Dave Clements – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Defender

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Larne

Date Of Birth

September 15, 1945

Age

Games Played

257

Per Game

Games Started

255

1.0

Per Game

Minutes

22878

89.0

Per Game

Goals

0.1

Per Game

Assists

0.1

Per Game

Dave Clements was one of the unsung heroes of Coventry City’s Division Two championship winning side of 1967. The Northern Irish international, who was capable of playing at wing half, full back or on the left wing, went on to become one of the bulwarks of the side in the early seasons in Division One. Jimmy Hill signed him for a bargain £1,500 from Wolves and he proved to be one of Hill’s most astute purchases. He scored eight goals in his first ten games and after only seven appearances made his international debut alongside a nineteen-year old George Best.

In the promotion season Hill converted him into a defensive wing-half, a position he took to like duck to water, and playing alongside George Curtis, City’s defence was virtually unassailable. In Division One Dave barely missed a game during the first four seasons, playing in a variety of roles but more often than not as an orthodox left winger where, with his strong defensive skills he added strength to City’s frequent backs-to-the–wall away performances. He was never renowned for his speed on the wing but his strong build made him difficult to get off the ball and his cultured left foot was capable of defence splitting passes and teasing crosses. It was a major surprise for City fans when he left City to join Second Division Sheffield Wednesday in 1971. At the time he was City’s most capped player, with 21 full caps and went on to win a further 27 caps between 1971 and 1976.
In 1973 Dave moved back to the top flight by joining Everton and became one of the best midfield players of the era before finishing his career in the USA with New York Cosmos and Colorado Caribous. At New York in 1976 he played alongside the great Brazilian Pele. After finishing playing Dave spent many years in the USA and ran an Irish shop.

Football League First Division (England)

1971-1972

90′

1970-1971

3600′

3 (0)

1969-1970

2900′

3 (0)

1968-1969

3280′

3 (0)

1967-1968

3603′

1 (0)

152

151

13473′

10 (0)

FA Cup (England)

1970-1971

90′

1969-1970

180′

1968-1969

180′

1966-1967

90′

1965-1966

180′

1 (0)

720′

1 (0)

League Cup (England)

1970-1971

450′

1969-1970

90′

1968-1969

360′

1 (0)

1967-1968

90′

1966-1967

270′

1965-1966

90′

1 (0)

1350′

2 (0)

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (Europe)

1970-1971

360′

0 (0)

Football League Second Division (England)

1966-1967

3600′

4 (0)

1965-1966

2025′

3 (0)

1964-1965

1350′

9 (0)

6975′

16 (0)

Totals:

257

255

22878′

29 (0)

Northern Ireland, 21 caps, 1 goal
1964-65
17 March 1965 Northern Ireland v Holland, Belfast, 1966 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 5, 2-1
31 March 1965 Northern Ireland v Wales, Belfast, British Home Championship, 0-5
1965-66
22 June 1966 Northern Ireland v Mexico, Belfast, friendly, 4-1, replaced
1966-67
16 November 1966 Scotland v Northern Ireland, Hampden Park, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 1-2
12 April 1967 Northern Ireland v Wales, Belfast, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 0-0
1967-68
21 October 1967 Northern Ireland v Scotland, Belfast, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 1-0, goal
22 November 1967 England v Northern Ireland, Wembley, UEFA Euro 1968 Qualifying Group 8, 2-0
1968-69
23 October 1968 Northern Ireland v Turkey, Belfast, 1970 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 4, 4-1
11 December 1968 Turkey v Northern Ireland, Istanbul, 1970 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 4, 0-3
6 May 1969 Scotland v Northern Ireland, Hampden Park, British Home Championship, 1-1
10 May 1969 Northern Ireland v Wales, Belfast, British Home Championship, 0-0, replaced
1969-70
10 September 1969 Northern Ireland v USSR, Belfast, 1970 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 4, 0-0, replaced
22 October 1969 USSR v Northern Ireland, Moscow, 1970 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 4, 2-0
18 April 1970 Northern Ireland v Scotland, Belfast, British Home Championship, 0-1
21 April 1970 England v Northern Ireland, Wembley, British Home Championship, 3-1
25 April 1970 Wales v Northern Ireland, Swansea, British Home Championship, 1-0
1970-71
11 November 1970 Spain v Northern Ireland, Seville, UEFA Euro 1972 Qualifying Group 4, 3-0
21 April 1971 Northern Ireland v Cyprus, Belfast, UEFA Euro 1972 Qualifying Group 4, 5-0
15 May 1971 Northern Ireland v England, Belfast, British Home Championship, 0-1
18 May 1971 Scotland v Northern Ireland, Hampden Park, British Home Championship, 0-1
22 May 1971 Northern Ireland v Wales, Belfast, British Home Championship, 1-0

13 further caps and 1 goal with Sheffield Wednesday, 12 caps with Everton and 2 caps with New York Cosmos (total 48 caps, 2 goals)

Northern Ireland U23, 3 caps, 1 goal
1964-65
10 February 1965 Wales U23 v Northern Ireland U23, Cardiff, 2-2, goal
1966-67
22 February 1967 Northern Ireland U23 v Wales U23, Belfast, 2-1, captain, game abandoned after 73 mins
1967-68
20 March 1968 Wales U23 v Northern Ireland U23, Cardiff, 0-1