Editing Ray Clemence (section)

== Club career ==
=== Scunthorpe United ===
Born in [[Skegness]], Lincolnshire, Clemence played eight matches on trial for [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]], but was ultimately not signed by the [[Meadow Lane]] club.<ref>Shoot Magazine, 27 August issue, 1977. Retrieved 3 December 2020.</ref> He was spotted by [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] whilst playing in a county-cup final at their [[Old Showground]] ground for his local youth club Skegness Cosmos. After starring in the Cosmos' 4-3 victory,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdMxL_zkN_4|title=18 Holes with Ray Clemence in Dubai &#124; Vidcast #4|access-date=14 November 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Clemence was invited for formal trials with ''The Iron'', which he duly passed.<ref name="sm1979">Soccer Monthly, August 1979, Interview with John Keith (Daily Express). Retrieved 3 December 2020.</ref> Clemence went on to sign professional terms for Scunthorpe on his 17th birthday, 5 August 1965, shortly before the start of Scunthorpe's [[1965–66 Football League|1965–66]] [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] campaign.<ref name="sm1979"/>

Despite initially playing in the club's 'third team',<ref name="smp2020-11">''Scunthorpe United Football Club'' Scunthorpe United vs Morecambe and Bolton Wanderers official match programme. 21st-24 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.</ref> Clemence's big break arrived later in his debut season – making his professional debut in a 1–1 draw at home to [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea Town]] on 2 April 1966. Prior to this debut, Clemence remembers a key behind-the-scenes intervention from two Scunthorpe coaches: "[[Jack Brownsword]] and Alan Bushby pulled me aside, gave me a pep talk and told me they thought I could play for England one day but 'you've got to work at it'".<ref name="smp2020-11"/>

Clemence went on to make four appearances in total throughout his debut season,<ref name="nutstoiron">Staff, John. (17 October 2012). ''From Nuts to Iron - The Official History of Scunthorpe United 1899-2012''. Yore Publications p236</ref> including earning his first professional clean sheet in a 1–0 victory away at [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]].<ref name="bell2020">Bell, Max (31 August 2020). ''Scunthorpe United: 20 Legends.'' Vertical Editions. p88. {{ISBN|978-1-9088471-9-5}}</ref> Having spent much of that season as understudy to the experienced former [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] and [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] custodian [[Geoff Sidebottom]], Clemence later cited Sidebottom as a crucial early mentor: "I learned a lot from Geoff. He taught me how to look after myself because 'keepers were a lot less protected then."<ref>LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview. 30 October 2001. Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund. Retrieved on 3 December 2020.</ref>

During his time at the club, Clemence lived with Mrs Ruby Duce of King Edward Street in [[Scunthorpe]]; in the very same digs which would then immediately be occupied by his future England and Liverpool teammate [[Kevin Keegan]] following Clemence's departure to Liverpool.<ref>Keegan, Kevin. (1977). ''Kevin Keegan by Kevin Keegan''. Arthur Baker Ltd, p54.</ref>

After being reintroduced to the side after they had lost their opening three games in all competitions,<ref name="nutstoiron"/> Clemence became Scunthorpe's undisputed first-choice goalkeeper in their following [[1966–67 Football League|1966–67]] [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] campaign,<ref name="nutstoiron"/> in which they finished a disappointing 18th.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.englishfootballleaguetables.co.uk/final/f1966-67.html#d3|title=1966-67 Season Final Football Tables|website=Englishfootballleaguetables.co.uk|access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref> After manager and ex-[[Busby Babes|Busby Babe]] [[Freddie Goodwin]] departed mid-season for the [[New York Generals]] in the nascent [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]], Clemence spent the latter half of his season under the guidance of caretaker player-manager [[Keith Burkinshaw]], who would later also sign the player for [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]].

