He used to keep the Premier League's best strikers quiet in his football heyday, but now his job is arguably even tougher - in charge of school classrooms
Neil Docking
11:17, 14 Nov 2025
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(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
A former Premier League star has swapped keeping the country's best strikers quiet for taking charge of school classrooms.
Clive Wilson starred in the top flight for Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham. The midfielder and fullback, who turned 63 yesterday (Thursday, November 13), also played for Chester City and Cambridge United before hanging up his boots in 2000.
But after spells working for Le Coq Sportif and Ted Baker, he went to university and got a degree in sports science. And that led him to a job in education, at Roding Valley High School in Loughton Essex since 2019, where he teaches PE but also substitutes for maths, English, history and geography.
Speaking earlier this year, Wilson said: "I started to work in education in 2008... The odd thing was I fell into teaching by pure fluke. I was at a golf driving range one day and there was a lovely guy there who was a Fulham fan and recognised me as a former footballer and asked what I was doing.
"He talked to me about the possibility of teaching. He suggested I should pop to a couple of local schools and have a look at them with no pressure, purely just to see what I thought.
Clive Wilson in action for Chelsea against Tottenham in the old First Division in 1989
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Clive Wilson in action for Chelsea against Tottenham in the old First Division in 1989
"I went along more as something to rule out really. However, it had the complete opposite effect and I really thought it would be the type of job that I would enjoy. I'm so grateful for his advice at the range. I haven't looked back!"
Wilson, who has two siblings that are also teachers, thought the chance of become a footballer had passed him by when he left school at 16 and studied at college to become an electrician.
But he was spotted playing at Hough End - Manchester's equivalent to London's Hackney Marshes - by a City scout and then realised his dream.
He was part of the club's youth team that lost the 1980 FA Youth Cup Final to Aston Villa, before making his debut for the first team in a League Cup tie against Stoke City in 1981 - a 2-0 win. He spent eight years at Maine Road, aside from a short loan at Chester, then headed south to Chelsea.
Clive Wilson playing for Chelsea up against Remi Moses of Manchester United
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Clive Wilson playing for Chelsea up against Remi Moses of Manchester United
He said: "I liked the idea of playing for a club in London but then I had the biggest culture shock in terms of trying to find anywhere affordable to live!
"I realise it’s nearly 40 years ago but you could get a three-bedroom house in Sale for £35,000. In London I was lucky if I could buy a garage for that!"
Chelsea were relegated from the top flight that season, having lost a relegation play-off that existed at the time, which saw them battle Middlesbrough from the second tier in a two-legged final.
They bounced back the next season, storming to the old Second Division title with 99 points, before he moved on to Queens Park Rangers.
Clive Wilson battles Steve McMahon for Queens Park Rangers against his old club Manchester City
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Clive Wilson battles Steve McMahon for Queens Park Rangers against his old club Manchester City
Clive Wilson regularly scored from the spot for QPR
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Clive Wilson regularly scored from the spot for QPR
It was manager Gerry Francis who switched him to play left-back and he began to excel as a defender, thanks to his speed and passing ability.
Over the next four seasons he was a near ever-present for Rangers and he went on to play 172 league games, scoring 12 goals, all but one scored from the penalty spot.
He said: "We finished fifth in the first all-new Premier League campaign in 1992-93 followed by another top-half finish the following season.
Clive Wilson playing for Tottenham against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1996
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Clive Wilson playing for Tottenham against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1996
"Then I think Gerry had a falling out with the club over the sale of Les Ferdinand and soon after he moved to Tottenham as manager."
Wilson reunited with Francis at White Hart Lane in 1995, when he seized his last chance to play for one of England's biggest clubs. After four years at Tottenham he switched to Cambridge, but a series of injuries made him decide it was time to retire.
He said: "I loved my time as a player and I often get kids ask me why I am a teacher when I used to be a top-flight footballer. There is a concept that top-flight footballers have always been well paid.
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"It was a different time in English football. But I would never complain about it."