Paul Clayton (semi-pro footballer)

Last updated
Paul Clayton
Personal information
Full name Paul Clayton
Place of birth Essex
Position Defender
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2005-2015 Romford 396 (48)
2015-2017 Ilford 41 (10)
2018-2022 Stansted 127 (19)
Total564(77)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Clayton was a Semi-professional footballer who played most of his playing days at Romford, [1] he also had spells at Ilford, Barking and retiring at Stansted.

Contents

Clayton started his career at Ilford before the 2005–06 season but there are no stats to be seen.

Club Career

Romford

Paul joined Romford after starting the 2005–06 season at Ilford. His debut was a 2–1 loss away at Basildon United in the Essex Senior League, Clayton went on to make 14 appearances and scoring 1 goal in a 1–1 draw against Southend Manor in the League. [2] In the 2006–07 season Paul made 54 appearances for the Boro, scoring 4 in a 3–1 loss vs Southend Manor in the Essex Senior Cup, a 3–1 away win vs Basildon United in the League, a 4–4 draw away at Barking and a 1–1 draw away at Bowers & Pitsea. Romford finished 2nd in the Essex Senior League finishing 6 points behind Brentwood Town, Romford lost the Essex Senior League Cup final 5–4 on penalties against Brentwood. In the 2007–08 season Clayton made 47 appearances and scored 4, one against Bowers & Pitsea, London APSA, Basildon United and Barkingside. The Boro finished 5th in the League. At the end of the season as a farewell to the Rush Green Ground, Romford held a match between Romford and Romford Legends. Romford won 7-5. In the 2008–09 season Paul appeared 42 times for the Boro and he scored 7 goals. Romford won the Essex Senior League and were promoted to the Isthmian League North Division. In the 2009–10 season Paul made 42 appearances, scoring 2 goals against Maldon Town and VCD Athletic. Romford finished 13th in the Isthmian League North Division. For the 2010–11 season Clayton made 48 appearances, featuring in nearly every game, he scored 3 goals, he scored in both games against Crawley Green in the FA Cup and Potters Bar Town, Romford finished 12th with another decent season in the Isthmian North. In the 2011–12 season Clayton made 40 appearances and scored 5 for the Boro. In early October that season Clayton broke the appearances record of 257 with a 1–0 away loss to Enfield Town in the Isthmian League North Division. [3] Romford finished 13th with another mid-table performance. In the 2012–13 season Paul made 42 appearances and he scored 7 goals in one of his better scoring seasons. He was the Romford FC Player of the Season, The Boro finished 8th in the league, one of Pauls teammates that season Nick Reynolds [4] won the Isthmian League North Division Golden Boot after a great season all round. For the 2013–14 season Clayton made 44 appearances and scored 10, this season he also equalled the record for most Sending offs with his sixth being against Grays Athletic in the Isthmian League Cup, Romford finished 11th in the Isthmian North Division. In the 2014–15 season Clayton only made 24 appearances as he left the club in February, his last game for the Boro was a 3–2 away loss to Thurrock in which he scored, also in that game the goalscoring record for the club since 1992 was broken with Nick Reynolds scoring his 68th goal for the club. [5] He ended the Season with Barking but there are no stats for him to be found. Paul Clayton finished his time at Romford with 396 appearances and 48 goals for the club. [6] A Boro Legend. [7]

Clayton made the Romford FC Team of the season 10 times in 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 [7]

Ilford

Clayton joined Ilford after his short stint with Barking at the end of last season. [8] In the 2015–16 season Paul appeared 23 times and scored 4 for Ilford in the Essex Senior League. According to The FA Pauls debut for Ilford was a 3–3 draw at home to Sporting Bengal United in which he scored. Ilford finished 5th with 71 points in the Essex Senior League, but got deducted points along with Sawbridgeworth Town. In the 2016–17 season Clayton made 16 appearances and he scored 6 goals in a 3–2 loss away to St Margaretsbury in the FA Vase, 2 goals at home to West Essex, 2 goals away at Sporting Bengal United in the League, a 1–1 draw away at Waltham Forest. In the 2017–18 season Paul Clayton only appeared once for Ilford, cant find stats for any other team. [9]

Stansted

Paul Clayton joined Stansted after a season off from football after leaving Ilford. According to he FA he made his debut in a 2–0 loss vs Takeley in the Essex Senior League, [10] his first goal for the club was against Southend Manor in the League, Stansted won 3-0. In total Paul made 43 appearances and scored 8 goals, Stansted finished 2nd in the league and they won the Errington Challenge Cup [11] and the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy. In the 2019–20 season all the games were declared Null and Void [12] due to COVID-19 pandemic but before the season was called off Paul made 30 appearances and scored 5 goals. For the 2020–21 season Paul appeared 16 times and scored 1 goal but the season was on and off due to Covid. The 2021–22 season was the last season that Paul played, he made 36 appearances and he scored 5 goals. Stansted finished 4th in the Essex Senior League.

Career Stats

All stats from http://romfordfcarchive.co.uk/ and https://fulltime.thefa.com/home/index.html

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupFA Trophy/VaseOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCompetitionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Romford 2005-06 Essex Senior League 12100FA Vase0020141
2006-072934050161544
2007-082721040152474
2008-092761010131427
2009-10 Isthmian League North Division 36230FA Trophy1020422
2010-11391323030483
2011-12344211030405
2012-13387102000417
2013-1440102010104410
2014-15185401010245
Total30041213---19056439648
Ilford 2015-16 Essex Senior League 21300FA Vase0021234
2016-17135101111177
2017-181000000010
Total35810---11114111
Stansted 2018-19 Essex Senior League 33720FA Vase0081438
2019-20225103040305
2020-2191201040161
2021-22325001050385
Total961850---5021112719
Career Total4316727325178656478

Individual Awards

AwardTeamSeason
Romford FC Player of the Season [7] Romford FC2012-13
Romford FC Team of the Season [7] Romford FC2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15
Romford FC Top Appearance Maker [3] Romford FC2005-2015

Team Trophies

TrophyTeamSeason
Essex Senior League [13] Romford FC2008-09
Errington Challenge CupStansted FC2018-19
Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy

References

  1. "Paul CLAYTON - Romford Football Club Ex Players". www.romfordfc.com. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  2. Limited, Alamy. "Paul Clayton celebrates scoring the first goal for Romford - Romford vs Ilford - Ryman League Division One North Football at Mill Field, Aveley FC - 27/09/11 Stock Photo - Alamy". www.alamy.com. Retrieved 2025-10-30.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. 1 2 "Clayton proud of Romford record". Romford Recorder. 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  4. "Nick REYNOLDS - Romford Football Club First Team". www.romfordfc.com. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  5. "Reynolds breaks record in Romford defeat". Romford Recorder. 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  6. "Romford record-holder Clayton pays tribute to former boss Martin". Romford Recorder. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Romford F C Archive". romfordfcarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  8. "Fenn delighted with Clayton's Ilford return". Romford Recorder. 2014-11-27. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  9. "Essex Senior League: Paul Clayton feeling good after goalscoring spree for Ilford". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  10. EssexNonLeague (2018-08-08). Takeley 2-0 Stansted. Essex Senior League. Tue7Aug2018 . Retrieved 2025-10-31 via YouTube.
  11. Casey, Michael (2019-04-24). "Stansted Win The Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy". Your Harlow. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  12. Smith, George (2020-03-26). "2019/20 season null and void for level 3 of non-league and below". Football London. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  13. "Football Club History Database - Essex Senior League 2008-09". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 2025-11-01.