Max Clayton

Max James Clayton (born 9 August 1994) is an English footballer who last played as a striker for Altrincham. He has also represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels.

Max Clayton
Clayton in 2012
Personal information
Full name Max James Clayton[1]
Date of birth (1994-08-09) 9 August 1994[2]
Place of birth Crewe, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
2001–2011 Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Crewe Alexandra 74 (9)
2014–2017 Bolton Wanderers 27 (2)
2017–2019 Blackpool 2 (0)
2020 Altrincham 1 (0)
National team‡
2010 England U16 5 (2)
2010–2011 England U17 21 (4)
2011–2012 England U18 2 (0)
2012–2013 England U19 4 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:20, 26 October 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:43, 27 May 2013 (UTC)

Club career

Crewe Alexandra

Born in Crewe, Cheshire, Clayton started his football career at Crewe Alexandra Academy. In 2009, the club's technical director Dario Gradi revealed a Premier League club had attempted to poach one of their 15-year-old players, with Clayton named by the media. Liverpool had offered the Cheshire club a sum of around £1 million for the player's services.[3] In March 2010, Clayton signed a long-term contract with Crewe.[4]

Clayton made his debut for Crewe Alexandra in a 2–1 league win against Morecambe at the Alexandra Stadium on 22 April 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute for Shaun Miller.[5] He made his second appearance of the season in a 2–0 away loss to Wycombe Wanderers, again coming on as a late substitute for Miller.[6] Having made his debut for the club, Clayton signed his first professional contract with the club, which keep him until 2014.[7]

He made his first appearance of the 2011–12 season on 6 August 2011, again replacing Miller as Crewe lost 3–0 away to Swindon.[8] He began to get a regular run of games for Crewe, and scored his first goal in a 1–0 home win against Macclesfield Town in the JPT Trophy on 5 October 2011.[9] His first league goal came in a 2–1 win on 19 November 2011 as he scored a 94th-minute winner against Morecambe, after England under-17 teammate Nick Powell had equalised for Crewe. He scored his second goal in a 2–0 home win against Accrington on 21 February 2012.[10] On 10 March, he scored another 94th-minute winner as Crewe beat Gillingham 4–3.[11]

On 16 May 2012, Clayton scored a vital goal in a 2–2 draw at Southend United to send Crewe to Wembley for the League 2 play-off final on a 3–2 aggregate score.[12] Then in the 2012–13 season, Clayton scored twice in the first round of Football League Cup, in a 5–0 victory over Hartlepool United[13] and then scored the only goal in the game, in a 1–0 win over Coventry City a few weeks later.[14] His good display in August earned Football League young player of the month for August.[15] Then on 7 April 2013, he scored in the 2013 Football League Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium, as Crewe beat Southend United 2–0.[16][17]

After a prolonged absence due to a broken ankle sustained in November 2013,[18] Clayton started negotiation for a new contract to stay at Crewe, believed to be a three-year contract.[19][20] However, Clayton refused to sign a new contract at Crewe and left the club.[21]

Clayton had trials at other clubs,[22] including Wolverhampton Wanderers[23] and Sunderland (he played in Sunderland's 5–1 pre-season victory over Darlington 1883 on 19 July 2014).[24][25] Though Clayton left Crewe, press reports revealed the club would receive a six-figure compensation fee if he was sold to a foreign club.[26]

Bolton Wanderers

In early September 2014, it was reported that he was expected to join Bolton Wanderers.[27] On 18 September 2014, he officially moved for a fee of £300,000 which had been set at a tribunal due to him being under the age of 24.[28][29]

He made his debut for the club on 4 October in a 2–1 home defeat to Bournemouth.[30] After making four substitute appearances, he scored on his first start for the club in a 3–1 win at home to local rivals Wigan Athletic.[31] After coming off injured in a 0–0 draw at home against Ipswich[32] in December 2014, Clayton was ruled out for the rest of the season.[33]

Blackpool

On 22 June 2017 it was confirmed that Clayton would join Blackpool on 1 July when his contract at Bolton expired.[34] In May 2019, Clayton was released by Blackpool having only played seven games in his debut season and none in the 2018–2019 season due to continued hamstring problems.[35]

Altrincham

On 20 August 2020, Clayton signed for National League side Altrincham.[36] He was released two months later by mutual consent after making just one league appearance for the club.[37]

