 Ince in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1972-07-13)13 July 1972 (age 52) | ||
| Place of birth | Arima, Trinidad and Tobago | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Maple Club | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1996 | Fulham SC | ||
| 1996–1998 | KFC Memphis | ||
| 1998–1999 | Defence Force | ||
| 1999–2005 | Crewe Alexandra | 123 | (0) |
| 2000 | →Dundee (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Coventry City | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2010 | Walsall | 152 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Ma Pau | ||
| 2011–2013 | T&TEC | ||
| Total | 276 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1994–2009[1] | Trinidad and Tobago | 79 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Clayton InceCM (born 13 July 1972) is aTrinidadian former professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper and had lengthy spells in the English Football League atCrewe Alexandra andWalsall. He is his country's most capped goalkeeper with 79caps forTrinidad and Tobago to date, his debut coming on 17 April 1994 againstMartinique (the game ended in a 7–2 win for Trinidad and Tobago).[1]
Ince was born inArima. He began his footballing career as a defender before converting to become a goalkeeper. As back-up to Michael McComie he played in goal against the then Soviet Union when Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the 1991FIFA World Youth Championship held in Portugal, although the tournament did not go too well for his team which conceded a total of 12 goals in three group matches.
Ince began his playing career with theChaguaramas-based clubDefence Force, where he quickly established himself as a promising young goalkeeper.[2][3] In 1997, he was named theTrinidad and Tobago Football Federation's Player of the Year.[4][5] He was named the Best Goalkeeper at theCaribbean Cup in 1997,[6] 1998,[7] 1999,[6] and 2001.[8]
In 1999, Ince went on trial to the Welsh clubWrexham (who play in the EnglishFootball League). Although he played well whilst on trial, the club could not afford to offer him a contract. However, in September of the same year he was offered a contract byCrewe Alexandra, which was accepted by Ince.
Ince spent most of his first two seasons at Crewe as understudy toJason Kearton, the exception being a one-month loan spell atDundee,[9] during which time he did not actually play. After returning to Crewe in November 2000 he was placed on the transfer list, the only club who actively tried to sign him was Wrexham, whose bid failed due to a lack of funds. He was removed from the transfer list in the summer of 2001 when Kearton left the club, Ince went on to establish himself as Crewe's first-choice goalkeeper during the2000–01 season.
After playing in over 200 games for the club, Ince left Crewe in the summer of 2005 following the expiry of his contract. He signed for fellow Championship sideCoventry City on aBosman transfer.[10] He failed to establish himself as a first-choice with the club, serving as understudy to successive loan signingsStephen Bywater andMárton Fülöp.
Following Trinidad and Tobago's qualification for the2006 World Cup, Ince made it publicly known that he wanted to leave Coventry on loan to play first-team football. He has stated that without this his place in the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the tournament would be jeopardised; although he was no longer his country's first choice goalkeeper, the tournament perhaps represented his last realistic chance of appearing at the World Cup.
In July 2006, Ince signed for Walsall following a successful trial spell.[11] Ince received a ten-day ban from FIFA in October 2006 after Walsall withdrew him from the Trinidad and Tobago squad without permission.[12] He became Walsall's first choice goalkeeper and received the League One player of the Month award in November.[13]
In an interview with Walsall's official website, Ince stated that he saw the move to Walsall as the springboard to win further international caps, and had indeed regained his spot as Trinidad and Tobago's first-choice goalkeeper following the retirement ofShaka Hislop and the unavailability of injury-proneKelvin Jack, who were ahead of him in the pecking order at the World Cup. But following Trinidad & Tobago's failure to qualify for the2010 FIFA World Cup, Ince had since been considering retiring from international football, stating that it wouldn't be practical to continue playing friendlies and that he wouldn't realistically be around for the2014 campaign.[14]
Ince was named in the PFALeague Two Team of the Year for the2006–07 season,[15] and also named Walsall's Player of the Season for the 2008–09 season. Ince had become a favourite with the Walsall fans for his numerous displays that have saved the team from losing.[16]
On 6 May 2010, Ince had formally announced his retirement from professional football and also stated his intention to return to Trinidad to work with younger goalkeepers,[17] but returned to professional football with Trinidadian outfitMa Pau SC and even spoke about a possible return to International football with Trinidad and Tobago.[1]
After a successful stint with Ma Pau as Player/Assistant Coach where he won the Toyota Classic and was named Player of the Tournament, Ince signed a two-year deal with Pro League side T&TEC FC as Player/Goalkeeping coach.[2]
As a member ofthe squad that competed at the2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Ince was awarded theChaconia Medal (Gold Class), the second higheststate decoration of Trinidad and Tobago.[18]
Crewe Alexandra
Walsall
Individual
Chaconia Medal Gold Class: 2006
Trinidad and Tobago squads | |||||||||||||||||||
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