Jonson Clarke-Harris is all that Peterborough United would have wanted after the departure of Ivan Toney last summer. 

It's been a rollercoaster career so far, but it's only getting started.

The 26-year-old returned to the club at the start of the season seven years after he first signed - where he didn't even get a game.

  • His journey

When he was 15, a Coventry City scout spotted him playing for his local side - Beaumont Town on a Sunday morning, and just a year later he became the youngest ever debutant at the Sky Blues, at 16 years and 20 days old. However, it wasn't always positive at Coventry, he wasn't offered a professional contract and was released at the age of 18. 

He then signed for Posh, where he didn't make a single appearance for them in a disappointing few months where he was shipped out on loan to Southend United, later he was sent to Bury, where he returned four goals in 12 games.

On what was becoming a rocky road, with the striker not seeming to settle anywhere, he signed for Rotherham United - he was there for four years and he only scored nine times, in 71 appearances. Again, he was sent out on loan to MK Dons and Doncaster Rovers, where once again he failed to impress. In the final season of his United career, he suffered a damaging ACL injury that kept him out of action for months. 

In January 2018, after four years on The Millers' books, Coventry wanted him on loan - he joined until the end of the season and impressed Mark Robins. The former centre-half turned striker was given a permanent deal at the East Midlands side. 

Again, this wasn't a fruitful spell as such and one year later he joined Bristol Rovers where he really started to flourish. He was banging in goals left, right and centre. He picked up multiple goal and player of the month awards. His career was finally falling into place at 24 - after what must have felt like years and years of setbacks. 

After many lost years in the football league signing for clubs here and there, Clarke-Harris impressed at Rovers last season, scoring 24 goals in 42 games for the Gas. This earned him a move to Peterborough, and from there on he has became a cult hero. The rest is history. 

Onwards and upwards 

The Leicester born striker has received multiple awards for his performances this season. His 31 league goals certainly didn't go un-noticed and he was announced as the Sky Bet League One Player of the Year, as well as taking home the Golden Boot trophy. He has scored an impressive two hat-tricks and five braces this season. On top of all of this - his side also have been promoted to the Championship after finishing runners up to Hull City, ending their eight year absence from the second tier. Two days after winning the POTY award, he scored a brace, including a 96th minute penalty against Lincoln City to secure their promotion - after being 3-0 down, they drew 3-3.

From Beaumont Town in Leicester, to scoring the goal to send his side to the Championship in the most dramatic of style. The Englishman will be rearing and ready to go and show the world what he can do next season.

VAVEL Logo
About the author