I received some very sad news last week when I was informed of the passing of former Linnet David Clarke, following a recent spell of ill health.

Dave played for Lynn in the late 60s and early 70s, having previously played for the likes of Notts County.

Dave then also had a spell at neighbours Wisbech Town, both as a player and manager, where, just as he did at The Walks, he racked up numerous appearances along with many goals.

A winger by trade, I’ve seen many refer to the great pace he had as a player, as well as his eye for goal, which saw him score countless important goals for every team he played for.

Unfortunately for me, I was too young to have enjoyed watching Dave in his playing days, but I do count myself as being very fortunate and lucky to have known him after his playing days had come to an end.

When I began my involvement with Lynn Football Club in the late 90s, Dave wrote an article in the matchday programme, which at that time was edited by another outstanding football administrator for both Wisbech Town and King’s Lynn, in the shape of Martin Davis, who also sadly passed away a few years ago now.

Martin was always busy with football matters (he was also club secretary at the time), so he asked me to help him with the programme to ease some of the burden from his shoulders.

I willingly agreed, and among the jobs I was tasked with was collecting Dave’s musings and ensuring they ended up with the printer ahead of the printing deadline.

From my first meeting with him, I knew I was in the company of a very special man and one who knew his football inside out. He simply lived for the game and all it stands for, for so many people.

One thing that struck me was his understanding of the game from a technical point of view, something he would have put to good use in his spells of both coaching and managing following the conclusion of his playing days.

He was also a great Linnets supporter and, until recent years, rarely missed a home game, living every moment of the rollercoaster ride of supporting a football club: the winning, the losing and the eternal hope every supporter has for their team.

The articles he wrote back then were thoughtful, considered and dignified, just like the man himself, and something you never passed over without reading and taking in those brilliantly written words which, if you knew him, you could almost hear him saying!

He was also very generous with his praise of those who worked behind the scenes at that time and appreciated all of the work put in by so many back then.

To back that statement up, when speaking of Dave’s passing this week with a friend, they stated that he “didn’t have a bad bone in his body”, a statement that is 100% factually true.

In recent times, Dave’s health hasn’t been the best, especially these last few weeks, which I know has been heartbreaking for his family and friends.

I will remember Dave first and foremost as a gentleman, a friend and a great support, with an infectious personality you simply couldn’t help but like.

I hope, in general terms, he will also be remembered by everyone as a true Linnets legend, alongside the likes of Mick Wright, Keith Rudd and Malcolm Lindsay, to name but three.

RIP David Clarke.

If there is such a thing in football as a routine win, then King’s Lynn Town pretty much gave a dictionary description of it in the 2-0 weekend success over Spennymoor at the Docherty Walks Stadium.

The Linnets, for the most part, kept their long-distance visitors at arm’s length, and goals in either half from Kwame Thomas (penalty) and a Ross Crane rocket confirmed their superiority on the day, as well as providing a pick-me-up tonic for Paul Caddis, who missed the game through illness.

Those kinds of things can sometimes upset a team, but Caddis’ deputy, Adam Rooney, proved a more than adequate replacement as Lynn built on the previous week’s win at Hereford and kept another clean sheet to boot.

For the first time in a few seasons, Lynn are blessed with a few scoring options, and it’s pleasing to see Thomas add another goal to his tally and Crane back amongst the goals following his return from injury.

For me, the latter is a huge player for Lynn and, just like Jesse Nwabueze, his pace and direct running will cause defenders problems all day long.

If he can keep away from injury problems, he has a huge part to play in the coming weeks and months, when every one of Caddis’ squad will be needed with games coming thick and fast.

The three points collected by Lynn on Saturday kept them in the play-off places at the time of writing, with five of the eight play-off spots occupied by clubs all on 27 points.

The coming weekend sees a break from National League North football, with the FA Trophy taking centre stage as the Linnets host Southern League Stourbridge in the second round proper of the competition.

On paper, the game looks to provide Town with an ideal opportunity to progress to the next round of this season’s Trophy against a mid-table team from a league lower than themselves, but they will need to be wary against a team who, before the weekend, had won three consecutive games before losing 4-1 to Needham Market.

In previous seasons, some Lynn managers have decided to rotate their squads, giving opportunities to players to get some minutes on the pitch who had either been injured or been regular bench-sitters in recent weeks.

Caddis may do similar, with one eye on upcoming league games against the likes of Morecambe, Macclesfield and South Shields, or he may decide to stick with a similar starting line-up to the one that has begun building momentum again following the Worksop defeat a few weeks ago.

Whatever he decides to do, he should be able to name a strong starting eleven for the game, where the winning team will receive £3,750 in prize money.

Saturday’s game will see a winner on the day, with the game going straight to a penalty shoot-out if the scores are level after 90 minutes, as extra time and replays are now not used in the competition.