{{short description|English footballer (born 1994)}} {{Use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Max Clayton | image = Max Clayton.jpg | caption = Clayton in 2012 | image_size = 190 | fullname = Max Clayton<ref name="Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13">{{Cite news |title=Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13 |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0,,10794~179534,00.pdf |publisher=The Football League |date=18 May 2013 |page=34 |access-date=25 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2014 }}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|8|9|df=y}}<ref name="Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011">{{cite book|editor1-first=Glenda|editor1-last=Rollin|editor2-first=Jack|editor2-last=Rollin|title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011|year=2010|publisher=Headline|location=London|isbn=978-0-7553-6107-6|edition=41st}}</ref> | birth_place = Crewe, England | height = {{height|m=1.75}}<ref name="Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011"/> | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Striker | youthyears1 = 2001–2011 | youthclubs1 = Crewe Alexandra | years1 = 2011–2014 | clubs1 = Crewe Alexandra | caps1 = 74 | goals1 = 9 | years2 = 2014–2017 | clubs2 = Bolton Wanderers | caps2 = 27 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2017–2019 | clubs3 = Blackpool | caps3 = 2 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2020 |clubs4 = Altrincham | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0 | totalcaps = 104 | totalgoals = 11 | nationalyears1 = 2010 | nationalteam1 = England U16 | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | nationalyears2 = 2010–2011 | nationalteam2 = England U17 | nationalcaps2 = 21 | nationalgoals2 = 4 | nationalyears3 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam3 = England U18 | nationalcaps3 = 2 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2012–2013 | nationalteam4 = England U19 | nationalcaps4 = 4 | nationalgoals4 = 1 | club-update = 17:20, 26 October 2020 (UTC) | ntupdate = 14:43, 27 May 2013 (UTC) }} '''Max Clayton''' (born 9 August 1994) is an English retired 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.

==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.<ref>{{cite news|first=James |last=Pearce |title=Crewe's Dario Gradi fumes at alleged Liverpool FC 'poaching' |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/09/08/crewe-s-dario-gradi-fumes-at-alleged-liverpool-fc-poaching-100252-24632947/ |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=8 September 2009 |access-date=20 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402193648/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/09/08/crewe-s-dario-gradi-fumes-at-alleged-liverpool-fc-poaching-100252-24632947/ |archive-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2010, Clayton signed a long-term contract with Crewe.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crewe Alex: Liverpool target Max Clayton agrees deal at Crewe|url=http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/crewe-alex-liverpool-target-max-5616871|publisher=Crewe Chronicle|date=17 March 2010|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13090413 |title=Crewe 2–0 Morecambe |date=22 April 2011 |access-date=30 April 2011 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13112051|title=Wycombe 2–0 Crewe|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref> Having made his debut for the club, Clayton signed his first professional contract with the club, which keep him until 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crewe Alexandra hand contracts to five young players|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/9481625.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 May 2011|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14351995|title=Swindon 3–0 Crewe|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15086336|title=Crewe 1–0 Macclesfield|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17023162|title=Crewe 2–0 Accrington|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref> On 10 March, he scored another 94th-minute winner as Crewe beat Gillingham 4–3.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17243705|title=Gillingham 3–4 Crewe|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teamtalk.com/match/report/978/7761291/Crewe-sink-Shrimpers-in-play-offs|title=TEAMtalk&nbsp;— Football&nbsp;— Match&nbsp;— Report&nbsp;— Sky Bet League 2 – Southend United v Crewe Alexandra – 16th May 2012|date=16 May 2012 |access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref> 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<ref>{{cite news|title=Crewe Alexandra 5 – 0 Hartlepool United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19123990|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 August 2012|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> and then scored the only goal in the game, in a 1–0 win over Coventry City a few weeks later.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crewe Alexandra 1 – 0 Coventry City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19378006|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 September 2012|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> His good display in August earned Football League young player of the month for August.<ref name="ClaytonPowell">{{cite news|title=Max Clayton: Crewe Alexandra's next young star|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19629633|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 September 2012|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> Then on 7 April 2013, he scored in the 2013 Football League Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium, as Crewe beat Southend United 2–0.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21986344 |title=Crewe 2–0 Southend |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 April 2013 |access-date=7 April 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/max-an-unbelievable-feeling-758571.aspx |title=Max: "An Unbelievable Feeling" |publisher=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=20 December 2014 |date=7 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220223156/http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/max-an-unbelievable-feeling-758571.aspx |archive-date=20 December 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref>

