31 Facts About Ray Clemence

1.

Ray Clemence is one of few players to have made over 1,000 career appearances, and holds the record for the most clean sheets in the history of football.

2.

In 1981, after being phased out at Liverpool, Clemence joined Tottenham Hotspur, winning a UEFA Cup, an FA Cup, and a Charity Shield with them, before retiring from football in 1988.

3.

Ray Clemence was spotted by Scunthorpe United whilst playing in a county-cup final at their Old Showground ground for his local youth club Skegness Cosmos.

4.

Ray Clemence taught me how to look after myself because 'keepers were a lot less protected then.

5.

Ray Clemence 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.

6.

In 1979 and 1980, Ray Clemence kept goal as Liverpool clinched the League title in each season.

7.

Ray Clemence missed the final against 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.

8.

Ray Clemence reached a fifth FA Cup final in 1987, where Spurs lost to Coventry City.

9.

Ray Clemence is in a select group of players who have appeared in five or more FA Cup finals.

10.

Ray Clemence sustained an Achilles tendon injury in Tottenham's away match at Norwich in October 1987, which forced his retirement from playing in 1988.

11.

Ray Clemence was part of the squad which qualified for Euro 1980 but the team failed to qualify from Group 2.

12.

Ray Clemence retired in 1988 and joined the coaching staff at Spurs, working his way through to the first team, before leaving to become joint manager of Barnet in January 1994.

13.

Ray Clemence 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.

14.

Ray Clemence remained part of the England backroom staff, and when Roy Hodgson took over as manager, he reinstated Ray Clemence to the Goalkeeper coach role.

15.

Ray Clemence occasionally worked as a pundit on TV and radio, and commented on current goalkeeping stories in football.

16.

In 2013, Ray Clemence retired; being "lavishly saluted", and being bought a gift from the England national team; despite his last appearance at an international level being 30 years earlier.

17.

Ray Clemence cited Ian Callaghan as one of his favorite players and said Leeds United as his favorite team.

18.

Ray Clemence said Alan Bushby had the largest influence on his career.

19.

Ray Clemence said losing the 1972 title by one point was his biggest disappointment.

20.

Ray Clemence liked to golf and be with his family in his spare time and disliked being bothered by fans at restaurants most.

21.

Ray Clemence cited The Carpenters and Andy Williams as his favorite musicians.

22.

Ray Clemence said that he would have been an accountant if he hadn't gone into football.

23.

Ray Clemence was appointed an MBE in the 1987 Birthday Honours for services to football.

24.

Ray Clemence's son, Stephen, was a midfield player who came through the ranks at Spurs and Birmingham City, before retiring injured from Leicester City in 2010.

25.

Ray Clemence was the Newcastle United first team coach under Steve Bruce.

26.

In February 2005, Ray 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.

27.

Ray Clemence was the second member of Eriksson's staff to be diagnosed with prostate cancer; Brian Kidd was diagnosed with the disease prior to Euro 2004.

28.

Ray Clemence is held in high regard by both Liverpool and Tottenham fans.

29.

Ray Clemence was voted in at No 11 on the Liverpool Football Club web site poll 100 Players Who Shook The Kop; he was the highest placed goalkeeper.

30.

Ray Clemence was chosen as goalkeeper in the BBC's Merseyside team of the 20th century, and topped Total Footballs poll of the best ever goalkeeper, beating players of the calibre of Peter Shilton, Lev Yashin, Gordon Banks and Pat Jennings.

31.

Ray Clemence died on 15 November 2020, after 15 years with prostate cancer.