5'10"  11st.4lb.
b. Preston  5 August 1934
d. Blackburn  29 October 2010
 

Debut  25 April 1951 (16y 253d) Final Game 30 April 1969 (34y 268d)
First Goal 19 February 1955 Final Goal 17 September 1962
CAREER: Ribbleton Ave Meth Sc;Fishwick Sec Mod;North Cliff;Blackburn Rovers May'50;Morecambe (p-m) Jul'69;Great Harwood'70.
INTERNATIONALS   England  35 apps
’56 v NIr,Bra,Swe,Fin,WGe,Spa.’57 v Sco,Wal,NIr,Yug,Den,Den,RoI,RoI.’58 v Sco,Wal,NIr,Fra,Pol,Yug,USSR.’59 v Sco,Wal,NIr,USSR,Ita,Bra,Per,Mex,USA.’60 v Wal,NIr,Sco,Swe,Yug.
FOOTBALL LEAGUE 10 apps ’56 v LoI,IL.’57 v LoI,IL,SL.’58 v IL.’59 v LoI.’60 v IL,LoI.’61 v LoI.
ENGLAND B 1 app ’55 v Yug.
HONOURS FAC los (Blackburn Rovers) ’60.
 

FL          579 + 2 apps    15 gls                    2 ns    2 og
FAC        56 apps             1 gl                       1 ns
FLC         28 apps
Total    663 + 2 apps    16 gls  +65m         3 ns     2 og
ASL          5 apps
FC            2 apps            1 gl
LC            7 apps    - 1 wdn   - 25m
 

An immortal at the club, Clayton made his first team debut at sixteen and but for national service would have exceeded 700 appearances. At his peak he was the complete old fashioned wing half, strong, tireless and with the virtue of timing that allowed him to tackle hard but cleanly and out jump taller men to the high ball. Carefully nurtured by England from the under 23 ranks to the national team, he succeeded Billy Wright as captain. He also led the Rovers to promotion to the First Division and to the FA Cup Final. Unfortunate to lose his national spot he continued as consistently as ever for the club. At the end of his career his future was challenged by the movements in the game that brought 4-2-4 formations. Slotting easily into the back four he demonstrated that sheer class will prevail and added a timely reminder of just what a strong and superbly conditioned athlete he was. When still in the middle of his career he opened a newsagent's shop in Darwen and after an unproductive spell managing Morecambe worked as a sales representative. When Jack Walker assumed control of the club he brought Clayton back to assist in club promotions and with his association with the club he became a popular tour guide at Ewood.