And despite Clemence himself worrying that a humiliating 7–1 defeat away to arch-rivals [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]] could end his professional career,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2020/november/ray-clemence/|title=▶️ Ray Clemence: '7-1 Defeat To Grimsby Town Almost Changed My Career'|website=Grimsby-townfc.co.uk|access-date=14 November 2021}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Scunthorpe's faith in him never waivered and this defeat proved to be the second game in a run of 46 consecutive starts he made to see out all of Scunthorpe's remaining league and cup matches.<ref name="nutstoiron"/>

This run took Clemence's figures to 50 appearances and 12 clean sheets in all competitions for Scunthorpe;<ref name="bell2020"/> but unbeknownst to him, he had been scouted in 12 games by legendary Liverpool manager [[Bill Shankly]] and his coaching staff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/846|title=Ray Clemence - Liverpool's finest keeper - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC!|website=Lfchistory.net|access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref> This came to fruition later that summer, when Clemence was forced to leave a beachside deckchair-stacking shift early, with the news that an urgent telegram awaited him at home.<ref name="bell2020"/> This was because Liverpool's bid for the now 18-year-old shot-stopper had been accepted, and the Scunthorpe chairman personally drove Clemence to Anfield in his Rolls-Royce the next morning.

Looking back on his time with the club, Clemence fondly recalled how Scunthorpe United was: "A club I'm proud to be associated with. While I was there it was like being part of a family.<ref name="smp2020-11"/>

=== Liverpool ===
{{multiple image
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 | image1 = FC Zürich gegen Liverpool - Ray Clemence.jpg
 | caption1 = Clemence celebrating Liverpool's [[1976–77 European Cup|European Cup semi-final]] victory over [[FC Zürich]], 1977
 | image2 = Amsterdam 702 voetbaltoernooi Ajax tegen Liverpool, Geels springt mee met doelm, Bestanddeelnr 929-2965.jpg
 | caption2 = Clemence claiming the ball in a match against [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], during the 1977 [[Amsterdam Tournament]]
}}
Clemence was signed by Liverpool manager [[Bill Shankly]] on 24 June 1967 from Scunthorpe United for a fee of £18,000.<ref name="Telegraph" /><ref name="Shankly">{{cite web | url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/ray-clemence-on-shankly | title=Ray Clemence on Shankly | publisher=Liverpool F.C. | date=12 February 2010 | access-date=4 November 2013 | first=Paul |last=Hassall | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104215250/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/ray-clemence-on-shankly | archive-date=4 November 2013 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> He made his debut and kept his first clean sheet in a [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] third round tie at [[Anfield]] on 25 September 1968,<ref name="Soccerbase">{{cite web | url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=517 | title=English League Cup | work=Soccerbase | access-date=6 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Month">{{cite web | url=http://tomkinstimes.com/2012/08/ttt-top-20-players-ray-clemence/ | title=TTT Top 20 Players – Ray Clemence | work=The Tomkins Times | access-date=5 November 2013 | first=Chris |last=Rowland}}</ref><ref name="Liverpool Echo Debut">{{cite web | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-legend-ray-clemence-3458736 | title=Liverpool FC legend Ray Clemence clean sheets record still a benchmark | work=The Liverpool Echo | date=5 February 2009 | access-date=5 November 2013 | first=David |last=Prentice}}</ref> [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea Town]] were the visitors and were beaten 2–0.<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engleagcuphistfull.html | title=Round 3 | work=RSSSF | access-date=6 November 2013 | first=Dinant |last=Abbink}}</ref> He was nurtured through the reserve side over the next two years, with the occasional senior appearance, until 1970, at which point he became the club's first choice goalkeeper.

