Tom Clare – Football Career, Love Island Win, and Personal Life

Tom Clare is a 26-year-old English semi-professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Macclesfield FC. He is also a reality television personality, known for winning the first series of Love Island: All Stars in 2024 alongside his partner Molly Smith. Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on 2 September 1999, Clare has built a career that straddles football pitches and reality TV villas.

His rise to wider fame began in 2023 when he entered the Love Island villa as an original Islander. He finished third before returning a year later for the all-star edition, where he connected with Molly Smith and won the series with 35% of the public vote. Off-screen, the couple became engaged in September 2025 and now host the NearlyWeds podcast.

Despite his television success, Clare remains committed to football. He joined Macclesfield in 2021 when the club reformed, became its top scorer in the 2021–22 season with 23 goals, and helped the team win two consecutive league titles. Yet a persistent online confusion surrounds him: searches for “Tom Clare lawyer” often produce results that do not match the footballer’s background. This article clarifies who Tom Clare is, what he has achieved, and where the confusion comes from.

Who Is Tom Clare? Footballer, Reality TV Star, and the Lawyer Confusion

Overview at a Glance

Key Insights

• Tom Clare is best known for two distinct public roles: professional football and reality TV stardom.
• Despite his success on Love Island: All Stars, he maintains an active football career with Macclesfield.
• There is frequent confusion with a similarly named lawyer; no evidence suggests Tom Clare (the footballer) studied or practiced law.
• His relationship with Molly Smith, also a Love Island contestant, has been widely covered on social media.
• He was the top scorer for Macclesfield in the 2021–22 season with 23 goals.
• Clare cites Macclesfield director of football Robbie Savage as a “mate” who supported his decision to appear on Love Island.

Snapshot Facts

How Old Is Tom Clare? Personal Details and Relationships

Tom Clare was born on 2 September 1999 in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. He is 26 years old as of 2025. His height is listed at 1.95 m (approximately 6 ft 5 in) according to his Transfermarkt profile. His zodiac sign is Virgo.

Relationship with Molly Smith

Clare entered the Love Island: All Stars villa as a bombshell on Day 10 and immediately connected with Molly Smith, a former Love Island contestant from series 10. The couple won the series with 35% of the public vote. They became engaged in September 2025 and now host the NearlyWeds podcast, which was previously hosted by Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo. The engagement and podcast were reported on Wikipedia.

Previous Relationship

Before Molly Smith, Clare was coupled with Samie Elishi during Love Island series 9 in 2023. The pair finished in third place but split in April 2023, according to Famous Birthdays.

Tom Clare’s Football Career: Clubs, Transfers, and Injuries

Clare began his football journey in the academy at Barnsley. He joined Bradford City in 2018 but never made a first-team appearance. After his release, he moved to Boston United in June 2019, followed by spells at Frickley Athletic, Bradford (Park Avenue), Buxton, and Pontefract Collieries.

Macclesfield FC

In June 2021, Clare joined the reformed Macclesfield FC. He made an immediate impact, becoming the club’s top scorer in the 2021–22 season with 23 goals and helping the team win the NWCFL Premier Division. The following season, Macclesfield won the NPL Division One West, with Clare contributing to another title. He signed a two-year contract in 2022. He took a leave of absence in 2023 to appear on Love Island – a move supported by director of football Robbie Savage, whom Clare calls a “mate.” After a mid‑season leave in 2023, he returned to Macclesfield in March 2024.

Position and Statistics

Primarily a centre-forward, Clare has also been listed as a centre‑back on Transfermarkt. According to the same source, his National League North record shows 26 appearances and 8 goals.

Injury Status

No recent, confirmed reports of a notable injury to Tom Clare have been found in the available sources. His absence from the pitch in 2023 was due to his television commitment, not an injury.

Tom Clare on Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, and Fame

Clare’s primary Instagram handle is @tomclare__ (with two underscores). His account was initially dormant during his 2023 Love Island appearance, as noted by WalesOnline. As of 2025, he has about 829,000 followers. On TikTok, he uses the handle @tomclare99 (approximately 391,500 followers). His posts mix football content with glimpses of his personal life alongside Molly Smith.

What Is Tom Clare’s Career Timeline?

1. 1999 – Born in Barnsley, England.
2. 2018 – Signed by Bradford City but never made a senior appearance.
3. 2019 – Joined Boston United after leaving Bradford.
4. 2021 – Became a founding member of the reformed Macclesfield FC.
5. 2022 – Top scorer (23 goals) and helped Macclesfield win the NWCFL Premier Division.
6. 2023 – Entered Love Island series 9 (finished 3rd); split with Samie Elishi.
7. 2024 – Returned for Love Island: All Stars as a bombshell, coupled with Molly Smith, and won with 35% of the vote.
8. 2025 – Engaged to Molly Smith; launched the NearlyWeds podcast; continues playing for Macclesfield.

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Tom Clare?

How Do Football and Reality TV Intersect in Tom Clare’s Career?

Tom Clare is a example of the modern multi‑hyphenate celebrity who moves fluidly between traditional sport and reality television. His football career provided a foundation of discipline and public visibility in the north of England, while Love Island gave him a national audience. Unlike some athletes who leave their sport entirely after reality TV success, Clare has returned to Macclesfield each time. The confusion around his being a lawyer stems from an unrelated professional with an identical name, which creates ambiguity in online search results. A comprehensive understanding of Clare requires separating these identities and recognising that his primary professions remain football and media personality.

Where Does the Information About Tom Clare Come From?

Most biographical and career data in this article is sourced from Tom Clare’s Wikipedia page, which provides a neutral, cited overview. Football statistics are drawn from Transfermarkt, a widely used football database. Relationship and lifestyle details are reported by Famous Birthdays and WalesOnline. Social media figures come from Clare’s public Instagram and TikTok profiles. No primary source has been found that confirms an injury or a legal career.

What’s Next for Tom Clare?

Tom Clare continues to play for Macclesfield FC in the 2025–26 season while building a media presence alongside fiancée Molly Smith. Fans can follow his career updates on Instagram and his TikTok channel. For similar profiles of English footballers, read: Peter Shilton – Biography, Net Worth, Wife & Career Records.

Frequently Asked Questions