sensational ace want to call it off at 28 says Sunderland fixture….
Jess Clarke will be taking a step back from full-time, first-team football following this weekend’s fixture with Sunderland.
The forward has been offered an exciting opportunity outside of football in a field she is extremely passionate about, meaning she will be unable to commit to the club’s full-time training model.
However, Jess has expressed a desire to remain involved in the club and in football – which the club will support and fulfil in-house.
Speaking about her decision, the forward said: “I’ve been offered a job role in a field I’ve worked in before and it is something I’ve always wanted to pursue.
“It’s something that allows me to have a career path after football. It was a very difficult decision, but I had to be realistic and look at life after football.
“Durham will always be in my heart and I’m glad it’s not a complete goodbye and I can stay involved and support the club and the girls.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time at Durham and I’m so grateful to the club. When I first spoke about coming here I thought I’d fit in to the group and it sounded like it would be the right environment for me, and when I arrived it was everything I thought it would be.
“You could see I was enjoying my football and scoring goals and I absolutely loved it. The girls made me feel so welcome and I’ll be forever grateful for that because prior to that, I did fall out of love with football.
“The fans have been absolutely fantastic with me as well. The love and support they’ve given has encouraged me even more.
“So thank you to them, and thank you to Durham, for helping me love the game again.”
Head of Football, Lee Sanders, added: “After Jess came to see me a few weeks ago to discuss the opportunity that had been presented to her – earlier than maybe she had anticipated – there was no hesitation to support her with the transition as she enters the latter stages of her career.
“During her time at the club, she has been a fantastic teammate to everyone in the squad and has really bought into the ethos of the club.
“We’ve got some great players at the club and have had some great players in the past, and if a decade ago you’d have said Durham would sign a player of Jess’s calibre given her standing in the game, I wouldn’t have believed it at the time. She’s had a wonderful career at international level, the WSL and in the Women’s Premier League before that.
“Jess will still be around the club as much as her work schedule allows, and we’ll support her in-house with her football.
“On behalf of everyone at the football club, I’d like to thank Jess for her effort, goals and overall contribution since joining.”
Everyone at Durham Women cannot thank Jess enough for the impact she has made on and off the field since her arrival, and we look forward to supporting her as she embarks on this exciting new chapter.
