| RINGSIDE | Call team very close to clowns (8) |
| GALLEONS | Bad Manners over long periods used to sail very close to the wind presumably (8) |
| HEDGEHOP | Fly very close to the ground (8) |
| SOMERSET | Bath's location very close to gas meter that's damaged outside (8) |
| LOSINGIT | After this, Verity is very close to snapping (6,2) |
| ADJACENT | Very close to |
| SOULMATE | One very close to Samuel Slack? (4,4) |
| TIGHTFIT | Like clothes that are very close to the body |
| BORDERON | Be very close to British command in operation (6,2) |
| TIGHTEST | Very close to being the most drunk |
| ELEVENTHHOUR | Near midnight, following team's very hard in tour (8,4) |
| LOCKSTEP | Way of marching with each person very close to the one in front (4,4) |
| APRILFOOLSDAY | Tricky time of the month, the "cruelest" one to clowns from dawn to dusk (5,5,3) |
| INSIDEOUT | At home and away, covering team very thoroughly (6,3) |
| CONSIDERED | Thought opposing team "very hot" |
| TYPES | American leader, brooding, sends email to clowns. (7,5) (see 9D) |
| AMUSING | American leader, brooding, sends email to clowns. (7,5) (see 22D) |
| REALMADRID | European team very angry in America, eliminated (4,6) |
| FIFTEEN | Rugby team, very loud, surrounding one youngster |
| PATRONSAINT | Dedicated guardian, such as Genesius to clowns |
