Editing Ray Clemence

{{Short description|English footballer (1948–2020)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ray Clemence <br /> <small>[[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]</small>
| image = Ray Clemence (1981).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Clemence with [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in 1981
| full_name = Raymond Neal Clemence<ref>{{Hugman|3645|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|8|5|df=y}}<ref name="FA"/>
| birth_place = [[Skegness]], [[Lincolnshire]], England<ref name="FA"/>
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|11|15|1948|8|5|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Corby]], [[Northamptonshire]], England
| height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}}<ref name="World Football">{{cite web | url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/ray-clemence/ | title=Ray Clemence | work=worldfootball.net | access-date=4 November 2013}}</ref>
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
| years1 = 1965–1967
| clubs1 = [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
| caps1 = 48
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1967–1981
| clubs2 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| caps2 = 470
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1981–1988
| clubs3 = [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| caps3 = 240
| goals3 = 0
| totalcaps = 758
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1967–1971
| nationalteam1 = [[England national under-23 football team|England U23]]
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1972–1983
| nationalteam2 = [[England national football team|England]]
| nationalcaps2 = 61
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1992–1993
| managerclubs1 = [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] (joint manager)
| manageryears2 = 1994–1996
| managerclubs2 = [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]]
}}

'''Raymond Neal Clemence''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (5 August 1948 – 15 November 2020)<ref>{{cite news |title=Ray Clemence obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/nov/16/ray-clemence-obituary |access-date=16 November 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Peter |last=Mason |date=16 November 2020}}</ref> was an English professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he is one of the few players to have made over [[List of men's footballers with the most official appearances|1,000 career appearances]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/23/italy-juventus-gianluigi-buffon-1000th-game|title=Gianluigi Buffon's 1,000th career game is testament to a beacon of stability|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Louise|last=Taylor|date=23 March 2017|access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/club/juventus/111/blog/post/3087608/gianluigi-buffon-still-wants-the-champions-league-and-still-going-strong-after-1000-games|title=Gianluigi Buffon is far from finished after 1,000 games between the posts|publisher=ESPN FC|first=James|last=Horncastle|date=23 March 2017|access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/zanetti-inters-captain-and-gentleman-joins-the-1000-matches-club-2290045.html|title=Zanetti, Inter's captain and gentleman, joins the 1,000 matches club|newspaper=The Independent|first=Glenn|last=Moore|date=27 May 2011|access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref> and holds the record for the most clean sheets in the history of football (460).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://xtrahistory.blogspot.com/2014/04/Record-Statistics.html|title=World Football Historic Center: World Record and Statistics|first=Naratorn|last=Wirunhchatapant|website=Xtrahistory.blogspot.com|access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>

As part of the [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] team of the 1970s,<ref>{{cite web|title=Ray Clemence|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/history/past-players/ray-clemence|website=Liverpool FC|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> Clemence won three [[UEFA Champions League|European Cups]], five [[List of English football champions#Total titles won|League titles]], two [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]s, a [[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]], an [[FA Cup]] and a [[EFL Cup|League Cup]]; the last of his 665 appearances for the club was the victorious [[1981 European Cup final]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Liverpool FC deeply saddened by Ray Clemence passing |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/announcements/416045-liverpool-fc-deeply-saddened-by-ray-clemence-passing |access-date=15 November 2020 |publisher=Liverpool F.C.}}</ref> In 1981, after being phased out at Liverpool, Clemence joined [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], winning a UEFA Cup, an FA Cup, and a Charity Shield with them, before retiring from football in 1988. Clemence played internationally for [[England national football team|England]] from 1972 to 1983, and represented the country at [[UEFA Euro 1980]] and the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]].

After brief spells as joint-manager at Tottenham (alongside [[Doug Livermore]]) and sole manager at [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] in the first half of the 90s, he acted as head of the FA Development Team, overseeing the development made by players in the England youth teams from under-16 to 21 level, having previously been part of the England senior team's backroom staff.<ref name="FA">{{cite web | url=http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Staff/ray-clemence | title=Ray Clemence | work=The FA | access-date=4 November 2013}}</ref>

== 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
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 210
 | 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.

== International career ==
Clemence was a regular for [[England national football team|England]] between 1972 and 1983, making his debut and keeping his first clean-sheet in the 1–0 [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|World Cup qualifier]] win over [[Wales national football team|Wales]] at [[Ninian Park]] on 15 November 1972.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Peter |title=Ray Clemence obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/nov/16/ray-clemence-obituary |website=The Guardian |date=16 November 2020 |publisher=Guardian News & Media Limited |access-date=16 November 2020}}</ref> England failed to qualify for [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]]s in 1974 and 1978. Clemence was part of the squad that qualified for [[UEFA Euro 1980]] but the team failed to qualify from Group 2. In 1982, he was in the squad for the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]], but again England did not progress beyond the quarter-final stage.

