The Ipswich-born Clark came through the youth ranks at Portman Road, having joined aged 10, and made three senior appearances under Roy Keane in the 2009/10 season.
Billy Clark, pictured on his Ipswich Town debut against Sheffield United.Billy Clark, pictured on his Ipswich Town debut against Sheffield United. (Image: Newsquest)
He revealed in a recent Kings of Anglia Podcast interview with us that he had been living with Crohn's for the last few years.
Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to belly pain, severe diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.
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Clark, who is a former pupil of Northgate High School in Ipswich, said: "I got properly diagnosed when I was 26, but I probably had it from when I was 21.
"You know what men are like, they don't want to admit if there's anything wrong or get it checked, but my fiancé was begging me to go.
Billy Clark came through the youth ranks at Portman Road.Billy Clark came through the youth ranks at Portman Road. (Image: Newsquest)
"The day I got diagnosed was a good thing because it's quite a serious illness. It's something you can't cure so it will be with me for the rest of my life."
He added: "I have a nurse that I can talk to and I get regular check-ups. I take medication and I have blood transfusions every six months.
"It effects my life in every way, from my job to my social life. It's something you have to manage very well, which I now do."
Clark was released by Town at the age of 19, before dropping into Suffolk non-league to play for the likes of Bury Town, Leiston and Needham Market.
Billy Clark among the Ipswich Town celebrations at Newcastle United in 2010.Billy Clark among the Ipswich Town celebrations at Newcastle United in 2010. (Image: PA)
The 33-year-old feels his illness, along with the sudden death of his dad David from cancer, was a big reason of why he didn't play as much football as he should during his career.
"It made football pretty hard as my illness was affecting me too much," he reflects. "I was trying to play football having not eaten anything before games. I've had side effects of anaemia, to do with my blood, and that effects your oxygen levels.
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"Trying to play any level of football with stuff like that going on and the injuries I had... It was near on impossible. When I look back now, I think 'what were you doing?', but I just wanted to play and I still do to a certain extent."
Clark has said his playing days are behind him now, having fractured both ankles and undergone three knee operations.
Billy Clark coached at Woodbridge Town with Luke Hyam.Billy Clark coached at Woodbridge Town with Luke Hyam. (Image: WTFC)
The former midfielder now works in recruitment, having previously been a barber, and recently left his coaching role at Suffolk non-league side Woodbridge Town.
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He had been working at the ninth tier side since 2022, assisting good friend and fellow Blues' academy graduate Luke Hyam, but the pair departed at the end of the last season due to work and family commitments.
Clark has said the duo could work together again if the right opportunity comes about.
The full Kings of Anglia podcast special with Billy about his time at Town and journey since then will be out on all platforms this Sunday.