After a prolonged absence due to a broken ankle sustained in November 2013,<ref name=ankle>{{cite news|title=Crewe Alexandra: Max Clayton suffers broken ankle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25031893|access-date=17 September 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 November 2013}}</ref> Clayton started negotiation for a new contract to stay at Crewe, believed to be a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Max Clayton: Crewe striker still weighing up offer of three-year deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27940812|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 June 2014|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Alex to begin Clayton talks|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11672/8757239/alex-to-begin-clayton-talks|publisher=Sky Sports|date=4 June 2014|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> However, Clayton refused to sign a new contract at Crewe and left the club.<ref>{{cite news|title=Clayton set to leave Crewe|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11672/9374528/clayton-set-to-leave-crewe|publisher=Sky Sports|date=7 July 2014|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>

Clayton had trials at other clubs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/clayton-on-trial-elsewhere-1720102.aspx |title=Clayton on Trial Elsewhere |publisher=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=20 December 2014 |date=7 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220215744/http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/clayton-on-trial-elsewhere-1720102.aspx |archive-date=20 December 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> including Wolverhampton Wanderers<ref>{{cite news|title=Transfer news: Wolves boss Kenny Jackett confirms talks with striker Max Clayton|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11672/9405604/transfer-news-wolves-boss-kenny-jackett-confirms-talks-with-striker-max-clayton|publisher=Sky Sports|date=3 August 2014|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> and Sunderland (he played in Sunderland's 5–1 pre-season victory over Darlington 1883 on 19 July 2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://safc.com/news/team-news/2014/july/darlington-1883-1-sunderland-5|title=SAFC&nbsp;— Darlington 1883 1 Sunderland 5|publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Transfer news: Sunderland mulling over former Crewe striker Max Clayton|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11672/9380852/transfer-news-sunderland-mulling-over-former-crewe-striker-max-clayton|publisher=Sky Sports|date=13 July 2014|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref> Though Clayton left Crewe, press reports revealed the club would receive a six-figure compensation fee if he was sold to a foreign club.<ref>{{cite news|title=Max Clayton: Crewe to get 'decent' money if striker goes abroad|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29033007|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 September 2014|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>

===Bolton Wanderers=== In early September 2014, it was reported that he was expected to join Bolton Wanderers.<ref name=Bolton>{{cite news|title=Max Clayton: Bolton move good for Crewe striker&nbsp;— Steve Davis|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29209699|access-date=17 September 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 September 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bolton Wanderers sign Max Clayton|url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/bolton-wanderers-sign-max-clayton-18.9.14-1926949.aspx|publisher=Bolton Wanderers|access-date=18 September 2014|date=18 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=beebybolton>{{cite news|title=Max Clayton: Bolton Wanderers sign Crewe Alexandra striker|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29259529|access-date=18 September 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 September 2014}}</ref>

He made his debut for the club on 4 October in a 2–1 home defeat to Bournemouth.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29388427|title=Bolton Wanderers 1–2 AFC Bournemouth|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29844395|title=Bolton Wanderers 3–1 Wigan Athletic|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref> After coming off injured in a 0–0 draw at home against Ipswich<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/index.aspx?matchid=3734677|title=Match Report|first=Match|last=Report|access-date=31 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624123052/http://www.bwfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/index.aspx?matchid=3734677|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref> in December 2014, Clayton was ruled out for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/max-clayton-injury-update-2150829.aspx |title=Max Clayton injury update |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C. |access-date=20 December 2014 |date=18 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220214638/http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/max-clayton-injury-update-2150829.aspx |archive-date=20 December 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref>

===Blackpool=== On 22 June 2017 it was confirmed that Clayton would join Blackpool on 1 July when his contract at Bolton expired.<ref>{{cite news|title=Max Clayton agrees deal with Blackpool|url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2017/june/max-clayton-departs-for-blackpool/|access-date=23 June 2017|publisher=Bolton Wanderers Official Site|date=22 June 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Morse-23May2019">{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Peter |title=Former Crewe Alex man Max Clayton is a free agent and looking to get his career back on track |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/former-crewe-alex-man-max-16312917 |access-date=24 May 2019 |work=Cheshire Live |date=23 May 2019}}</ref>