Clemence [[List of England national football team captains|captained]] England once — the first keeper to do so since [[Frank Swift]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Former England, Liverpool goalkeeper Clemence dies at 72 |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37608743/former-england-liverpool-goalkeeper-clemence-dies-72 |website=espn.com |date=15 November 2020 |publisher=ESPN Enterprises |access-date=15 November 2020}}</ref> The game in question was a 1981 friendly with [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] at Wembley, although Clemence couldn't prevent the Brazilians from scoring as England lost 1–0.

Because of injury to his left knee, Clemence was retired from international football with 61 England caps in a 12-year international career. The presence of another goalkeeper, [[Peter Shilton]], meant that the England management struggled to decide which keeper was the best, and ended up alternating their selection. Shilton ended up as first choice keeper for the rest of the 1980s, playing in two more World Cups and attaining a record 125 caps.<ref>{{cite web |title=WHEN PETER SHILTON SET ENGLAND RECORD AGAINST DENMARK |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2014/feb/02/peter-shilton-reaches-caps-record |website=TheFA.com |publisher=The FA}}</ref>

== Coaching career ==
=== Management ===
Clemence retired in 1988 and joined the coaching staff at Tottenham, working his way through to the first team, before leaving to become joint manager of [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] (with fellow goalkeeper [[Gary Phillips (English footballer)|Gary Phillips]]) in January 1994. At the start of the 1994–95 season, he took sole charge leading Barnet to ninth and 13th in the Third Division.

=== England coaching team ===
In August 1996,<ref name="FA"/> he was recruited by his former Spurs and England teammate [[Glenn Hoddle]] as goalkeeping coach for the [[England national football team|England national team]], a position he continued to hold under Hoddle's successors [[Kevin Keegan]] and [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]]. He remained in that position under [[Steve McClaren]], until he was replaced by Italian [[Franco Tancredi]] as goalkeeping coach in December 2007, as [[Fabio Capello]] took charge of the national team. Clemence, however, remained part of the England backroom staff, and when [[Roy Hodgson]] took over as manager, he reinstated Clemence as goalkeeper coach. On 11 June 2012, he snapped his Achilles tendon during England's warmups for their game against [[France national football team|France]] during [[UEFA Euro 2012]]. He was also England's Head of international teams, managing all the junior, women's and disability teams.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wallace |first1=Sam |title=From bootlaces to back rubs...meet the team behind the England team |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/from-bootlaces-to-back-rubs-meet-the-team-behind-the-england-team-1979813.html |website=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News and Media Limited |access-date=17 February 2024 |date=22 May 2010}}</ref> 

In 2013, Clemence retired; being "lavishly saluted", and being bought a gift from the England team; despite his last appearance at an international level being 30 years earlier.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10419213/Ray-Clemence-retires-after-47-years-in-a-game-he-graced-as-a-world-renowned-goalkeeper-and-top-class-coach.html | title=Stalwart Clemence quits after 47 years | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=1 November 2013 | access-date=4 November 2013 | first=Henry |last=Winter |authorlink=Henry Winter | pages=S8}}</ref> 

== Personal life and death ==
Clemence was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in the [[1987 Birthday Honours]] for services to football.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=50948 |date=12 June 1987 |page=11 |supp=y }}</ref> His son, [[Stephen Clemence|Stephen]] was a midfield player who came through the ranks at [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]], before retiring due to injury at [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in 2010. He was appointed manager of [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] in 2023, then [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] in 2024. Clemence's daughter Sarah also has footballing connections, being the wife of former [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] manager and [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] striker [[Dougie Freedman]]. He also occasionally worked as a pundit on TV and radio, and commented on current goalkeeping stories in football.<ref name="Express">{{cite web | url=http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/440544/Pellegrini-coy-on-Hart-involvement | title=Pellegrini coy on Hart involvement | work=The Express | date=1 November 2013 | access-date=4 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Al Jazeera">{{cite web | url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/al-jazeera-recruit-25-pundits-for-new-season-1.1216278 | title=Al Jazeera recruit 25 pundits for new season | work=gulfnews.com | date=3 August 2013 | access-date=4 November 2013 | first=Charles |last=Sale}}</ref>

In February 2005, Clemence announced that he had been diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]] and that he would spend time away from the England squad whilst he received treatment. He was the second member of Eriksson's staff to be diagnosed with prostate cancer; [[Brian Kidd]] was diagnosed with the disease prior to [[UEFA Euro 2004]]. He died from prostate cancer at his home in [[Corby]] on 15 November 2020, at the age of 72.<ref>{{cite news |title=Statement on behalf of the Clemence family |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/announcements/416040-statement-on-behalf-of-the-clemence-family |publisher=Liverpool F.C.|date=15 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Clemence: Former England goalkeeper dies aged 72 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54953093 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=16 November 2020 |date=15 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite ODNB|title = Clemence, Raymond Neal [Ray] (1948–2020), footballer|last = Williams|first = John|date = 2024|doi = 10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000381597}}</ref>

