EVERY day is a school day for former left-back Clive Wilson now he works as a permanent supply teacher at Roding Valley High School in Loughton in Essex.
Manchester-born Wilson has been at Roding since 2019 — teaching year 11-16s.
The 63-year-old said: “I started to work in education in 2008.”
After retiring from football in 2000, the ex-defender worked for Le Coq Sportif and Ted Baker before going to university and getting a degree in sports science.
He revealed: “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!
“The odd thing is I have two brothers and a sister and two of them are teachers, too.
“I used to be one of those people who would tease them about them having the best job with a quarter of the year off with holidays.
“Then I started teaching. Wow, was I mistaken! Believe me, you need that time.”
Growing up, Wilson always wanted to be a footballer but thought it had passed him by when he had not been spotted by the age of 14.
He left school at 16 and went to college to study electrical and electronic engineering with the intention of becoming an electrician.
But in the last year of college he was spotted playing at Hough End — Manchester’s equivalent to London’s Hackney Marshes.
He said: “Len Davies was a Manchester City scout in the days when people would scout the local talent.
“And it went from there. I am a case in point that it’s never too late to chase your dream.
“I joined at the time of Alex Williams, Andy May, Steve Kinsey, Tommy Caton — sadly no longer with us — and Steve Mackenzie, a 17-year-old Malcolm Allison signed from Crystal Palace, who went on to score one of the great FA Cup final goals.
“The club reached successive FA Youth Cup finals in 1979 and 1980.
“Sadly we lost them both to Millwall and Aston Villa. I played in the latter final.”
Wilson still remembers his City debut — a League Cup tie against Stoke in October 1981 at Maine Road.
He recalled: “I was excited at the thought of maybe getting a chance on the bench. Back then there was only one or two subs at the most.
“But when I saw manager John Bond had named me in the team, reality suddenly hit me knowing I then had to go out and do it. All of a sudden I was playing alongside players who I thought were on a different level. But it all went OK and we won 2-0.”
Clive spent eight years at Maine Road along with a small loan at Chester City for a season.
Then he took on a new challenge in 1987 when he headed 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!
“The first season at Stamford Bridge wasn’t great after being relegated from the top flight.
“Not only that but we had the agony of losing a relegation play-off.
“They were those two seasons when teams from the top flight would go into two-legged semi-final and final play-off games against teams from the second tier.
“Sadly, we lost against Middlesbrough over two legs in the final.
“However, we bounced back the following season — scoring 99 league points from our 46 games.”
Wilson maintains his best playing years were under Gerry Francis at QPR between 1991 and 1994.
He said: “In reflection, I think so. 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.”
Wilson ended up reuniting with Francis at White Hart Lane in 1995.
He said: “Rangers boss Ray Wilkins wanted me to stay but, with no offence to QPR, I was 34 and I saw the switch to Spurs as possibly my last opportunity of playing at one of English football’s big clubs.
“Working again with Gerry made it familiar for me, too.”
He spent four years in North London but by the time he switched to Cambridge in 1999, he knew his football career was slowing down.
Wilson admitted: “I was 38 and was picking up niggly injuries.
“I was still undecided in that 1999-2000 season whether that would be my final year, but realised a few weeks after the end of the season that was it.
“I never did go into my last game with any fanfares about it being my finale. And it suited me that way.
“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.
“The game gave me a great grounding in my life. I am extremely proud of my 20-odd years in the game.”
This last week has been an opportunity for Wilson to take a well-earned break from the classroom for half-term.
He said: “It’s been a nice pause but I’ll enjoy going back in and mixing with children who, in the main, are a pleasure to teach and work with on a daily basis.”
