Neil Clement’s triumphant close to Albion’s season has revived his hopes of reaching a 10-year milestone with the club.
Clement made his 300th appearance with the Baggies at QPR on the final day of the campaign to complete a remarkable revival in his fortunes after a year dominated by injury.
The club’s longest serving player has already spent eight eventful years at the Hawthorns but his Albion contract runs until the summer of 2010 – and after major doubts in the past that he would see that through, Clement is now much more optimistic. “I have said since I signed it that I would like to see it through and that’s still in my mind,” said Clement.
“But I just want to stay in the team and come back flying next year. I want to work hard over the summer and make sure I come back a little bit ahead and crack on for next season.
“Longer-term I would like to see my contract through. Eight years is a long time in football but three months is a long time, as I have shown this year. There will be lots of twists and turns but I just want to come back hungry for next year and stay in the team.
“I know I’ve got to be at my best to do that.”
The 10-year mark would make Clement available for a testimonial no Albion fan would begrudge him after his outstanding services, amid gutsy battles to overcome knee problems, down the years.
Clement recalls: “I always remember sitting down when I first signed from Chelsea with John Wile (Albion’s then Chief Executive) and he was saying how much the club was losing every week financially. “But fair play to Gary Megson because he really did turn it around.
“The board did very well to appoint him but he turned the club around and really set it on its way.
“It’s a nice training ground now. There is still a lot of room for improvement but it’s well on its way.
“I’m proud that I have seen the club change a lot from having the new East Stand to the new training ground.
“The club has changed a lot and I hope I have played a part in that, whatever small part it might be.”
26 Comments
Clemmo is a top top man.I know the QPR 300 games etc was very emotional for him with his fathers links etc and to win the league there was the icing on the cake. As the piece says no Albion fan would begrudge him of a testimonial. At one stage(with his injury) it looked like his football career was over let alone his assosiation with the baggies but he has come back and is looking even better under TM’s guidence.
Top bloke!!!
glad to see him back great player
yep , top man clem your a star .
Good player and sweet left peg, there is still some loyalty in the game!
He deserves the testimonial, he was one of last seasons star players when it came to the push for the title in the last games
Great to have someone still here who was around at the start of the Megson/Thompson revolution and still here as Mowbray/Peace carry it on to the next level. Fully deserves the success he’s had and hopefully more to come.
Clement has been my best player now for years. I remember after 1 season with us there was talk of him going to Blackburn So glad he did’nt go.
Well done Clem, Proud of you mate.
Albion legend! Great to have Clem back - he was a massive part of our promotion as he firmed up the defence when we really needed it. Top bloke too.
i’m a wolves fan but i admit albion looked alot stronger at the back when clement came back in. he is a decent bloke and despite been disappointed that wolves didn’t go up with you, the baggies deserved to go up because they played really good football instead of hoofing it up field. they are a credit to the championship. good luck next season and hopefully in the 2009/2010 season the wolves V albion derby will be played in the premiership.
jon–Good on you and all the best next season boing boing
Shows how time flies !
He does make some mistakes occasionally, but makes up for them overall.
I like him and hopefully he can still produce in the Premiership ?
I want to see some of his great freekick goals against the big boys !
Gera to Everton……thanks for the memories. You will be sadly missed !!!
weres ur gera gone weres ur gera gone weres ur gera gone weres ur gera gone!!!!!! robinson next one out bloody hell you lot will get less points than derby haha getin relegated the mowbury way OH YES!!!!
Clement was the stability for our rocky central defence that ensured we stopped conceding sloppy goals and gained promotion. He is a top player but may come up short in The Premier. I always remember standing next him in the players lounge after we lost the second leg play off game at Bolton.
finchy - wolves
i’d look at your own team before you pass judgement on others pal remember the start of last season with all the sinking ship comments?and look at us now in the prem and the dog heads didn’t even make the play offs
15 - whatever!
finchy at least were in the prem. where are your lot.
I can’t find any mention of Gera leaving on the official site, or the Everton site, or SKY - or anywhere at all….
Think the dingles have popped their cork a little early !!
They want to hope we keep him - cos Kightly is the natural replacement…
15-you have to have quality players for other premiership clubs to want ‘em,like attracts like.I hear a couple of wulfs better players are being tracked by Kidderminster and Halesowen,but they are not sure if the wulf’s squad are up to non-league standard.
Not many players stay at one club for 10years so well done CLEM hope you keep up the good work and play for the baggies in the prem next season. With T-M in charge we can stay up and keep ow er place in the prem for many a year
Like most Albion fans I love Gera and if he does eventually move on it will be with our best wishes except when he plays against us. Unlike Koumas and Kamara, we’ll have nothing but good memories of Zoltan, an honest, talented, whole hearted player who has played a big part in putting WBA back on the football map (that’s the real one not the imaginary one so beloved of certain Wulfies.) I’d be sorry to lose him but a part of me is thinking, can’t wait to see who we replace him with. After last years ‘rats leaving the sinking ship West Brom going down’ posts, you’d think they’d stop commenting on our players leaving and worry more about their own leaky vessel, in the hands of Black Moxey and Captain Mickwash ‘all aboard the Black and Gold Pig, premiership bound again next season.’
TRB - I think his direct replacement is alrady here….
Zolly had a great last quater of the season - but when Tex was fit he didn’t figure regularly.
Tex will be like a new signing when he come back and he will look fantastic strolling on the premier league pitches.
I hope Zolly decides to stay - but when his replacement is already a baggies player there is no drama.
Very loyal and professional player and theres not many of them in the game these days and i am proud to have him at our great club. hope he can stay and get the testimonial he deserves.
Fair point there Happy. Its true that Gera probably wouldnt have had so many starts if Tex was fit. I for one am a huge fan of Zolly, and always will be what ever his decision. I honestly feel theres still a lot more to come with tex, cant wait to see him back in Blue and white down the Hawthorns.