Between 2023 and 2025, the National Football Museum worked with representatives from across football’s Black heritage community to co-curate Black in the Game, our critiically acclaimed Score Gallery exhibition.
On display from October 2025 to March this year, it celebrated Black excellence in English football, showcasing the cultural impact, unique achievements and untold stories of African and Caribbean communities within the English game. The exhibition steering group collectively decided which objects and stories to feature – but sadly, there was not enough room to feature every story within the physical space.
With that in mind, our curator Marek Romaniszyn has looked at objects from the careers of three Black Lionesses, telling their stories via our website.
Known for her lightening pace, technical versatility, and attacking flair, Yorkshire-born Jess Clarke was a dynamic forward with a strong work ethic to match.
During her early career, the exciting young talent played for Leeds United Women. There she started her first Women’s FA Cup final in 2006, at the tender age of just 16 years old. Unfortunately, Leeds lost the match 5-0 to a dominant Arsenal Ladies side, who they would then meet in Clarke’s and the club’s second Women’s FA Cup Final in 2008.
The Gunners side proved too strong again, but Clarke scored a consolation goal in the 4-1 defeat. Later that same year, Clarke’s hometown club were forced to change their name to Leeds Carnegie Ladies, as Leeds United withdrew their funding for the women’s team.
Clarke had represented England at several age groups before making her senior debut in the 6-0 first group game win over South Africa at the 2009 Cyprus Cup. She rapidly continued her international progression by scoring in the 3-0 final group game win over Scotland and was ultimately part of the successful squad which went on to win the tournament for the first time.
The skilful forward then featured for England at the 2009 Women’s EUROs, starting in the dramatic 2-1 semi-final victory over the Netherlands. England sadly lost the final to Germany 6-2, but Clarke was part of the team to make history by reaching the final for the first time since 1984.
Against the backdrop of ongoing financial adversity at club level, Clarke and her Leeds team won their first major silverware in 2010, defeating Everton Women 3-1 to lift the FA Women’s Premier League Cup. Shortly after, she left Leeds to join Lincoln Ladies, featuring in the inaugural season of the FA Women’s Super League. In 2014, the Lincoln club crossed the border and became Notts County Ladies. It was during that season Clarke was nominated for FA Women’s Players’ Player of the Season.
Clarke and England would again make their mark in 2013 by lifting the Cyprus Cup for a second time. Clarke made an impact by scoring in the 4-2 win over Italy in the first group game, and then more importantly she set up the winner in the final. Coming on as a substitute against Canada, she skilfully evaded her marker and crossed the ball towards the box, where Rachel Yankey volleyed home the winning goal.
Clarke’s international achievements are strongly represented in this away shirt she wore during the 2013 Cyprus Cup final group game 3-1 win over New Zealand. She went on to collect a total of 51 caps for her country, scoring eleven times, and played her final international game against Bosnia in 2015.
After seven years at Notts County Ladies, the club sadly folded in 2017. Clarke moved on to enjoy spells at Liverpool Women, Sheffield United Women and Durham Women, before taking a step back from football in 2023.