Ashley Clarke

An AFC Bournemouth U18s forward who joined AFC Totton on loan ahead of the Southern League's 2023/24 transfer deadline.

Born on the Isle of Wight in September 2005, the direct attacker, who can play on either wing or as a central striker, played grassroots football in Portsmouth before joining The Cherries in July 2021 and going on to earn a scholarship in April 2022.

The name Ashley Clarke has been no stranger to the scoresheet this season, with the young forward racking up 14 goals and providing four assists by mid-January, during AFC Bournemouth U18s’ maiden Category Two season. Amongst that total were both goals in the 2-0 FA Youth Cup Fourth Round win against West Bromwich Albion, and the opening goal in an impressive 5-0 victory over Newcastle United on the hallowed turf of St. James’ Park in the subsequent round.

Clarke has also featured for The Cherries’ U21 Development Squad this season, bagging the first goal in the 5-1 win over their Wolverhampton Wanderers counterparts in a Premier League Cup match at Eastleigh’s Silverlake Stadium in January.

He was not involved in the Servio Hampshire Senior Cup Semi-Final squad that lost 1-3 to AFC Totton at the Snows Stadium in March, when goals from Joan Luque, Scott Rendell and Luke Hallett won the day for The Stags.

Ashley Clarke is sponsored by the AFC Totton Development Programme