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Walsall’s Ince announces retirement
Thursday 6th May 2010, 11:50AM BST.
Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince has announced his retirement from football and will quit after Saturday’s final League One game of the season.
The 37-year-old joined the Saddlers in 2006 from Coventry and has made 169 appearances for the club, but has struggled with form and injuries this season.
The Trinidad and Tobago international has made 169 appearances for the club, but lost his place to Rene Gilmartin in February and now feels the time is right to step aside.
Ince will now say his goodbyes to the Banks’s Stadium faithful at Saturday’s home game against Milton Keynes Dons.
He said: “It wasn’t an easy decision but when the time comes your body knows when to pull out. I’ve given a lot to the sport but now it’s time to give more to family and friends, especially my kids.
“They are the reason why I’ve been in the sport so long and I don’t want to retire because of injury, I’d rather go when I’m still healthy.
“I didn’t want to stay at the club and just being a squad player, receiving a salary and blocking a youngster from getting in.”
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Clayton Ince is a hero – a wonderful keeper who despite making the odd gaff here and there (virtually throwing the ball into his net a couple of times)has been a great servant. Since a certain James Walker left there had been a big gap at the back, but Clayton has certainly filled it. He has given me some great memories (standing back flips here there and everywhere – until I suspect the physio threatened him to stop), and he pulled off the greatest save I’ve ever seen. In the title winning year we went to Hereford and he managed to somehow change direction in mid-air and save what was a certain goal. There was a great picture in the paper of the Hereford striker turning away to celebrate, all the Hereford fans in the process of jumping in the air, and across the middle of the goal, the horizontal form of Clayton – all 6 foot whatever of him and Lord knows how many stone, about 5 feet off the ground with an arm outstretched palming the ball away. I’ll remember that save as long as I live.
Good luck Clayton, and thanks for the memories.
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Incey’s performances haven’t been up to his normal standard for large parts this season and personally I would’ve released him if he hadn’t retired.
Saying that, there’s no denying his time at Walsall has been a great success. His record run of clean sheets in the championship winning season will live long in the memory.
The time to go is right but thanks for your efforts over the years Clayton. All the best for the future.
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Sorry to hear that Ince, you have done well for us. Thanks for a record breaking promotion season from League 2.
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Clayton has been a great servant to our club- you only need to think back to our title winning season and how many clean sheets he kept. You don’t ever beat a club record without being top quality. Without Clayton we would not have won the league, the only thing we have actually won in my lifetime. Still the best goalie at the club and I hope that CH makes sure that he plays on Saturday- that would be a fitting tribute to a deserving player. Good luck to the big man.
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Clayton is an excellent keeper and an all round top bloke. Along with the aforementioned title winning clean sheets and that astonishing save at Hereford, I’ll offer up him dribbling round Peter Slouch for Trinidad in that friendly 2 years back, even though it was against England I still cheered him.
He leaves with a record of 9 goals conceded (and 1 penalty save)in his last 10 games, so maybe his standards were still pretty high.
Good luck to you Incey.
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Clayton has been a superb keeper for the Saddlers, far and away Money’s best signing and in my opinion the best keeper in living memory including the likes of Ron Green, Jimmy Walker, Fred Barber to name but a few. I will be really sorry to see him go it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to rely on such a quality player and successful teams are always built on the foundations of a solid defence. There is no doubt that Clayton was hugely instrumental in our title-winning season. Thanks for playing for us and all the very best for the future!
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Clayton has been the best keeper for the Saddlers in living memory including the likes of Ron Green, Fred Barber, Jimmy Walker to name but a few. Far and away the best signing of the Richard Money era and hugely instrumental in our title winning season. All the very best for the future to a top quality player who will be sadly missed.
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Clayton Ince has been a brilliant keeper for Walsall , and his record proves that ! He is the only keeper in my , and many other supporter’s eye’s that has truely filled the number one spot since Jimmy Walker’s time with us!I also think he is a gentleman , having people blame him for the odd occassion he has made an error, he has never tried to hide or blame someone else !! i also heard that he’s sent some of his wage’s to his home land to help the youngster’s there with their football facility’s !! top bloke and a gent , wish you well for the future Clayton and thank you for your professionlism !
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Very good keeper, very good pro, very nice bloke. Thank you Clayton and good luck.
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All the best Clayton, you have been a fantastic keeper for us…and a truly nice bloke to boot. Some of the saves you’ve made, and your dominance in the air, have been top class. Okay, so your kicking is like my golf – a tendency to slice – but I’ll forgive you that. Enjoy the Trinidadian sunshine. I hope you play some part in tomorrow’s game.
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Nice tributes lads as a coventry fan I would also wish this fine man all the best Bil Moore
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Goodbye Spider! Clayton Ince has been a great servant to Walsall FC. The big smiling man will be sadly missed by all fans. I am sure every fan wants to say goodbye properly so I hope Chris Hutchings plays you during the match. In fact right from the start please!
Good health and happiness for the future Clayton and thanks for the memories xxx
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Good luck clayton,top keeper,top bloke he HAS to start tommorow.All the best mate.
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Sad to see him go, a real character, pulled off some great saves, record breaking season, Top top bloke, All the best Clayton.
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