Cameron Lissimore Media

Sean Clare
Position – Central Midfielder
Current Club – Leyton Orient
Previous Clubs – Sheffield Wednesday, Bury FC, Accrington Stanley, Gillingham FC, Heart of Midlothian, Oxford United, Burton Albion, Charlton Athletic, Wigan Athletic
Age : 28

Briefly Summarise your growing up around football…
Growing up around football mainly came from my dad, who was big on football and supported Liverpool. He never forced me into football, but from a young age, I was
interested. 

For those who may not know what it is about, could you give a bit more detail on your experience in the Nike Academy and what that was like?
The Nike Academy was a scheme run by Nike that took players from around the world and allowed them to train at some of the best facilities, play against some of the best u21 teams around the world, and get scouted and signed. It’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and I made friends for life from there. 

How did it feel netting your first senior goal with Sheffield Wednesday? Did the defeat make it any less significant?
The first goal feeling for a club is always great and will be one I remember forever. Especially against such good opponents.

What was it like in each of your loan spells, and is it any different from playing for the club you are contracted to?
Each loan spell is different. It’s a different group of lads, staff, and way of playing, but we learnt a lot about football and myself from each other. Being a loan player is definitely different from being signed somewhere, but they both have their pros and cons for different situations.

You had a stint at Hearts from 2018 – 2020… How big is the difference between Scottish and English football?
SPFL is very fast paced and is a hard league to get to grips with but it’s also very competitive and enjoyable league to play in. Big crowds most games and I was lucky to play for a massive club like Hearts and do well towards the end so I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Recently, we have seen you shift from full back, to a central midfield role at Leyton Orient, has this been a positive change for you?
I played centre-mid a lot growing up and as a professional, so it’s not a massive change there. I feel very comfortable in the middle, and it can affect the overall game more, so it’s been good. 

Having worked at many clubs, what environment and style do you work best in?

The best environments are when everyone is pulling in the direction and working hard for whatever goal it is, but there are also elements of fun in the session and daily life. This allows it to keep things fresh and not get stagnant.

You’ve scored some tidy goals in your career so far. Do you have any personal favourites?
My first goal for Hearts or Charlton against Plymouth is my two favourites for different reasons.

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions that you can share with us?
There are no particular rituals anymore. I used to, but now I just get changed, go through my stretches, and pray every time I enter the pitch, whether for warm-ups or whatever

Finally, what are your aims for the rest of the season and, on a wider scale, the rest of your career?
Aim to have a successful season with Leyton Orient and the team on and off we have. The rest will take care of itself. I’m just trying to enjoy and be grateful for each day, even before I get blessed enough to play the sport I love playing for a job. So, I’m very grateful and take nothing for granted.