Clive Middlemass

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Clive Middlemass (25 August 1944 – 4 July 2022) was an English footballer, manager, and scout. Born in Sheffield, he played as a defender. He started with Leeds United but soon moved to Workington, where he made 169 league appearances and scored 6 goals between 1963 and 1970. A near-fatal car crash on the way home from visiting his parents effectively ended his playing career, though he tried to return before retiring.

Middlemass switched to coaching, working as an assistant to Terry Cooper at Bristol Rovers (1980) and then Bristol City (1982). He became Carlisle United manager in November 1987, guiding them from relegations toward promotion contention in 1990 and earning praise for an attractive, three-at-the-back style. They reached the FA Cup, hosting Liverpool in a 3-0 defeat at Brunton Park to a large crowd. Injuries and a tough run of away games contributed to his departure in March 1991.

After Carlisle, he was first-team coach at Darlington (1991) and then joined Burnley as Jimmy Mullen’s assistant (1992). He later served as caretaker manager in 1996, and also worked as Adrian Heath’s assistant and then chief scout under Chris Waddle. In 1998 he became Preston North End’s chief scout under David Moyes, remaining through the tenures of Craig Brown and Billy Davies. In 2006 he moved to Derby County as chief scout, and in 2010 he worked again with Moyes as opposition scout at Everton. Clive Middlemass passed away on 4 July 2022, aged 77.