Ray Clemence

Raymond Neal Clemence (5 August 1948 – 15 November 2020) was an English goalkeeper widely considered among the finest ever, with over 1,100 senior appearances to his name. He spent the bulk of his career at Liverpool, where he was part of the dominant 1970s side that claimed three European Cups, five league titles, two UEFA Cups, a European Super Cup, an FA Cup, and a League Cup. His 665th and final appearance for the club came in the 1981 European Cup final victory. After being gradually replaced at Liverpool, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 1981, winning a UEFA Cup, an FA Cup, and a Charity Shield before retiring in 1988. For England, he earned caps from 1972 to 1983 and featured at Euro 1980 and the 1982 World Cup.

Born in Skegness, Lincolnshire, Clemence had a trial at Notts County but was not signed. He was spotted playing for his local youth side, Skegness Cosmos, in a county cup final at Scunthorpe United’s ground. Impressing in a 4-3 win, he was invited for trials and signed professional terms on his 17th birthday, 5 August 1965. Initially in the third team, he made his professional debut in a 1-1 home draw with Swansea Town on 2 April 1966. Before that debut, coaches Jack Brownsword and Alan Bushby told him they believed he could play for England but needed to work hard. He made four appearances that season, keeping his first clean sheet in a 1-0 win at Southend United. Understudy to veteran Geoff Sidebottom, Clemence credited him as a key mentor. While at Scunthorpe, he lodged with Mrs Ruby Duce; after he left, future Liverpool and England teammate Kevin Keegan moved into the same digs.

Clemence became first-choice goalkeeper in the 1966-67 Third Division season, which ended with an 18th-place finish. Manager Freddie Goodwin left mid-season for the New York Generals, and caretaker player-manager Keith Burkinshaw took over—the same Burkinshaw who later signed him for Tottenham. After a 7-1 loss to Grimsby Town, Clemence feared his career was over, but the club kept faith, and he started the next 46 consecutive matches. That run brought his total to 50 appearances and 12 clean sheets for Scunthorpe. Unbeknownst to him, Liverpool manager Bill Shankly and his staff had scouted him in 12 games. When Liverpool’s bid was accepted, Clemence was called away from a beachside deckchair-stacking job by a telegram; the Scunthorpe chairman drove him to Anfield in his Rolls-Royce the next morning. Clemence later said he was proud to be associated with a club that felt like a family.

Liverpool signed Clemence on 24 June 1967 for £18,000. He debuted and kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 League Cup win over Swansea Town on 25 September 1968. After two years in the reserves with occasional senior games, he became first-choice goalkeeper in 1970. In the 1971 FA Cup final, he played well but Arsenal scored twice in extra time to win 2-1. Two seasons later, in 1973, Liverpool won the league and UEFA Cup; Clemence saved a Jupp Heynckes penalty in the final against Borussia Mönchengladbach, preserving a 3-0 lead that proved crucial when Gladbach won the second leg 2-0—had the penalty been scored, the tie would have ended 3-3 and Gladbach would have won on away goals. The 1973-74 season brought another FA Cup, a 3-0 win over Newcastle United. Liverpool then added another league title and UEFA Cup.