Dr. Denis Clarke
Our Chairman has become even more distinguished after being conferred with a Doctorate from the University.
The citation from our Head of Sport, Karl Oakes, was excellent:
“What’s your mental picture of the chairman of a football club? Maybe it’s a rich businessman with a cigar and a sheepskin coat. Or maybe an oligarch, tanned and toned, relaxing on his yacht.
“Let me invite you to consider an alternative image. The picture that comes to my mind is of a modest man, a man of integrity, a man of commitment, dedication and staying power– the man who’s been Chairman of Queen’s University soccer club for the past 51 years.
“That’s Denis Clarke, our Honorary Graduand today.
“Denis is a Queen’s man through and through. He became a student in 1964 and joined the soccer club in 1966. That was the year when everybody’s head was full of football, of course, after England became world champions – so it’s appropriate that we’re honouring Denis in 2022, the year of another World Cup.
“As well as playing, Denis also developed an interest in the organisational side and became, first, secretary of the club and then treasurer. And he represented his university in squash, cricket and snooker too.
“Denis studied at Queen’s - His academic path led to a Bachelor of Science in applied mathematics and a diploma in computer science and numerical maths. Denis went on to work at Queen’s which led to a job as a programmer in what is now known as Information Services – and he would spend the rest of his career at Queen’s University until he retired as a Senior Systems Analyst in 2012.
“But it was in 1971 that his real work began! He became Chairman of the soccer club, a role he has fulfilled ever since through many ups and downs and enormous changes in the way the game is managed and played.
“For Denis, it’s not just about winning – it’s how you win. He’s a man with a deep sense of fair play – something that he passes on to those around him.
“As Chairman, he manages all operations and communications, both internal and external. He is a wonderful ambassador for the club and the university. He sits on the committee of the Northern Ireland Football League and the Irish Universities Union and has organised the Irish Universities football tournaments for more than 40 years.
“So what about results? The club itself was established in 1910 – Denis wasn’t around then! – but I think it’s fair to say that the last few years have been the real glory days.
“In 2018, Queen’s secured its first trophy outside university football by winning the Irish FA Intermediate Cup Final, beating Dundela 4-1.
“We were Intermediate League winners in 2019. We’ve won the Irish universities blue ribbon trophy the Collingwood Cup several times, narrowly losing the final to UCD in 2018 and again in 2022.
“We secured senior Irish League football for the first time in our history. And as Denis will tell you, the day that made all his hard work over the years worthwhile was January 4 2020 when Queen’s (yes Queen’s!) beat Linfield 2-1 in the fifth round of the Irish Cup.
“It’s not easy being the chairman of a university club competing in an arena where there are increasingly expensive transfers and wages. Nevertheless Denis is determined that we stick firmly to the principle that a high percentage of our players should be students or former students.
“Under Denis’s guidance, the club continues to develop. There’s the growth of the women’s game with a new team recently established taking part in the College University Football League Division 1 for the first time in 21-22. Maybe some day our students will go on to achieve National representation – and we wish Northern Ireland Women’s Team the very best for tonight’s European Championship opener against Norway.
“Sustaining a club in a semi-professional environment of the Irish league backboned by students and bolstering our formidable reputation in fostering new player’s season after season are also a credit to Denis’s work.
“I found a website the other day that’s a database of football chairpersons. I looked Denis up. It said
Name – Denis Clarke.
Contracted club – Queen’s University.
Club job – Chairman.
Wage – Well, that space was empty.
“Denis Clarke’s contribution to the life of this university has been priceless. And today we give him our thanks.
“And so, Pro-Vice-Chancellor with the authority of the Senate, I ask you to confer on Denis Clarke the degree of Doctor of the University honoris causa.”
