Dave Clement
Encyclopedia
Dave Clement was a football player. Clement was a right fullback
who developed with Queens Park Rangers
through the club's youth set-up. He signed professional terms in 1965 and made his first team debut in the 1966-67 season, which was memorable for QPR in that they won the Football League Third Division
championship by twelve points and also became the first Third Division side to win a major trophy – the League Cup
, beating first division side West Bromwich Albion
3–2 in the first ever final at Wembley Stadium
.
The following season, Clement was a regular member of the side, making 34 appearances in another promotion season for QPR. He possessed great stamina and was strong in the tackle but his distribution for a defender was also excellent. Over the coming seasons he became a fixture in the team, missing only six league games from the 1970/71 to 1973/74 seasons.
By the 1975/76 season, Clement was an integral part of an exciting, attacking QPR team with stars such as Stan Bowles
and Gerry Francis
. QPR finished the season just one point shy of eventual champions Liverpool
. It was during this season that Clement received international recognition, ten years after playing for the England Youth team. He made his full international debut against Wales
in March 1976, coming on as a substitute at half-time in a game England
won 2–1. He made four more appearances over the next year.
In 1979, after fourteen years at the club and with QPR now relegated to the Second Division, Clement was sold to Bolton Wanderers
for £170,000. He had made 472 appearances in all competitions for QPR, and scored 28 goals. He subsequently went on to play for Wimbledon
and Fulham
before his death in 1982, aged 34. Suffering from depression
after badly breaking his leg, and believing his career was finished, he committed suicide by poisoning himself with weedkiller. His son, Neil Clement
, who was only three years old at the time, was also a professional footballer and spent the majority of his career playing for West Bromwich Albion.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who developed with Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
through the club's youth set-up. He signed professional terms in 1965 and made his first team debut in the 1966-67 season, which was memorable for QPR in that they won the Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
championship by twelve points and also became the first Third Division side to win a major trophy – the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, beating first division side West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
3–2 in the first ever final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
The following season, Clement was a regular member of the side, making 34 appearances in another promotion season for QPR. He possessed great stamina and was strong in the tackle but his distribution for a defender was also excellent. Over the coming seasons he became a fixture in the team, missing only six league games from the 1970/71 to 1973/74 seasons.
By the 1975/76 season, Clement was an integral part of an exciting, attacking QPR team with stars such as Stan Bowles
Stan Bowles
Stanley Bowles was a leading English footballer who gained a reputation as one of the game's greatest mavericks. He was a cousin of Paul Bowles.-Career:...
and Gerry Francis
Gerry Francis
Gerald Charles James Francis is an English former footballer and manager, now working as First Team coach at Stoke City.-Playing career:Francis made his debut for Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool in March 1969...
. QPR finished the season just one point shy of eventual champions Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. It was during this season that Clement received international recognition, ten years after playing for the England Youth team. He made his full international debut against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in March 1976, coming on as a substitute at half-time in a game England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
won 2–1. He made four more appearances over the next year.
In 1979, after fourteen years at the club and with QPR now relegated to the Second Division, Clement was sold to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
for £170,000. He had made 472 appearances in all competitions for QPR, and scored 28 goals. He subsequently went on to play for Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
before his death in 1982, aged 34. Suffering from depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
after badly breaking his leg, and believing his career was finished, he committed suicide by poisoning himself with weedkiller. His son, Neil Clement
Neil Clement
Neil Clement , is an English former professional footballer who spent the majority of his career playing for West Bromwich Albion. He participated in a club record three promotions. His customary position was in defence, but he was also a versatile player who occupied several different positions...
, who was only three years old at the time, was also a professional footballer and spent the majority of his career playing for West Bromwich Albion.