{{Short description|English footballer (born 2002)}} {{Use British English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Max Cleworth | image = Max Cleworth and Thomas O'Connor 30082025 (1).jpg | upright = | caption = Cleworth in 2025 | full_name = Max George Cleworth | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|8|9|df=y}} | birth_place = Frodsham, England<ref name="Cleworth">{{citation |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/max-cleworth-dragons-form-novelty-24944069|title=Max Cleworth on Dragons form and the novelty of being in Welcome to Wrexham documentary |publisher=Daily Post|access-date= 30 April 2024 | first=Thomas | last=Lewis | date=6 September 2022}}</ref> | height = {{convert|1.91|m|order=flip}} | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Wrexham | clubnumber = 4 | youthyears1 = 2012–2014 | youthclubs1 = Connah's Quay Nomads | youthyears2 = 2014–2020 | youthclubs2 = Wrexham | years1 = 2020– | clubs1 = Wrexham | caps1 = 147 | goals1 = 10 | years2 = 2021 | clubs2 = → Caernarfon Town (loan) | caps2 = 16 | goals2 = 2 | club-update = 03:54, 8 March 2026 (UTC) }}
'''Max Cleworth''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|uː|w|ər|θ}} {{respell|KLOO|wərth}};<ref name="pronounciation">{{ cite web |author=Fearless In Devotion |title= Lad Max! Exclusive fan Q&A with Wrexham AFC defender Max Cleworth. Plus: loyalty system pros & cons |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz2kXKF2eUc&t=2778s |website= youtube.com |language= en |format= video |date= 27 May 2024 |access-date= 14 August 2025 }}</ref> born 9 August 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{English football updater|Wrexham}} club Wrexham.
==Career==
Cleworth started his career with Wrexham.<ref>{{ Cite web |last= Wathan |first= Chris |date= 10 May 2022 |title= Max Cleworth: From Wrexham reserve to Ryan Reynolds' Instagram |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61392164 |publisher=bbc.com |access-date= 14 August 2025 }}</ref> He signed his first professional contract at Wrexham in 2020.<ref>{{ Cite web |last= Henrys |first= Colin |date=7 October 2021 |title=Teenage defender Max Cleworth signs new three-year deal |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2021/october/contract-news--teenage-defender-max-cleworth-signs-new-three-year-deal/ |publisher=Wrexham A.F.C. |access-date= 14 August 2025 }}</ref> In 2021, he signed for Welsh team Caernarfon Town on a six-month loan.<ref>{{ Cite web |date=1 February 2021 |title=Welcome to the Oval Max Cleworth |url=https://caernarfontownfc.co.uk/news/welcome-to-the-oval-max-cleworth |publisher=Caernarfon Town F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201193204/https://caernarfontownfc.co.uk/news/welcome-to-the-oval-max-cleworth |archive-date= 1 February 2021 |access-date= 14 August 2025 }}</ref> In December 2022 he signed a new deal for Wrexham until 2025.<ref>{{ Cite web |last= Henrys |first=Colin |date=6 December 2022 |title= Contract News {{!}} Max Cleworth signs Wrexham AFC extension |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2022/december/5/contract-news-max-cleworth-signs-wrexham-afc-extension |publisher= Wrexham A.F.C. |access-date= 14 August 2025 |language=en-gb }}</ref> In July 2024 he agreed to a contract extension through the conclusion of the 2026–27 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last= Waters |first= Matt |date= 4 July 2024 |title= Contract News {{!}} Max Cleworth signs three-year contract |url= https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/july/04/contract-news---max-cleworth-// |publisher= Wrexham A.F.C. |access-date= 14 August 2025 |language= en-gb |archive-date= 1 September 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240901111900/https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/july/04/contract-news---max-cleworth-/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
Cleworth's first league goal was a late winner in a 2–1 win against Colchester United on 6 April 2024.<ref>{{ Cite web |last= Barlow |first= Tom |date=8 April 2024 |title=Report {{!}} Colchester United 1-2 Wrexham AFC |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/april/08/review-colchester-united-1-2-wrexham-afc/ |publisher= Wrexham A.F.C. |access-date= 14 August 2025 |language=en-gb }}</ref>