In 1971, Liverpool reached the [[1971 FA Cup final|FA Cup final]], where Clemence played well but [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] scored twice in extra time to overcome Liverpool's lead and win the game 2–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/observer/facup/story/0,8224,486514,00.html |title=Have a double on George |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |first=Hugh |last=McIlvanney |authorlink=Hugh McIlvanney |date=9 May 1971 |access-date=21 November 2020 }}</ref> There would be joy for Clemence two seasons later in 1973, when Liverpool won both the [[1972–73 in English football|League]] title and [[1972–73 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]], with Clemence saving a penalty from [[Jupp Heynckes]] in the [[1973 UEFA Cup final|final]] of the latter against [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]]. The penalty save meant that Liverpool took a 3–0 lead to Germany with them, rather than 3–1. Gladbach went on to win 2–0 in the second-leg; had Heynckes scored the penalty, then with the same second-leg result the tie would have finished 3–3 on aggregate, Gladbach would have won on the away goals rule. The [[1973–74 Liverpool F.C. season|1973–74]] season saw Liverpool claim yet more silverware winning the [[1974 FA Cup final|FA Cup]] with a comprehensive 3–0 victory over [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].

Liverpool won another League and UEFA Cup double in 1976 and then made a bid for a unique treble a year later. They achieved the first leg when they won the League title, but lost the [[1977 FA Cup final|FA Cup final]] 2–1 to rivals [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. A few days later, Liverpool won the [[1977 European Cup final|European Cup]] for the first time in Rome, defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1. In the second half Clemence made a magnificent save against [[Uli Stielike]] when the score was 1–1.

Liverpool retained the European Cup in [[1978 European Cup final|1978]] with a narrow 1–0 win over [[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]] at Wembley, but conceded their League title to [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], to whom they also lost in the [[1978 Football League Cup final|League Cup final]]. In 1979 and 1980, Clemence kept goal as Liverpool clinched the League title in each season. The 1978–79 League success saw Clemence set a record that was never beaten under the two points for a win system, conceding only 16 goals in the 42 league matches (and just four at Anfield).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fl125.co.uk/records/league-goals|title=Goals: Fewest goals conceded in a season (in 42 games or more)|website=fl125.co.uk|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> This remarkable record remains for a 42-match season and endured until beaten in the 2004–05 season by [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], who conceded 15 goals in the 38 League matches.

In 1981, Liverpool won the [[1981 Football League Cup final|League Cup]], and for the third time the [[1981 European Cup final|European Cup]], the latter with a 1–0 win over [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] in a dour contest at the [[Parc des Princes]] on 27 May. It turned out to be Clemence's last game for the club.

The emergence of [[Bruce Grobbelaar]] put Clemence's place in the side under threat for the first time in eleven years (during which period he played in more than 650 matches and missed a mere six), and he decided to leave Liverpool to join [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] for a fee of £300,000.

=== Tottenham Hotspur ===
Clemence left Liverpool to join [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in 1981 for a fee of £300,000.<ref>{{cite book |title=Tottenham Hotspur Player by Player |first=Ivan |last=Ponting |year=1993 |page=152 |publisher=Guinness |isbn=0851127177}}</ref> The two clubs reached the [[1982 Football League Cup final|1982 League Cup final]], which Liverpool won 3–1. Despite this, they however, won the [[1982 FA Cup final|1982 FA Cup]], defeating [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] 1–0 after a replay.

Clemence's first Tottenham appearance was in the [[1981 FA Charity Shield]] against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] at Wembley on 22 August 1981, where [[Mark Falco]] and [[Peter Withe]] each scored twice in an entertaining 2–2 draw. His League debut came a week later with a winning start at [[Ayresome Park]], where they beat [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] 3–1. His first clean sheet came three games later on 12 September at [[Molineux Stadium|Molineux]], when he kept [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] off the scoresheet in the 1–0 victory.

Tottenham won the UEFA Cup in [[1984 UEFA Cup final|1984]]. Clemence missed the final against [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] through injury, but was on the bench as substitute goalkeeper in a match famously won when [[Tony Parks]] saved twice during the penalty shootout. Clemence reached a fifth FA Cup final in [[1987 FA Cup final|1987]], where his side lost to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]. He is in a select group of players who have appeared in five or more FA Cup finals. Clemence sustained an Achilles tendon injury in Tottenham's away match at [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich]] in October 1987, which forced his retirement from playing in 1988. Shortly after retiring, Clemence joined the Tottenham coaching staff.