[3] Clifford has worked in football for the last 30 years, from youth to senior and non-league to Premier League, with a number of clubs and individual professional players.
In 1997, he borrowed £5000 from a teachers' union to fund a trip to Brazil,[6][7] where he spoke with Socrates, World Cup winning captain Carlos Alberto, Careca, Jairzinho and Rivellino, and watched them coach, whilst spending time residing at the training ground of São Paulo FC.
Having developed a close friendship in the UK with Brazil midfielder Juninho,[8] Clifford used the knowledge he had learned and his own initiative to create a syllabus.
In 1997, he started a Brazilian-style soccer school for youngsters in Leeds,[11] teaching Brazilian skills as well as introducing his students to futebol de salão, unheard of in England at the time and largely in the English speaking world.
Clifford then set out to train his first batch of young footballers with his new methods, with a notably different philosophy, preferring to concentrate on improving ball skills and close control and an even greater emphasis on fitness and physical strength.
The Brazilian Soccer Schools have been endorsed by many in football, including Sir Trevor Brooking, Tord Grip and Michael Owen.
This programme, like Clifford's Brazilian Soccer Schools is also a franchise and is running throughout the UK as well as internationally in places such as The Netherlands, South Africa, Canada, Dubai, Poland and Singapore.
Brazilian Soccer Schools was one of the largest football coaching organisation in the world, with over one million children regularly attending sessions around the globe.
[20] Players such as Micah Richards[21][22] and John Bostock were some of the most successful graduates in the early years, with still many youngsters working their way through the professional academy ranks.
Clifford is well regarded in the football industry; however, he failed to emerge onto the professional scene after being recruited by Sir Clive Woodward in December 2004, to become his assistant coach at Southampton.
Clifford managed to attract a number of his high-profile friends to play for the team including: Lee Sharpe,[17] Sócrates[35] and Careca.
[37][38] In April 2009, Clifford guided his team to the final of the West Riding County Cup to face Bradford Park Avenue.
[45] In the same month, he was also approached by Tottenham Hotspur midfielder David Bentley, with the England international asking Clifford to devise an elite training programme and to undertake one-to-one sessions with him.
[46] Clifford has worked with Blue Sky Sports since its inception, in the role of expert elite performance coach, helping to individually mentor players that are signed to the agency.
[54] Notable players that have graduated from Simon Clifford's BSS system and syllabus include the likes of Micah Richards (ex-Manchester City and England defender),[55][56] John Farnworth (World Champion football freestyler),[57] Ryan Edmondson (Carlisle United), Stan Mills (Everton F.C.
Others include: Oli McBurnie (Sheffield United) - who graduated from Simon's Leeds BSS, Marlon Fosse (Fulham), Rhys Bennett (Rochdale AFC), Luke Lundall, Jimmy Ball, McKenzie Ball, Finn Tonks (AFC Bournemouth), James Morris, (Watford) and Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers).
Notable coaches have also graduated from Simon Clifford's system, including: John Herdman formerly of Canada Men's National Team[58] taking them to their first World Cup in 36 years and gaining them their highest ever FIFA ranking position.
[60] Clifford also performed the same role in the film There's Only One Jimmy Grimble with Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone[61] as well as the more recently on Kicking and Screaming with Will Ferrell.