Cliff Portwood
Encyclopedia
Clifford Portwood (born 17 October 1937) is a former English
footballer.
in 1955. He quickly became a regular for the first 11, becoming Tom Finney's understudy. He joined Port Vale
for £750 in August 1959. and was the club's top scorer for the 1960–61 season
with 26 goals. He was sold to Grimsby Town
for £6,000 in July 1961, later playing for Portsmouth
where he was the club's top scorer in the 1964–65 season with 12 goals.
After leaving Pompey in 1970 he went to South Africa
, playing and coaching with Durban United. Whilst in Durban, he entered a singing competition and won a recording contract in Australia
.
Portwood returned to England in the early 1980s, on his return he appeared on several talent shows and in 1982 recorded a World Cup song with members of the 1966 World Cup squad. "Up there oh England" was pulled due to a licensing issue on the B-side. The song was done in conjunction with his producer friend, Mike Brady, who wrote the original song "Up there Cazaly", a number one in Australia.
In the late 1990s he had for several years been going to Florida
and successfully singing on the cabaret circuit there in the winter months, until a lung condition meant he had to return full time to England in 2008.
Cliff still watches Portsmouth play regularly at Fratton Park
and lives and resides in Alton, Hampshire
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer.
Playing career
Cliff Portwood started his career with Manchester Athletic before joing Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in 1955. He quickly became a regular for the first 11, becoming Tom Finney's understudy. He joined Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
for £750 in August 1959. and was the club's top scorer for the 1960–61 season
1960–61 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1960–61 season was Port Vale's forty-ninth season of football in the Football League, and their second season in the Third Division. Aiming for promotion, the club were disappointed with their eventual seventh place finish. The first season of the League Cup ended for Vale at the Second Round,...
with 26 goals. He was sold to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
for £6,000 in July 1961, later playing for Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
where he was the club's top scorer in the 1964–65 season with 12 goals.
After leaving Pompey in 1970 he went to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, playing and coaching with Durban United. Whilst in Durban, he entered a singing competition and won a recording contract in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Singing career
Moving to Melbourne permanently in the early 1970s, he became a successful recording artist and TV personality, earning several gold records and appearing on prime time TV most weekends.Portwood returned to England in the early 1980s, on his return he appeared on several talent shows and in 1982 recorded a World Cup song with members of the 1966 World Cup squad. "Up there oh England" was pulled due to a licensing issue on the B-side. The song was done in conjunction with his producer friend, Mike Brady, who wrote the original song "Up there Cazaly", a number one in Australia.
In the late 1990s he had for several years been going to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and successfully singing on the cabaret circuit there in the winter months, until a lung condition meant he had to return full time to England in 2008.
Cliff still watches Portsmouth play regularly at Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
and lives and resides in Alton, Hampshire
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
.