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. Dave later moved to the USA.
