GoS: Player Details

MARTIN CLAMP

Born: 31 January 1948

Came from: Coventry City Went to: Kettering Town

First game: 06 December 1969 Last game: 07 February 1970

Appearances: 9 (9/0) Goals: 0

Born in Coventry, and a capable goalkeeper, Clamp was a schoolboy recruit at Highfield Road, eventually joining the ground staff - as was a common side-line with apprentices at the time - in November 1964, before turning professional in January 1966.

Whilst he didn't make a Football League appearance for the Sky Blues he did make one first team appearance, detailed below in the player's own 'Your Contribution' submission, gratefully received! This appearance was enough to secure membership of the club's FPA (Former Players' Association) which he remains a proud member of, for his home town club, to this day.

Leaving the Sky Blues in the close season of 1968, he was signed for Argyle by Billy Bingham, largely as cover for Pat Dunne, but still mustered a number of first team outings in the league and cup during his time at Home Park.

Upon leaving Home Park, he returned to the Midlands turning out for Kettering Town under a then rookie manager Ron Atkinson, no less, and for whom he was voted the Poppies' first-ever Player of the Year for 1970-71. After leaving Kettering he had spells with Nuneaton Borough and finished his English career at Bedworth Town. After that he emigrated to Canada where he played for a number of teams before retiring in 1985, aged 37.

He then worked as a postman within his adopted country and has lived in Kitchener, Ontario, to the west of Toronto, for well over three decades.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

If you can add to this profile, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, please contribute here.

From Martin Clamp in Canada on 23/12/2017 ...

After reviewing your page I would like to refresh your information direct from the horse's mouth!

I did in fact play one game for the Coventry City first team. It was the Winston Churchill Remembrance Trophy played on March 19th 1967 against West Ham United. Playing on that team was R Moore, M Peters, G Hurst, J Sissons and P Brabrook. The goalkeeper that day was A Dickie, later signed by Jimmy Hill for Coventry.

West Ham were managed by Ron Greenwood. The final score was 3-3 and West Ham finally won on penalties 9-8. Playing in that game made me eligible to be invited to become a legend at Coventry City, which as a local boy made me very proud.

Also having played a few games for the first team at Plymouth I am a member of their Legends group which also gives me great pleasure.

The most incredible experience I had playing for the Argyle was the televised game on Match of the Day, Luton Town v Plymouth Argyle, introduced by David Coleman and commentated by Kenneth Wostenholme.

This was on January 17th 1970 with Plymouth winning 2-0, Mike Bickle and Derek Rickard scoring. On the losing team was Malcolm MacDonald, later transferred to Newcastle United for one hundred thousand pounds.

After leaving Plymouth I signed for Kettering Town who at that time was managed by BIG Ron Atkinson, before his days managing Manchester United. My career finished at Bedworth Town in England but I did play for numerous teams here in Canada before retiring at the age of 37.

I find it quite uplifting that as I am approaching my 70th birthday I can still remember so much of my career and find also that people like yourself are still so interested.

APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]

The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.