International career

He has also represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels, playing in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico. On 25 June 2011, he scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Uruguay in Torreón. He scored his first goal for the under-19 team on 24 May 2013 against Georgia.[38]

Personal life

His father Paul Clayton was a striker for Crewe Alexandra and his older brother Harry is currently a professional with Nantwich Town.[39] Clayton grew up idolising Michael Owen.[40]

Clayton says he is friends with Nick Powell, having played football together when they both five or six.[15]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 3 October 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra 2010–11[41] League Two 2000000020
2011–12[42] League Two 24300006[lower-alpha 1]2305
2012–13[43] League One 35410224[lower-alpha 2]3429
2013–14[44] League One 13220102[lower-alpha 2]0182
Total 74930321259216
Bolton Wanderers 2014–15[45] Championship 9100000091
2015–16[46] Championship 8000000080
2016–17[47] League One 10120001[lower-alpha 3]0131
Total 272200010302
Blackpool 2017–18[48] League One 2000104[lower-alpha 3]171
2018–19[49] League One 0000000000
Total 2000104071
Altrincham 2020–21[50] National League 1000000010
Total 1000000010
Career total 10411504217612919
  1. Three appearances and one goal in Football League Trophy, three appearances and one goal in League Two play-offs
  2. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  3. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Club
Crewe Alexandra
Bolton Wanderers

References
  1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011 (41st ed.). London: Headline. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
  3. Pearce, James (8 September 2009). "Crewe's Dario Gradi fumes at alleged Liverpool FC 'poaching'". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  4. "Crewe Alex: Liverpool target Max Clayton agrees deal at Crewe". Crewe Chronicle. 17 March 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. "Crewe 2–0 Morecambe". BBC News. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  6. "Wycombe 2–0 Crewe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  7. "Crewe Alexandra hand contracts to five young players". BBC Sport. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  8. "Swindon 3–0 Crewe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  9. "Crewe 1–0 Macclesfield". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  10. "Crewe 2–0 Accrington". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  11. "Gillingham 3–4 Crewe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  12. "TEAMtalk — Football — Match — Report — Sky Bet League 2 – Southend United v Crewe Alexandra – 16th May 2012". Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  13. "Crewe Alexandra 5 – 0 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  14. "Crewe Alexandra 1 – 0 Coventry City". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  15. "Max Clayton: Crewe Alexandra's next young star". BBC Sport. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  16. "Crewe 2–0 Southend". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  17. "Max: "An Unbelievable Feeling"". Crewe Alexandra F.C. 7 April 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. "Crewe Alexandra: Max Clayton suffers broken ankle". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  19. "Max Clayton: Crewe striker still weighing up offer of three-year deal". BBC Sport. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  20. "Alex to begin Clayton talks". Sky Sports. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  21. "Clayton set to leave Crewe". Sky Sports. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  22. "Clayton On Trial Elsewhere". Crewe Alexandra F.C. 7 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. "Transfer news: Wolves boss Kenny Jackett confirms talks with striker Max Clayton". Sky Sports. 3 August 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  24. "SAFC — Darlington 1883 1 Sunderland 5". safc.com. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  25. "Transfer news: Sunderland mulling over former Crewe striker Max Clayton". Sky Sports. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  26. "Max Clayton: Crewe to get 'decent' money if striker goes abroad". BBC Sport. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  27. "Max Clayton: Bolton move good for Crewe striker — Steve Davis". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  28. "Bolton Wanderers sign Max Clayton". Bolton Wanderers. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  29. "Max Clayton: Bolton Wanderers sign Crewe Alexandra striker". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  30. "Bolton Wanderers 1–2 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  31. "Bolton Wanderers 3–1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  32. Report, Match. "Match Report". Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  33. "Max Clayton injury update". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  34. "Max Clayton agrees deal with Blackpool". Bolton Wanderers Official Site. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  35. Morse, Peter (23 May 2019). "Former Crewe Alex man Max Clayton is a free agent and looking to get his career back on track". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  36. "Ex-England under-19 ace signs for Robins!". Altrincham FC Official Site. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  37. "Max moves on". Altrincham Football Club. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  38. "England v Georgia". The Football Association Website. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  39. "Max Clayton upholds family tradition". crewechronicle. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  40. "Crewe striker Max Clayton proud at comparison with Michael Owen". BBC Sport. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  41. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  42. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  43. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  44. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  45. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  46. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  47. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  48. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  49. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  50. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
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