On 10 August 2024, Cleworth scored the first League One goal for Wrexham in 19 years as Wrexham won in their first game after promotion. It was also his 100th career appearance for the club across all competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch: Wrexham beat Wycombe to make winning return to League One |url=https://nation.cymru/sport/watch-wrexham-beat-wycombe-to-make-winning-return-to-league-one/ |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=10 August 2024 |website=nation.cymru |language=en-gb |archive-date=13 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813185127/https://nation.cymru/sport/watch-wrexham-beat-wycombe-to-make-winning-return-to-league-one/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 27 April 2025, Cleworth was included in the League One Team of the Year for the 2024–25 season alongside club teammate Ryan Barnett.<ref name="Ashton2025">{{Cite web |last= Ashton |first= Ben |date= 27 April 2025 |title= Burnley's Parker and Blades' Hamer win EFL awards |url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c985rrjgy7yo |website= BBC Sport |publisher= BBC |access-date= 1 August 2025 |archive-date= 13 May 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250513162619/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c985rrjgy7yo |url-status= live }}</ref>
== Career statistics == {{updated|match played 7 March 2026|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Max Cleworth {{!}} Player Statistics {{!}} Wrexham (Wrexham AFC Archive) |url=https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/player.php?id=28 |access-date= 7 April 2024 |website=www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>}} {| 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="8"|Wrexham |2019–20 |National League |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|One appearance in FA Trophy, three appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup}}||0||4||0 |- |2020–21 |National League |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}}||0||1||0 |- |2021–22 |National League |28||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|Six appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League play-offs}}||1||36||1 |- |2022–23 |National League |21||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||27||0 |- |2023–24 |League Two |24||1||2||0||1||0||4{{efn|name=EFL|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||0||31||1 |- |2024–25 |League One |41||7||1||0||0||0||5{{efn|name=EFL}}||1||47||8 |- |2025–26 |Championship |33||2||2||0||2||0|| colspan="2" |—||37||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !147!!10!!10!!0!!3!!0!!23!!2!!183!!12 |- |Caernarfon Town (loan) |2020–21 |Cymru Premier |16||2||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||16||2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !163!!12!!10!!0!!3!!0!!23!!2!!199!!14 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Wrexham''' *National League: 2022–23 *EFL League Two second-place promotion: 2023–24 *EFL League One second-place promotion: 2024–25<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2025 |title=Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham players celebrate promotion |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cx251wd04kzo |publisher=BBC |access-date=14 August 2025 |archive-date=25 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725004122/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cx251wd04kzo |url-status=live }}</ref>
'''Individual''' *Wrexham Young Player of the Season: 2021–22, 2023–24,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/24287138.wrexham-star-paul-mullin-wins-top-award/ |title=Wrexham star Paul Mullin wins top award once again |first=Richard |last=Williams |website=LeaderLive |date=29 April 2024 |access-date=29 April 2024}}</ref> 2024–25 *Wrexham Players' Player of the Season: 2024–25<ref>{{ cite web |last= Henrys |first= Colin |date= 5 May 2025 |title=2024/25 Awards |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2025/may/04/2024-25-awards---ollie-rathbone-named-player-of-the-season/ |publisher= Wrexham A.F.C. |access-date= 14 August 2025 }}</ref> *EFL League One Team of the Season: 2024–25<ref name="Ashton2025"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Navboxes | title = Awards | bg = Gold | list1 = {{2024–25 EFL League One Team of the Season}} {{Wrexham A.F.C. Young Player of the Year}} }} {{Wrexham A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cleworth, Max}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:National League (English football) players Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players Category:Caernarfon Town F.C. players Category:People from Frodsham Category:Footballers from Chester Category:English Football League players Category:21st-century English sportsmen