AFC Totton
| Nationality | British |
|---|---|
| Date signed | 4th Apr 2024 |
| Debut | vs Tiverton Town (Home), SLPDS, Sat 06 Apr 2024 |
| Previous clubs | AFC Bournemouth |
| Sponsor | Available to Sponsor |
YOUNG AFC BOURNEMOUTH striker Ashley Clarke has returned to AFC Totton on loan for a second spell with The Stags, having first joined the club on loan during the latter half of the 2023/24 campaign.
He featured at the Snows Stadium again in September 2024, as part of the AFC Bournemouth side that knocked Totton out of the Servio Hampshire Senior Cup at the Second Round stage. Ash contributed two goals on the night to play his part in a scintillating display of attacking football that saw the young Cherries side triumph 4-1.
Born on the Isle of Wight in September 2025, the direct attacker, who can play on either flank or as a central striker, played grassroots football in Portsmouth as a child before joining AFC Bournemouth in July 2021 and going on to earn a scholarship.
A regular goalscorer in Bournemouth’s U18s and Development Squad, Ash registered 16 goals and six assists in the club’s inaugural season in the Professional Development League.
He made his second AFC Totton debut as a half-time substitute during the Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying victory over Merthyr Town at the Snows Stadium in October 2024, where his ability to run at players at pace caused The Martyrs’ defence several problems, despite their numerical supremacy following the first-half dismissal of Charlie Kennedy.
Totton’s winning goal came about in no small part due to Clarke quickly advancing the play up the left wing, before switching it to the right where Declan Rose and Luke Bennett did the rest to fashion the one goalscoring chance that Charlie Austin needed to head The Stags into the First Round Proper.
The following week, Ash scored his first AFC Totton goal in a 2-0 win over Hanwell Town and he stepped off the bench to grab another in the 5-1 thrashing of Taunton Town on 22 October.
Often called upon to represent the AFC Bournemouth Development Squad, Stags boss Jimmy Ball has not had Ash available quite as much as he may have liked but he will be hoping to have this exciting attacking talent among his options during the end of season run-in.
