Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterDuring his 19-season career as a professional footballer, Clarke Carlise established himself as an imposing centre-back and set-piece threat for the likes of QPR, Leeds United and Burnley.But the Preston-born defender wasnt just defined by what he did on the football pitch, as he soon became known for his academic interests off it.This included a 2002 quiz show victory where he was declared Britains Brainiest Footballer, which was followed eight years later by a three-episode run on Channel 4s Countdown.Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 ListCalrke Carlisle on his Countdown appearanceCarlisles first appearance as a TV quiz star came about during an otherwise frustrating spell on the sidelines, which saw him appear pip Alan Brazil to the title of Britains Brainiest Footballer.So I did when I was in that two year lay-off with my knee injury, Carlisle recalls to FourFourTwo. I went back to college, did some A-levels, and then this flyer came round to the training ground. You may like Pre-Match Poser no.42: Can you answer this elite-level football quiz question? Pre-Match Poser no.41: Can you answer this elite-level football quiz question? Pre-Match Poser no.43: Can you answer this elite-level football quiz question? I thought, Yeah, I'll have a bit of that could be a bit of fun. And I ended up winning it.Carlisles quizzing toook something of a back seat after his recovery from injury, as he established himself in QPRs team, before moves to Leeds United, Watford, Luton Town and Burnley, before the bright lights of the TV studio came calling again as he looked to scratch an itch that had remained with him since that original lay-off.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.It was also in that period that I was off for two years that I applied to go on Countdown, he continues. I did the audition at King's Cross, and I failed miserably. It was so different from what Id expected.It's like a boring classroom in an office and someone at the front just reads out the letters. I'm like, This isn't Countdown, guys! Wheres the big clock?I relayed that story on TalkSport when we got promoted with Burnley and Damien Eadie was there. He was a producer on TalkSport and he also did Countdown. After the show he said, Clarke, are you serious? Do you really want to go on Countdown?I was like, Yeah, please, dead serious! So talk about privilege I bypassed the audition, and he just put me straight in as a contestant.This was me fulfilling a lifelong dream. I remember being a kid coming home from school, sitting on my dad's knee and watching Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman and trying to impress my dad by making the biggest words and getting these sums right.So when I won an episode and I got the teapot, that was like my Champions League. Seriously, it's a cherished memory.TOPICSQPRBurnleyLeeds UnitedPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromEd McCambridgeStaff Writer
