RETIRED champion boxer Mitch Clark will return to football and his home club in the Horsham District football league next season.
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Clark has signed with Harrow-Balmoral for 2020 after a near decade-long hiatus from the sport as he pursued professional boxing.
Clark retired from boxing in March, 2019, with a career record of 14 wins and three losses. He won several titles across his career, including an International Boxing Federation Pan Pacific title in 2017.
Clark said he was ready to enjoy social sport after an intense boxing career.
"I'm a little bit excited knowing that I'm going to play with a lot of my old footy team and my old mates that I played in the under-14s," he said.
"There's been a few big changes for my life after boxing - you've got a lot of time on your hands, so it's good to be able to relax and spend more time with family and friends."
Clark hoped some social sport and his four-month-old child would help fill in some of his newfound free time.
"You can enjoy a cold beer after work now which is pretty nice," Clark said.
"I said to the boys, to have a run around and have a bit of a kick should be pretty enjoyable.
"If I get the ball, it's probably a bit of a bonus."
Harrow-Balmoral coach Nick Pekin said Clark provided something a little different around the club.
"We had a couple of boxing sessions prior to Christmas which he ran for a bit of extra fitness. That was really good," Pekin said.
"He's a solid unit, hasn't played footy for a while but it's good to have another local come back."
In the departures column, Pekin said league superstar Eric Guthrie was yet to make a decision on whether he would play for the Southern Roos for another season.
Pekin said Guthrie was considering a move to Darwin with his partner, and would likely make a decision in the coming month.
Pekin also said 2019 reserves premiership players Lachlan and Bowes Kelly had departed the club to return closer to home in Caramut.
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