TOM CLARE is used to living life in the fast lane. Star striker and fans’ favourite at Macclesfield’s Moss Rose, the former Barnsley and Bradford City trainee had helped the Silkmen win back-to-back promotions from the North West Counties League when he got the call that would change his life forever.
“I was absolutely flying at the time,” Clare told The NLP. “Robbie [Savage] and Rob [Smethurst], the owner, had done a lot for me and the team were successful. I was thoroughly enjoying my football.
“But then I got the once-in-alifetime call inviting me to go on Love Island.
“At first, I was a bit unsure about it but then I came to my senses. I was single and wanted to meet someone and it was a fantastic opportunity for me, so I thought ‘why not’. I just couldn’t turn it down.
“I was still under contract so I pulled Rob and Robbie into the office and we had an open conversation.
“Robbie, at first, didn’t want me to go, which he has every right not to as I was his top goalscorer but, in time, he came round and realised how big an opportunity it was for me. He let me go and he stood by me throughout the whole process.”
Indeed, joined by 2.4 million other primetime viewers, the Macclesfield chiefs watched their star striker being catapulted into one of Britain’s biggest reality TV’s stars, as the smoothtalking Silkman finished third alongside then partnerr Samie Elishi.
Let alone a football, Clare had the celebrity world at his feet, but although the bright lights had dictated a whole new lifestyle, his aim was always to dust down his boots and return to the day job, while helping Macc achieve their aim of a third straight promotion.
All was agreed until the celebrity gods came calling once again with an offer for Clare to appear on Love Island All Stars, celebrating a decade of the popular ITV2 show.
“I had an amazing experience the first time, and I was single, so it was probably an easier choice to go back in,” Clare explained.
“You might think, ‘It’s the All-Stars, they’ll be egos in there’, but there was none of that. My intention was just to meet someone.
Celebrity Gods
“I tried my best to stay fit in the villa. We used to do 80- 100 laps around the pool evticking over, and bearing in mind it was 38 degrees heat some days so it was hard work, but I couldn’t just sit there, I couldn’t waste valuable time to get back fit for when I did come back to football. That was always the aim.”
This time round, however, Clare well and truly hit the jackpot, finding love with new girlfriend Molly Smith with the pair capturing the hearts of the nation to be crowned inaugural All Sta
