Liam Hogan: Peter Clarke leaves a legacy at Oldham Athletic

The club legend played in an Oldham Athletic shirt for the final time this weekend, coming onto the pitch to a rapturous reception as a second half substitute for Mike Fondop, and leaving it with a lap of appreciation and guard of honour.

There were tributes paid to the 41-year-old throughout the day, with the Athleticos unfurling a banner that read CAPTAIN LEADER LEGEND, above which was displayed a captain's armband ahead of kick-off against Bromley on the final game of the season.

Clarke has played 16 times in all competitions, including his 900th career appearance, since returning for a second spell with Latics on loan from Walsall in November. And while that has not been as many as he would have preferred, Hogan says it is not just his presence on the pitch but more his presence around the squad and the club that has been invaluable. And the standards that Clarke sets on a daily basis are ones that Hogan believes everyone should mirror going forward.

"I know the group, it's a real great group and if his voice speaks the rest of the group listen, and that's just how it's been. Whether he's played or not, he's just a daily and constant reminder of good habits because repetition and consistency only pushes you to good things," said centre half Hogan, who has relished working with Clarke this season.

"He's had a great career, he's maintained himself before anything else and if anyone should look at that to play at the high level that he has and the amount of games and do what he's done the other lads should really see that as success.

"Winning trophies and all the rest of it, yes that's success, but as an individual you want to be out there and play every minute that you can and continue for as long as you can and he's done that.

"Myself at 34 now I'm looking at Clarkey and saying 'I want to go for your record'.

"It's just something to motivate the lads. And I'm pretty sure he'll keep in touch because he's got a real love for this club and you can see why with the fans and he repays that with his performances.

"We wanted to get the win for him (on Saturday). He's been working with a groin injury and we were just hoping he could get out there.

"I didn't know he could put white boots on and play up front. I've seen him play up front but not in white boots!

"He could have just jogged about up front and take in all the applause but he was one of the first to set the press off, he was there when we played forward and that's just him, he's committed every single minute of the game and the more of us that can do that it just rubs off on the rest of the group and the group will travel in the right direction."

Hogan ran over to hand Clarke the captain's armband when he replaced Fondop in the 76th minute, before the players, management and club staff and members of Clarke's family formed a guard of honour as the former Everton, Blackpool and Huddersfield defender left the field for the final time.

"We hoped Clarkey would get on the pitch. I'd said that if he couldn't play if he could lead us out, but knowing that he was going to get on the pitch no matter what I was obviously happy to hand him the armband," Hogan explained.

"He's been the captain, he's been here at times when it's been tough and he has been the shining light. He has been the one, the stand-out, in terms of carrying the club in those tough moments and where they were, so for him to represent again and be out there and get all the applause it was a fantastic send-off for him and what he deserved, and I'm sure whatever he goes and does now he's going to do it to the best of his ability. He's fantastic, a gentleman and a true professionalism."

Hogan added: "A massive well done to Clarkey, the amount of games, the age (he is), it's fantastic.

"Wherever his career goes now I wish him all the best and I'll definitely keep in touch because his tips and his words of wisdom have been brilliant."