Other than their credentials, the only stipulation for joining the Hall of Fame is that the individual must have finished their playing career or be aged over 30 and have played or managed in England for at least five years.

Clarke's induction into the 122 strong field thus further represents the growing profile of Paralympic athletes on British shores.

The 42-year-old scored 128 international goals in 144 appearances in a career which included competing at both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games.

In Bejing Clarke's team finished fifth while in London they placed seventh where, despite his veteran status, Clarke scored two of Britain's four goals in the tournament in what turned out to be his final competition before retirement. 

He has also won five silver medals at World and European Championships and claimed the "Golden Boot" award at three separate European Championships.

Dave Clarke about to score against Spain in the opening match of the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London









Others to be inducted alongside Clarke were Peter Schmeichel, the legendary Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper,and Southampton and England striker Matt Le Tissier.

Completing the lineup were a combination of other male and female players as well as one referee, and Clarke was understandably delighted to be in such esteemed company:

"When I was born in 1970, there was no opportunity to play football as a blind person for your club, school, district county or your country," he told Disability Now.

"Then having worked for 17 years on and off the pitch to get the sport recognised as a Paralympic sport and then by the English FA and UK Sport, to have retired and to look back on that is great for me.

"But to have someone recognise my influence with something as mainstream as the Hall of Fame, and going in there with Peter Schmeichel and Matt Le Tissier is unbelievable."
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