Where are they now? David McClements

IN a new series, colerainefc.com catches up with former players for a quick chat about their career and what they are presently doing.

First up is former Sheffield Wednesday trainee David McClements who joined the Bannsiders in November 2008 and went on to make his debut against Newry City in January 2009.

In total, the winger made 13 appearances, scoring once for the Stripes, before departing for Institute on loan in January 2010.

The 30-year-old also represented Northern Ireland at various age groups and has recently been on the books at Portstewart.

Q1. David talk us through your youth career – it must have been some experience making the move across the water to Sheffield Wednesday?

I started off playing for Millburn Canaries, before moving to Institute, where I played most my youth football.

When I was about 11 or 12 years old, I went to Carlisle United for nine months and then came home again.

I had a few trials but I decided to move to Sheffield Wednesday at 16 years old and I spent three years there which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Q2. What did you learn from your time at the Owls? You were nominated for the Football League Apprentice of the Year award? You also earned international caps at under-age levels?

I learned a lot but it wasn’t new to me because I had already lived away from home at a young age.

You quickly realise a routine of what to eat, what times to eat, when to rest and how to defend for yourself, so I had to grow up pretty quickly because I had no family with me.

It was quite difficult living with another family as it was hard sometimes but you just have to get on with it.

Being nominated for Young Apprentice of the Year was a big accolade in itself and I think I finished third out of those who were nominated which was a good achievement.

I was lucky enough to play for Northern Ireland from U16 to U17 and it always an honour to play for your country and I still look back on it now with great memories.

Q3. When you came back home to Northern Ireland it must have been great to sign for your hometown club?

When I got released from Sheffield Wednesday in July 2008, I stayed over in England for a while playing for various clubs, but I got a phone call from Davy Platt and he asked me if I would be interested in coming home to play for Coleraine.

I didn’t even have to think about it, I was back home inside the next week or so and it was a privilege to sign for my local club.

Q4. You managed to make 13 appearances for the club – do you feel you should have made more? Talk us through your goal against Lisburn Distillery?

I wish I made more appearances to be honest, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out at a club.

I really wanted to make it work, but when you have the likes of Stephen Carson, Darren Boyce, Darren Cassidy and Gareth Harkin all playing on the wings, something had to give and I moved on.

I can’t really remember the goal well, but I think it was a throw in from Tommy McCallion and I just let it run across my body, never lifted my head to look at the goal, just hit it and thankfully it went in the far top corner. It was probably one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.

Q5. Talk us through your career after Coleraine; are you still playing?

After I left Coleraine, I went to Institute on loan for a while and got a run of games.

Unfortunately, through work I couldn’t make training, so then I made the move to Tobermore United and I played there for three years or so and I had a great time there.

I was playing with Portstewart until half way through last season but my heart wasn’t in it any more. My two wee boys play now on Saturday morning, so I can watch them and then take them to watch Coleraine games in the afternoon.

Q6. Finally, many footballers from Coleraine have departed for across the water in recent years; what would your advice be to them?

My advice would be to get your head down, work hard, do that little bit more than the others in the team, for example, when they go home stay behind and do extra, whether that be working on something on training pitch, or in the gym, do it.

My biggest regret is that we usually finished training around 1 or 2pm in the afternoon and instead of staying behind to work on things, I would have been away home.

However, the most important thing is to just go and enjoy yourself because it could be your only chance.