Clayton Blackmore
Encyclopedia
Clayton Graham Blackmore (born 23 September 1964 in Neath
, Glamorgan
) is a former Welsh
international
footballer. He was a combative player known for his attacking free kicks and a utility player
who excelled at full back
and in central defence but could play equally well in midfield or as an emergency forward.
but, instead joined Manchester United
as an apprentice. Having come through the United youth system
he won the first of his 39 caps for Wales
after only two first team appearances at Old Trafford
. He has the unique distinction of having worn every number for United from 2 to 11 (under the old system of the first XI wearing shirts numbered 1–11, until players were assigned with a squad number to keep all season).
He made his debut for United on 16 May 1984 in their 2–0 league defeat against Nottingham Forest
at the City Ground
, when still only 19. He made a solitary league appearance the following season, and did not make the squad for the FA Cup final win over Everton
. 1985–86
saw Blackmore really come into promisement as he scored three goals in 12 league games, but he didn't get a serious run in the side until the 1987–88 season
, by which time Alex Ferguson
was United's manager, when played 22 games and scored 3 goals for a United side who finished second in the league to Liverpool
– their best finish for eight years. 1988–89
saw Blackmore enjoy even more first team opportunities as he played 28 times in the league, though United finish a disappointing 11th.
He made regular appearances as a winger or full-back in 1989–90
, which saw an injury blighted United side struggle in the league and finish 13th but win the FA Cup with a 1–0 replay win over Crystal Palace
after drawing the first game 3–3. He was United's first choice left-back in 1990–91
as they won the European Cup Winners' Cup, were runners-up in the Football League Cup
and finished sixth in the league, but he was forced out of this position for the 1991–92 season
when Paul Parker joined the club as first choice right-back and the previous season's right-back Denis Irwin
was switched to Blackmore's favoured position of left-back. His other favoured position of left-wing was now being contended for by youngesters Lee Sharpe
and Ryan Giggs
. However, he still had the opportunity to play in 33 league games that season, as United led the table for most of the season before a shortage of goals after the turn of 1992 cost them the title, which was won by Leeds United
.
During his time at United, he helped the club win the FA Cup
in 1990 as well as the 1992 League Cup
and the 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup and made 14 League appearances, enough to win a medal, in United's 1992–93
F.A. Premier League title success. By now, however, his days at Old Trafford
were looking numbered, as he had strong competition at left-back in the shape of Denis Irwin
and on the left wing from both Ryan Giggs
and Lee Sharpe
– players who were all regarded among the best in those positions in the whole league.
He joined Middlesbrough
for the 1994–95 season
, linking up with newly appointed player-manager and former team mate Bryan Robson
. He helped them win promotion to the Premier League as Division One champions in his first season on Teesside
, playing in 30 League games and scoring two goals. He also appeared in Middlesbrough's 1997 FA Cup Final defeat by Chelsea
. Whilst at Boro he had a loan spell with Bristol City
.
He later had brief spells with Barnsley
and Notts County
, before moving into non-league football with Leigh RMI and Bangor City
.
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
) is a former Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international
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...
footballer. He was a combative player known for his attacking free kicks and a utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
who excelled at full back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and in central defence but could play equally well in midfield or as an emergency forward.
Career
Blackmore once had trials with Neath Rugby ClubNeath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
but, instead joined Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
as an apprentice. Having come through the United youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
he won the first of his 39 caps for 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...
after only two first team appearances at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
. He has the unique distinction of having worn every number for United from 2 to 11 (under the old system of the first XI wearing shirts numbered 1–11, until players were assigned with a squad number to keep all season).
He made his debut for United on 16 May 1984 in their 2–0 league defeat against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
at the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
, when still only 19. He made a solitary league appearance the following season, and did not make the squad for the FA Cup final win over Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. 1985–86
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
saw Blackmore really come into promisement as he scored three goals in 12 league games, but he didn't get a serious run in the side until the 1987–88 season
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
, by which time Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
was United's manager, when played 22 games and scored 3 goals for a United side who finished second in the league to 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...
– their best finish for eight years. 1988–89
1988-89 in English football
The 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital...
saw Blackmore enjoy even more first team opportunities as he played 28 times in the league, though United finish a disappointing 11th.
He made regular appearances as a winger or full-back in 1989–90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
, which saw an injury blighted United side struggle in the league and finish 13th but win the FA Cup with a 1–0 replay win over Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
after drawing the first game 3–3. He was United's first choice left-back in 1990–91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
as they won the European Cup Winners' Cup, were runners-up in the Football 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...
and finished sixth in the league, but he was forced out of this position for the 1991–92 season
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
when Paul Parker joined the club as first choice right-back and the previous season's right-back Denis Irwin
Denis Irwin
Denis Joseph Irwin is a former Irish football player who is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in the United team that won a host of domestic and European trophies in his time there between 1990 and...
was switched to Blackmore's favoured position of left-back. His other favoured position of left-wing was now being contended for by youngesters Lee Sharpe
Lee Sharpe
Lee Stuart Sharpe is an English former footballer. Predominantly a left winger, Sharpe joined Manchester United from Torquay United as a youngster in 1988, playing for the club up until 1996...
and Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
. However, he still had the opportunity to play in 33 league games that season, as United led the table for most of the season before a shortage of goals after the turn of 1992 cost them the title, which was won by Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
.
During his time at United, he helped the club win the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1990 as well as the 1992 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...
and the 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup and made 14 League appearances, enough to win a medal, in United's 1992–93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
F.A. Premier League title success. By now, however, his days at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
were looking numbered, as he had strong competition at left-back in the shape of Denis Irwin
Denis Irwin
Denis Joseph Irwin is a former Irish football player who is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in the United team that won a host of domestic and European trophies in his time there between 1990 and...
and on the left wing from both Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
and Lee Sharpe
Lee Sharpe
Lee Stuart Sharpe is an English former footballer. Predominantly a left winger, Sharpe joined Manchester United from Torquay United as a youngster in 1988, playing for the club up until 1996...
– players who were all regarded among the best in those positions in the whole league.
He joined Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
for the 1994–95 season
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
, linking up with newly appointed player-manager and former team mate Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
. He helped them win promotion to the Premier League as Division One champions in his first season on Teesside
Teesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
, playing in 30 League games and scoring two goals. He also appeared in Middlesbrough's 1997 FA Cup Final defeat by Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. Whilst at Boro he had a loan spell with Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
He later had brief spells with Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
and Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, before moving into non-league football with Leigh RMI and Bangor City
Bangor City F.C.
Bangor City Football Club are a semi-professional Welsh football club from the City of Bangor. The club compete in the Welsh Premier League, being ever present since the league was founded in 1992....
.