The 1% Club fans praise 'genius' English footballer after £100,000 win
Mirror June 08, 2025 08:39 AM

The 1% Club viewers have branded a former football star as a 'genius' after he bagged £100,000 for charity.

The gameshow, hosted by Lee Mack, aired its Soccer Aid special on Saturday night (7th June), and saw Clarke Carlisle striking the jackpot.

After a competitive episode, with a star-studded panel including and , Carlisle and comedian Lloyd Griffith were the last pair standing.

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The final 1% question asked: "In the opening verse to the original version of Three Lions, what TWO words feature exactly three times in the lyrics?"

With the lyrics plastered on the screen to help them, the final duo locked in their answers.

Unfortunately for Griffith, he misread the verse and selected "they" as his answer. "They" only appears twice in the lyrics because the contraction "they've" isn't technically a repetition of the word.

However, Carlisle answered correctly, pointing out that 'it' and 'know' appear three times in the verse.

Viewers have been left impressed by the 45-year-old's efforts, with many taking to X, formerly , to share their praises.

"Clarke Carlisle just hit the back of the net. Well done Clarke," gushed one. Another chimed in, penning: "Clarke Carlisle you Brainiac!! Well done!"

A third fan simply said: "Wow he's so clever," while a fourth declared: "Clarke Carlisle is a genius!!"

Yet another viewer joined the chorus, stating: "Absolutely delighted for Clarke! Always had a brilliant brain - but came close to losing him!"

The former star has been open about his mental health battles, revealing that he attempted to take his own life back in 2014.

The Preston-born sportsman has since been an avid supporter of campaigns championing mental health education in the sporting .

The 1% Club's Soccer Aid special comes just days before the charity event, set to kick off on Sunday (15th June).

Founded by Robbie Williams in 2006, Soccer Aid raises funds towards UNICEF's efforts to protect children's safety globally. The celebrity football match features everyone from former professionals to reality TV stars.

This year's game features the likes of Sir Mo Farah, TV star Bear Grylls, singer Tom Grennan and social media sensation Morgan Burtwistle.

The 1% Club's Soccer Aid special is streaming now on ITVX

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123 or visit a local Samaritans branch.

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