Sam Clucas (2016/17)
Completing the fairytale story of reaching the Premier League the season before, the 2016/17 campaign was a landmark one for Sam Clucas.
The Lincoln-born midfielder progressed up the football pyramid the hard way. Being released by Leicester City as 16 for being too short, the now-33-year-old spent time playing at Nettleham in the Central Midlands Football League while also working part-time at a café at Debenhams and studying sports development at Lincoln College.
Local side Lincoln City took a punt on Clucas with a professional deal before a switch to play in Glenn Hoddle Academy saw him turn out for Spanish side Jerez Industrial.
Progressing then through the English pyramid with Hereford United, Mansfield Town and Chesterfield, it was Hull City that would help him make the next step up with a move to the Championship at the beginning of the 2015/16 season. Scoring on his City debut in a 2-0 opening day win over Huddersfield Town, the midfielder netted six times in 52 appearances in his opening campaign for Steve Bruce’s side, with his52nd appearance being his most favourite, the play-off victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
“My best moment in my entire career was the Wembley day; getting promoted to the Premier League. In my entire football career, I have never had a feeling like that,” said Clucas. “I was disappointed not to start in the game, but I got on and just that feeling at the end when the whistle goes, I will never be able to put it into words.
“Everything I went through to get to that point and the realism that you’re going to be playing in the Premier League next year was just incredible. I don’t think the feeling will ever be replicated just getting in there for the first time; it is indescribable. It was a dream come true and it is what I dreamed of doing ever since I was a kid playing in the park wanting to play in the Premier League, play against the best players and the best teams in the world and I managed to do that.”
With the excitement that the Tigers were back in the top flight, preparations were not smooth sailing with manager Bruce leaving the club while in the middle of pre-season.
One man who the midfielder had praise for was interim manager Mike Phelan, who was put in charge of the team that only had 13 senior outfield players fit heading into the opening game of the season against the reigning champions Leicester City.
“He was really good. We had multiple meetings with him and people higher up at the club and he told us everything he knew at the time. He was totally honest with us. He was telling us what he was getting told from higher up and kept us positive. The training was really good and the excitement of the club being back in the Premier League for the players and other players like myself who it was going to be our first time, I was just excited to be there playing. It obviously looked good for me, because we didn’t have many players so I knew I would be playing a lot which I probably never imagined was going to happen which would be good for me and we had a really good start with the first game against Leicester.”
In the fixture against the Foxes, Clucas was operating in a new role for the team. Already known as a versatile player that featured left back, left midfield and striker, the 33-year-old was moved more central.
“I ended up playing as a six in pre-season games which I had never done in my career as I had started out as a striker. The season before that, under Steve Bruce in the Championship, I was predominantly playing off the left at left midfield, but because of the injuries and the personnel at the time, Mike Phelan played me as a six against Barnsley in a pre-season game. I played really well and then he said he wanted to keep me there and that he really liked me there and I actually really enjoyed it. I ended up playing the entire season as a six and I enjoyed the new role.
“I have never had a summer like that where I have been so excited,” added Clucas. “Normally at the end of the season, you’re usually happy the season is done and dusted as you can finally have a rest up and go on holiday. You then are looking out for the fixtures, but you’re not really too excited, because you know you have pre-season to go back to which you know will be hard work. But this one honestly I just couldn’t wait until I could get back for pre-season and just start the season, especially with the first game being against my former club Leicester.”
Despite an impressive run to the semi-finals of the League Cup, Phelan left in January and was replaced with an unknown manager at the time in Marco Silva. A flurry of signings that saw players like Kamil Grosicki and Andrea Ranocchia walk through the door gave City the best chance of trying to reach Wembley for the League Cup final and survival in the top flight.
“He has got to be one of the best coaches I have worked with in my entire career, if not the best. I think as soon as he came in, the vibe we got straight away after a few weeks was we probably could see him managing at a high level. He had that sort of impact straight away. He obviously did really well and we had some really good results under him. He was great with all the lads. He was brilliant for me and his sessions were really good. I have spoken about it before but I still keep in touch with him now and that shows how much I get on with him and how much of a nice guy he is.”
An incredible home record saw City put up an almighty fight. After becoming one of very few players to net in all top five divisions with a goal away at Leicester City, the midfielder scored the club’s Goal of the Season winner with a stunning half-volley against Watford.
“I was desperate to score, especially away at Leicester as they were the team that released me as I was too small when I was 16. It was a funny story as I bumped into the guy that released me as we traveled the night before and stayed in a hotel. I spoke to him and he said how well I had been doing and to actually score in the game the next day was really good. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but it was a very good feeling for myself and for my family as well because my family came to watch every game in the Premier League home and away so they were all there so it was a great moment for my family to be there.
“It was a really good goal,” said Clucas when asked about his finish against Watford. “It just set up so perfectly for me on the edge of the box. We were down to 10 men and to score at home was really special. I had a really good relationship with the fans and everyone else. It was just an unbelievable moment and it all gets a bit washed with the whole situation at the club, I wish we got a bit more of a go, because it all just leads on to how my exit came and how I ended up leaving the club. I think if we had a proper go and manage to stay in the Premier League, then things would be different. I would have 100 per cent stayed on as I had a really good time there.”
Despite suffering relegation, the current Rotherham United midfielder won the club’s 'Player of the Year' award, an award he was delighted to receive.
“I think the award validated my whole football career really. Everything I worked for since being a kid and for my parents as well taking me all around the country to games and getting released and being out of football for two years, going to college, it just validated myself sticking with it, still trying hard to make it to be a professional footballer,” explained Clucas.
“To be able to do that in the Premier League and achieve those accolades at a club like Hull and in a team with the players we had at the time with international players that have played at the highest level for a long time is just incredible and it is such a massive confidence boost to myself. When I have done interviews before, I have had nothing but positive things to say about the club for what it did for me and how it changed my life and that is how it will stay forever with me to be honest.”
