on to play a further four seasons for Notts County, the highlight being the 1983–84 season when he was called up for the England Youth team.