Clubs in the past inspiring present consistency (9)
I believe the answer is:
coherence
'consistency' is the definition.
(cohering or holding together)
'clubs in the past inspiring present' is the wordplay.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'in the past' becomes 'once' (once upon a time).
'inspiring' is an insertion indicator.
'present' becomes 'here' (both can mean in attendance).
'once' going around 'here' is 'oherence'.
'c'+'oherence'='COHERENCE'
(Other definitions for coherence that I've seen before include "Sticking together" , "union" , "ability to talk sense" , "sense of unity" , "Logical consistency" .)