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Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Tauranga lose key man as Clague heads to US university

Peter White
By Peter White
Sports writer·Bay of Plenty Times·
4 Aug, 2017 08:00 PM3 mins to read

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IN FORM: Tauranga City player William Clague is back in the USA to start a new year at the University of Charleston. PHOTO: FILE

IN FORM: Tauranga City player William Clague is back in the USA to start a new year at the University of Charleston. PHOTO: FILE

When William Clague made his debut for Tauranga City United while still at Otumoetai College there were a few eyebrows raised.

Not because he was at school but because he was a slightly built right back at the heart of the Tauranga defence up against much bigger and older players.

But he has never flinched a tackle and quickly impressed his teammates.

Former captain Sam O'Regan commented about Clague after a standout performance in 2014.

"This was a game he could have hid from - young guys tend to do that - but he showed that he is strong. He got his chance and came in for some of the toughest games in the league supposedly, and he's been brilliant."

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Clague, 21, has been impressing ever since with his ability to diffuse relentless attacks down his side of the pitch.

He also has an eye for scoring spectacular goals with his latest earning Tauranga City a 1-all draw away to Waitemata on Saturday in the latest round of the Northern Regional Division 1 competition.

The point moved Tauranga to seventh on the table with a huge clash in prospect this Sunday at Links Ave against Melville United.

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The high-flying Hamilton outfit gave Tauranga a record 10-0 hiding earlier in the competition but there has been a major improvement in the Blues' structure since then.

Clague is expecting his teammates to put in a tough 90 minutes of football and give the Melville boys a run for their money.

"I put our improvement down to hard work and having a solid group of lads who work for each other and have each other's backs," he said.

"That's what gets us the points we need to stay up and push forward to eventually move up to the top division where we need to be."

Clague will not be able to stem the goals himself on Sunday as he will be 13,000km away from Links Ave.

Earlier this week he flew back to the US to begin his second or sophomore year of a four-year football scholarship at the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

Clague said the football he had played in recent years with Tauranga City had prepared him well.

"Growing up it was a big step up going to men's division from school. I have played Northern Division 2, Division 1 and Premier division which has been a great stepping stone for me before going to college football.

"My college is one of the best universities in NCAA Division 2. They lost in the final this year. The game over there is very fast, it is very physical and similar to the league over here."

Soccer - as it is universally known in the United States - is definitely a sport that continues to develop and grow, Clague said.

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"I see more and more players coming over from different parts of the world to play there. Their national team is doing a lot better at recent World Cups and the level is definitely increasing.

"It is definitely working its way up the ladder over there."

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