HE has won Eastleigh’s latest Player of the Month award, but goalkeeper Ryan Clarke is glad to have put October behind him.

The former Oxford United goalkeeper made his Eastleigh debut on October 1, but the month ended with the sudden passing of his dad and a broken nose in last week’s 4-0 defeat at Barrow.

He is hoping to be able to dedicate an FA Cup win against Swindon Town to Ernie, who passed away following open heart surgery, aged 70.

Clarke, 34, played in the 3-0 win against Torquay just three days later - then suffered a broken nose in last week’s 4-0 defeat at Barrow.

But the death of his dad has put football in perspective.

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks, my dad was a massive influence on my career,” he said. “Without him I wouldn’t be playing pro football.

“He was never a pushy parent, always a quiet dad stood in the corner. But he took me all over the country to training sessions and games two or three times a week.

“I’ll always be grateful for what he did for me. It hasn’t been easy to carry on playing but I’m sure this is what he would want me to do.”

Clarke missed his grandad’s funeral when his dad took a turn for the worse a fortnight ago.

“My dad was struggling in hospital. There were a few complications after the operation. He was on life support for a day and a half and deteriorated quite quickly.

“It was touch and go so my mum had to miss her dad’s funeral to be with him. It was the toughest 48 hours of my life and has not been easy for any of the family. We’re just trying to pull together.”

A Bristolian who began his career with City and then Rovers, Clarke will be back in his home city for his dad’s funeral on Monday.

“Playing is a release for me, it gives me 90 minutes to shut off from what’s happened,” he explains. “Coming into training also helps keep my mind off things.

“They say time’s the best healer. We’ll see.”

The bruising under Clarke’s eyes will take less time to heal. “To top it off I broke my nose at Barrow last week and had the biggest hiding of my career. I took a blow to the face in the first few minutes as I made a double save. It wasn’t pretty and it’s still sore.”