===Altrincham=== On 20 August 2020, Clayton signed for National League side Altrincham.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.altrinchamfc.com/news/ex-england-under-19-ace-signs-for-robins |title=Ex-England under-19 ace signs for Robins! |publisher=Altrincham FC Official Site |date=20 August 2020 |access-date=20 August 2020}}</ref> He was released two months later by mutual consent after making just one league appearance for the club.<ref>{{cite web |title=Max moves on |url=https://www.altrinchamfc.com/news/max-moves-on |website=Altrincham Football Club |access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/england/mens-u19s/News/Match%20Centre/2013/georgia-elite-qualifying-round-belgium|title=England v Georgia|publisher=The Football Association Website|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref>

==Personal life== His father Paul Clayton was a striker for Crewe Alexandra and his older brother Harry is currently a professional with Nantwich Town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/crewe-alex-fc/crewe-alex-fc-news/2011/10/12/crewe-alex-max-clayton-upholds-family-tradition-96135-29577928/|title=Max Clayton upholds family tradition|work=crewechronicle|date=11 October 2011 |access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref> Clayton grew up idolising Michael Owen.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crewe striker Max Clayton proud at comparison with Michael Owen|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19900052|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 October 2012|access-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>

Clayton says he is friends with Nick Powell, having played football together when they both five or six.<ref name="ClaytonPowell"/>

==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 3 October 2020}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5"|Crewe Alexandra |2010–11<ref name="Games played by Max Clayton in 2010/2011">{{Soccerbase season|59295|2010|name=Max Clayton|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> |League Two |2||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||2||0 |- |2011–12<ref name="Games played by Max Clayton in 2011/2012">{{Soccerbase season|59295|2011|name=Max Clayton|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> |League Two |24||3||0||0||0||0||6<ref group=lower-alpha>Three appearances and one goal in Football League Trophy, three appearances and one goal in League Two play-offs</ref>||2||30||5 |- |2012–13<ref name="Games played by Max Clayton in 2012/2013">{{Soccerbase season|59295|2012|name=Max Clayton|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> |League One |35||4||1||0||2||2||4<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT>Appearances in Football League Trophy</ref>||3||42||9 |- |2013–14<ref name="Games played by Max Clayton in 2013/2014">{{Soccerbase season|59295|2013|name=Max Clayton|access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> |League One |13||2||2||0||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT/>||0||18||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !74!!9!!3!!0!!3!!2!!12!!5!!92!!16 |- |rowspan="4"|Bolton Wanderers |2014–15<ref name="Games played by Max Clayton in 2014/2015">{{Soccerbase season|59295|2014|name=Max Clayton|access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref> |Championship |9||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||1 |- |2015–16<ref name="Games played by Max Clayton in 2015/2016">{{Soccerbase season|59295|2015|name=Max Clayton|access-date=13 November 2016}}</ref> |Championship |8||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||8||0 |- |2016–17<ref name="Games played by Max Clayton in 2016/2017">{{Soccerbase season|59295|2016|name=Max Clayton|access-date=13 November 2016}}</ref> |League One |10||1||2||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFT>Appearances in EFL Trophy</ref>||0||13||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !27!!2!!2!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!30!!2 |- |rowspan="3"|Blackpool |2017–18<ref name="MC17">{{soccerbase season|59295|2017|accessdate=24 May 2019}}</ref> |League One |2||0||0||0||1||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFT/>||1||7||1 |- |2018–19<ref name="MC18">{{soccerbase season|59295|2018|accessdate=24 May 2019}}</ref> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !2!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!4!!0!!7!!1 |- |rowspan="2"|Altrincham |2020–21<ref name="MC20">{{soccerbase season|59295|2020|accessdate=26 October 2020}}</ref> |National League |1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !104!!11!!5!!0!!4!!2!!17!!6!!129!!19 |}

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==Honours== '''Crewe Alexandra''' *Football League Two play-offs: 2012<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/18135731 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202185216/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/18135731 |title=Cheltenham Town 0–2 Crewe Alexandra |first=Emlyn |last=Begley |website=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2012 |archive-date=2 December 2014 |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> *Football League Trophy: 2012–13<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/crewe-alexandra-vs-southend-united/teams/283924 |title=Starting Lineups - Crewe vs Southend |website=Sky Sports |date=7 April 2013 |access-date=10 March 2024}}</ref>

'''Bolton Wanderers''' *EFL League One second-place promotion: 2016–17

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *[http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/C/Max-Clayton Max Clayton] at The Football Association

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clayton, Max}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Crewe Category:English men's footballers Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Crewe Alexandra F.C. players Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players Category:Blackpool F.C. players Category:Altrincham F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:21st-century English sportsmen