Legends and fans join ‘March for Men’ in memory of Ray Clemence

Spurs legends David Howells and Stephen Clemence this week joined some of the Club's fans on the nationally-renowned ‘March for Men’ in memory of Stephen’s dad, the late, great Ray Clemence.

Led by TV host Jeff Stelling, the walking marathon, covering four separate routes across the UK, was first introduced in 2016 to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK, a charity which aims to fund lifesaving research to improve testing, treatments and care for those affected by the most common cancer in men.

Tragically, we lost former goalkeeper Ray last November after a long battle with the disease.

In his memory, legendary ex-midfielder David joined members of the Yorkshire Spurs Official Supporters’ Club on the Harrogate Town to Leeds United leg of the march on Tuesday, before Stephen, also a former Spurs midfielder and now first team coach at Newcastle United, marched the Tranmere Rovers to Liverpool FC leg on Wednesday.

The fourth and final leg will conclude at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, as Jeff and company walk from Millwall FC via Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.

Still sorely missed, Ray was present when we hosted the finale to the same event at the stadium in 2019.

Following their efforts on Tuesday, David and the Yorkshire Spurs members raised a combined total of more than £5,400 for the charity, with their respective JustGiving pages still open for anyone who wishes to make a donation.

“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting up with some of our fans at Yorkshire Spurs before and they’re a superb group who really do the Club proud,” said the 1991 FA Cup winner. “We all had a long, challenging day but it was well worth it to remember Ray and to raise funds and awareness for such a worthy cause.”

Stephen completed the Merseyside leg along with his wife, son, daughter, niece and nephew, raising more than £2,500, with a great deal more raised via the March for Men JustGiving page.

“It was hard on my feet, probably tougher than I thought, but it was thoroughly worthwhile,” said Stephen. “We left Tranmere at 8am and got to Anfield at around 6.30pm so it was a long day, but I’m really proud of the kids – Ray’s grandchildren – who wanted to do it for their grandad. I’d actually planned to do the last leg and finish up at Tottenham this weekend, but sadly circumstances mean I’m unable to make it. I’d like to thank Jeff and everyone who is taking part across the week and I send my best wishes to everyone for a successful last leg on Saturday.”

Jeff said: “One in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. I deal in stats, but that one still shocks me. This is our Dads, partners, brothers, grandads, uncles and friends. That’s why I wear the Prostate Cancer UK 'Man of Men' badge. That’s why we’ve marched across the UK three times, helping raise more than £1m for crucial research to beat prostate cancer.

“Last year, we lost the great Ray Clemence to prostate cancer. A terrific goalkeeper and a terrific human being. I also lost my mate, Lloyd Pinder, to the disease a few months earlier. I met him on the second day of my very first march for Prostate Cancer UK up in Yorkshire. This highlights once more what an indiscriminate disease this is, and it’s for men like Lloyd and Ray, their families and everyone affected by prostate cancer, that we march again.”