Clive Wilson played in the top flight for Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham but has since swapped the football pitch for the classroom as a supply teacher
Former Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham midfielder Clive Wilson
Former Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham midfielder Clive Wilson
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Former Premier League ace Clive Wilson once played for Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham. But he has since traded in his football boots for a chalkboard.
The versatile midfielder and fullback who celebrated his 63rd birthday last Thursday also had stints at QPR, Chester City and Cambridge United before hanging up his boots in 2000.
After working for Le Coq Sportif and Ted Baker, he decided to earn a degree in sports science. This academic achievement paved the way for a career in education and since 2019 he's been teaching PE and covering classes in maths, English, history and geography at Roding Valley High School in Loughton, Essex.
Earlier this year, Wilson shared: "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.
"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 playing football
Wilson starred for QPR(Image: Getty)
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Wilson, whose two siblings are also teachers, believed his footballing dreams were over when he left school at 16 and went to college to train as an electrician.
However, he was discovered playing at Hough End - Manchester's answer to London's Hackney Marshes - by a City scout and subsequently fulfilled his ambition.
He featured in the club's youth side that was defeated in the 1980 FA Youth Cup Final by Aston Villa, before making his first-team bow in a League Cup clash against Stoke City in 1981 - a 2-0 victory.
Wilson remained at Maine Road for eight years, apart from a brief loan spell at Chester, before heading south to Chelsea. 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!"
Wilson playing football
The Englishman left Manchester City for Stamford Bridge
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Chelsea were demoted from the top flight that campaign, having lost a relegation play-off that existed at the time, which saw them face Middlesbrough from the second tier in a two-legged final.
They recovered the following season, romping to the old Second Division championship with 99 points, before he transferred to Queens Park Rangers.
It was boss Gerry Francis who converted him to play left-back and he started to flourish as a defender, thanks to his pace and distribution skills. Over the next four seasons, he was a consistent presence for Rangers, playing 172 league games and scoring 12 goals, with all but one netted from the penalty spot.
He stated: "We finished fifth in the first all-new Premier League campaign in 1992-93 followed by another top-half finish the following season. 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."
In 1995, Wilson reunited with Francis at White Hart Lane, seizing his final opportunity to play for one of England's biggest clubs. After a four-year stint at Tottenham, he transferred to Cambridge, but a string of injuries led him to decide it was time to hang up his boots.
He shared: "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. It was a different time in English football. But I would never complain about it."
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