Clemence is held in high regard by both Liverpool and Tottenham fans. He was voted in at No. 11 on the Liverpool Football Club web site poll ''[[List of Liverpool F.C. players#100 players who shook the Kop|100 Players Who Shook The Kop]]''; he was also the highest placed goalkeeper. He was also chosen as goalkeeper in the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]]'s Merseyside team of the 20th century, and topped ''Total Football''{{'}}s poll of the best ever goalkeeper, beating players of the calibre of [[Peter Shilton]], [[Lev Yashin]], [[Gordon Banks]] and [[Pat Jennings]]. Shortly before his death, a mural near Anfield was created in his honour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weston |first1=Alan |title=Mural tribute to legendary Reds goalie appears near Anfield |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/mural-tribute-legendary-reds-goalie-19079455 |access-date=2 February 2025 |work=Liverpool Echo |date=9 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Clemence |url=https://murwalls.com/ray-clemence-tribute/ |website=MurWalls |access-date=2 February 2025 |date=10 March 2021}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="12"|[[England national football team|England]]
|1972||1||0
|-
|1973||1||0
|-
|1974||4||0
|-
|1975||8||0
|-
|1976||9||0
|-
|1977||9||0
|-
|1978||5||0
|-
|1979||7||0
|-
|1980||7||0
|-
|1981||5||0
|-
|1982||3||0
|-
|1983||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total||61||0
|}

== Honours ==
'''Scunthorpe United'''
*[[Lincolnshire Senior Cup]]: 1965–66 (Shared)

'''Liverpool'''
*[[Football League First Division]]: [[1972–73 Football League First Division|1972–73]], [[1975–76 Football League First Division|1975–76]], [[1976–77 Football League First Division|1976–77]], [[1978–79 Football League|1978–79]], [[1979–80 Football League|1979–80]]
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1973–74 FA Cup|1973–74]];<ref name="ROTHS">{{cite book |first1=Leslie |first2=Jack |last1=Vernon |last2=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 |year=1977 |publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0354-09018-6 |page=491}}</ref> runner-up: [[1970–71 FA Cup|1970–71]],<ref name="ROTHS"/> [[1976–77 FA Cup|1976–77]]<ref name="ROTHS"/>
*[[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]]: [[1980–81 Football League Cup|1980–81]]
*[[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]]: [[1974 FA Charity Shield|1974]], [[1976 FA Charity Shield|1976]], [[1977 FA Charity Shield|1977]] (shared), [[1979 FA Charity Shield|1979]], [[1980 FA Charity Shield|1980]]
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1976–77 European Cup|1976–77]], [[1977–78 European Cup|1977–78]], [[1980–81 European Cup|1980–81]]
*[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1972–73 UEFA Cup|1972–73]], [[1975–76 UEFA Cup|1975–76]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]: [[1977 European Super Cup|1977]]<ref name="Telegraph" />

'''Tottenham Hotspur'''
*FA Cup: [[1981–82 FA Cup|1981–82]]
*FA Charity Shield: [[1981 FA Charity Shield|1981]] (shared)
*UEFA Cup: [[1983–84 UEFA Cup|1983–84]]<ref name="Telegraph" />

'''Individual''' 
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (1970s)#First Division 4|1976–77 First Division]]

== See also ==
* [[List of men's footballers with the most official appearances]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{UEFA player}}
* {{NFT player}}
* {{Englandstats}}
* [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/ray-clemence Official past players at Liverpoolfc.com]
* [http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Coaches/Postings/2003/02/38389.htm England coaches at thefa.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030515154239/http://www.liverweb.org.uk/clemence.htm Profile at Liverweb.org.uk]
* [http://www.goalkeepersaredifferent.com/keepers/goalkeeping-greats.html Ray Clemence at goalkeepersaredifferent.com]
* {{IMDb name}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070101043515/http://www.truegreats.com/Ray_Clemence.htm List of great players at truegreats.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070218103833/http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=282 Player profile at LFChistory.net]

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| fg = navy
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| list1 = 
{{1976–77 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Liverpool F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Football League 100 Legends}}
}}
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{{England squad UEFA Euro 1980}}
{{England squad 1982 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Tottenham Hotspur F.C. managers}}
{{Barnet F.C. managers}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemence, Ray}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Skegness]]
[[Category:Barnet F.C. managers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1980 players]]
[[Category:1982 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players]]
[[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:English Football League representative players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in England]]