Ex Files - Sean McClare
Saturday, 28th Jul 2007 08:47

We've added Sean McClare to our archives and raved about his goal scoring. Not really.

Player Profile: Sean McClare

Name	Sean McClare
Position	Central Midfielder
Date of Birth	12th January 1978
Born	Rotherham
Height	5'9
Weight	11'6
Signed for Dale -1	Barnsley - 22.03.00
Fee	Loan
Signed for Dale -2	Port Vale - 23.07.03
Fee	Free Transfer
Debut	Dale 3 Carlisle 2 - 25.03.00
Other Clubs	Barnsley Port Vale Halifax Bradford Park Avenue Scarboro
Left Spotland	10.05.04

Dale Stats

	League			Cup			Total
Season	App	Sub	Goals	App	Sub	Goals	App	Sub	Goals
2003-2004	33	5	0	3	0	0	36	5	0
1999-2000	5	4	0	0	0	0	5	4	0
Total	38	9	0	3	0	0	41	9	0

Midfielder McClare is one of a unique number of footballers who have had two different spells at Spotland. He began his career at Barnsley, making his full debut for the side in1998-99, going on to make forty appearances for the then First Division club, most of which were from the starting eleven. His second full season with the Oakwell side wasn't as easy following the appointment of Dave Bassett as manager, and the change in tactics that would bring.

It was during this second season with Barnsley, that his first spell with Dale happened. His first spell came as a loan player from Barnsley back in the 1999-2000 season, when Steve Parkin drafted him in to aid our flagging play off push. During his nine game spell for Dale, he did relatively well, but failed to get onto the scoresheet, despite getting into some great positions. A good passer of the football, he looked a pretty exciting player. He left Barnsley during the 2001-2 season, after a successful loan spell at Port Vale, who then stepped in to sign the Rotherham born midfielder on a permanent basis.

He spent a year and a half at Vale Park, making nearly fifty appearances for the Midlands club before being released on a free transfer at the end of the 2002-3 season. Following his release from Vale, he returned to Spotland, when manager Alan Buckley invited him for a trial with the club. After impressing in pre-season, he was rewarded with a one year deal. He looked to be the sort of player who would fit in well with Buckley's "on the floor" style of play.

It started off well for McClare, with his passing football showing signs of potential, and when Robert Betts was placed alongside him in the middle, there were real progress on the pitch, with the two complimenting each other perfectly. However, when Betts departed for Kidderminster, things started to go downhill.

The first warning signs were there when it became clear that McClare had some sort of shooting phobia, trying to pass the ball into the back of the net on several occasions rather than actually pulling the trigger. There were also questions raised about whether he was the sort of player to roll his sleeves up and help grind out results when things were starting going wrong on the field, despite picking up a sending off at Southend for an outrageous two footed challenge.

As the season progressed, McClare became more and more of a fringe player, with Jones and Warner taking over the mantle as the central midfield partnership, though the switch to 4-5-1 at the end saw some later appearances. However, it was no surprise when McClare was released at the end of the 2003-4 season.