Editing Ray Clemence (section)

=== 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"/>