Max Clayton

Max Clayton

Clayton in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Max James Clayton[1]
Date of birth	9 August 1994[2]
Place of birth	Crewe, England
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current team	Bolton Wanderers
Number	12
Youth career
2001–2011	Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2011–2014	Crewe Alexandra	74	(9)
2014–	Bolton Wanderers	17	(1)
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 19:40, 1 December 2015 (UTC). † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:43, 27 May 2013 (UTC)

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

Club career

Crewe Alexandra

Born in Crewe, Cheshire, Clayton started his football career at Crewe Alexandra Academy. Clayton made headlines in the media when the club's technical director Dario Gradi revealed a Premier league club had attempted to poach one of their 15-year-old players, which Clayton was named by the media. It was two years ago when Liverpool who had offered the Cheshire club a sum of around £1 million for the player's services two years ago.^[3] In March 2010, Clayton signed a long-term contract with the club.^[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, once again coming on as a late substitute for 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 team mate 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 Southened 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] After the match, Clayton went on to say about the Football League Trophy as an unbelievable feeling.^[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, which is 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, it revealed that Crewe will receive six-figure compensation fee if Clayton 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 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]

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.^[34]

Personal life

His father Paul Clayton was a striker for Crewe Alexandra and his older brother Harry is currently a professional with Nantwich Town.^[35] Clayton grew up idolising Michael Owen.^[36]

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

Career statistics

As of match played 26 September 2015.

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Crewe Alexandra	2010–11[37]	League Two	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2011–12[38]	League Two	24	3	0	0	0	0	6[lower-alpha 1]	2	30	5
	2012–13[39]	League One	35	4	1	0	2	2	4[lower-alpha 2]	3	42	9
	2013–14[40]	League One	13	2	2	0	1	0	2[lower-alpha 2]	0	18	2
Bolton Wanderers	2014–15[41]	Championship	9	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
	2015–16	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Career total			84	10	3	0	3	2	12	5	102	17

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

Honours

Club

Crewe Alexandra

• League Two play-offs (1): 2011–12
• Football League Trophy (1): 2012–13

References

1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 34. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011 (41st ed.). London: Headline. ISBN 9-780755-361076.
3. Pearce, James (8 September 2009). "Crewe's Dario Gradi fumes at alleged Liverpool FC 'poaching'". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 11 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.
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.
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. http://www.bwfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/index.aspx?matchid=3734677
33. "Max Clayton injury update". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
34. "England v Georgia". The Football Association Website. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
35. "Max Clayton upholds family tradition". crewechronicle. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
36. "Crewe striker Max Clayton proud at comparison with Michael Owen". BBC Sport. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
37. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
38. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
39. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
40. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
41. "Games played by Max Clayton in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 7 November 2014.

External links

• Max Clayton career statistics at Soccerbase
• Max Clayton at The Football Association