Rob Cleaver was a PE teacher at Waterloo Road in the first half of Series 4. He's young and charming, but extremely driven and competitive. Once a successful professional athlete, Rob's hopes of representing Britain in the hurdles came to an abrupt end when he suffered an injury at the height of his career. He threw himself into his new profession with passion and vigour and quickly realised he had the ability to inspire and encourage kids, but still harbours a sense of resentment for his lost career.
Jasmine finds Rob's forceful nature compelling and with her enthusiasm for sport, they quickly realise they have a lot in common and they soon get together. When Rob finds Bolton Smilie has an extraordinary talent for boxing, he knows he's found what he's been looking for, someone he can live his sporting career through again.
Rob was suspended from teaching after giving Bolton performance enhancing drugs, before he stepped into the boxing ring.
Quotes[]
- "Hi, I just wanted to say hello, I'm Rob." (first line)
- Tom: "Automatic."
- Rob: "Systematic."
- Tom: "Hydromatic!"
- Rob and Tom: "Why, it's greased lightnin'!"
- "Yeah, well, there's more to being a PE teacher than coming into work in tracksuit and plimsolls."
- "How about...'I'm no Fred Flinstone, but I'll make your bed rock?'"
- "If you've got anything to say about me and my coaching, then you can say it to my face, OK?"
- Rob: "Great athletes in any sport always have nerves. But they get help."
- Bolton: "How d'you mean?"
- Rob: "Well, they use science - perfectly legal, medical science. Now, these work by triggering the pituitary gland in the brain to release endorphins. It's the, uh, chemical the body produces when you exercise. It's kinda like a natural pain relief. So yeah, they'll help you with the concentration levels, they'll keep you calm and focused. You take two of these, in 20 minutes you'll feel different."
- Bolton: "20 minutes?"
- Rob: "Trust me, man, you'll feel invincible."
- Rob: "I won that fight. I won it fair and square."
- Jasmine: "Don't you mean Bolton won that fight, Rob?"
- "Bolton, you could be a professional boxer, easy. Easy!" (final line)