Craig Clay

Craig Clay
Clay playing for York City in 2013
Personal information
Full name Craig William Clay[1]
Date of birth (1992-05-05) 5 May 1992 (age 32)[2]
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Central midfielder[4]
Team information
Current team
 Dunfermline Athletic
Number 22
Youth career
2008–2010 Chesterfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Chesterfield 27 (1)
2010 → Barrow (loan) 1 (0)
2012 → Alfreton Town (loan) 4 (1)
2013–2014 York City 8 (0)
2014 FC Halifax Town 4 (0)
2014 Worksop Town 9 (0)
2014–2016 Grimsby Town 74 (5)
2016–2017 Motherwell 35 (1)
2017–2023 Leyton Orient 210 (6)
2023–2024 Sutton United 27 (1)
2024– Dunfermline Athletic 6 (0)
International career
2016 England C 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:29, 27 October 2024 (UTC)

Craig William Clay (born 5 May 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic as a midfielder.

He has previously had spells as a professional for Chesterfield, York City, Grimsby Town and Motherwell before a four-year spell with Leyton Orient where he won several promotions and was voted the player of the year in 2019. He has also played semi-professionally for Barrow, Alfreton Town, FC Halifax Town and Worksop Town. In 2016 he was capped once by England C.

Club career

Chesterfield

Clay was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire.[5] He started his career with Chesterfield's youth system in 2008 and was part of the team that won the Youth League.[6][7] He was named Chesterfield's Young Player of the Year for the 2008–09 season.[8] His first involvement with the first team came as an unused substitute in a League Two match against Torquay United on 16 January 2010.[9] He made the bench on a number occasions through the rest of 2009–10, but did not make an appearance.[9]

He signed a two-year professional contract with Chesterfield in June 2010.[10] He made his debut for the club on 18 September 2010, in a 3–0 home win over Cheltenham Town, replacing Mark Allott in the 85th minute.[11] On 2 October 2010, he scored his first professional goal with a 25-yard shot during stoppage time to earn a 5–5 draw at home to Crewe Alexandra.[11][12] On 28 October 2010, Clay joined Conference Premier club Barrow on a one-month loan with Chesterfield teammate Tendayi Darikwa.[13] His only appearance for Barrow came two days later, in a 5–0 defeat away to Rushden & Diamonds.[14] He made four appearances and scored one goal for Chesterfield in 2010–11,[11] in which the club was promoted to League One as League Two champions.[15]

Clay was loaned out by Chesterfield for a second time on 20 January 2012, joining Conference Premier club Alfreton Town on a one-month loan.[16][17] Four days later, he scored Alfreton's third goal in a 3–0 win away to Bath City on his debut with a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute.[18][19] Clay finished the loan with one goal in four appearances.[20] He made one more appearance for Chesterfield before the end of 2011–12, which he finished with eight appearances[18] as the club was relegated to League Two in 22nd place.[21]

He signed a new one-year contract with Chesterfield in May 2012.[22] His only goal of 2012–13 came in a 6–1 win over League One team Hartlepool United in the FA Cup first round on 3 November 2012.[23] Clay had a double hernia operation in March 2013 and after returning made one more appearance before the end of the season, as an 89th-minute substitute in a 2–0 victory away to Barnet on 6 April.[23][24] He was released by Chesterfield on 29 April 2013[25] after making 23 appearances and scoring one goal in 2012–13.[23]

York City

Clay playing for York City in 2013

Clay signed for League Two club York City on 17 May 2013 on a two-year contract.[26][27] He made his debut in a 1–0 home win over Northampton Town on 3 August 2013, in the first match of 2013–14.[28] Having made 10 appearances for York,[28] Clay left the club by mutual consent on 13 January 2014, along with Jamal Fyfield.[29]

FC Halifax Town and Worksop Town

He signed for Conference Premier club FC Halifax Town on 16 January 2014 on a one-month contract[30][31] and made his debut two days later in a 1–1 home draw with Cambridge United.[20] After making four appearances for the club he was released on 24 February 2014.[32] Nearly a month later, Clay signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Worksop Town on 21 March 2014.[33] He made his debut the following day as an 84th-minute substitute for Shane Clarke in a 2–0 away win over Stafford Rangers.[34]

Grimsby Town

Clay signed for Conference Premier club Grimsby Town on 28 July 2014 on a one-year contract, having spent the pre-season on trial.[35] On 15 May 2016, he started for Grimsby as they beat Forest Green Rovers 3–1 at Wembley Stadium in the 2016 National League play-off final.[36] This meant Grimsby were promoted to League Two, after a six-year absence from the Football League.[36] Clay was released when his contract expired at the end of the 2015–16 season.[37]

Motherwell

Upon his release from Grimsby, Clay joined South African Premier Division club Bidvest Wits on trial.[38] Clay then joined Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on trial,[39] playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 victory over East Stirlingshire in the Scottish League Cup on 26 July 2016.[40] Clay made his league debut on 6 August 2016 in a 2–1 victory away to Kilmarnock,[41] before signing a two-year contract with the club on 10 August.[42] He scored his first goal for the club on 28 December 2016, in a 2–1 win away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[43]

Leyton Orient

Clay signed for newly relegated National League club Leyton Orient on 17 July 2017 on a two-year contract.[44] He went on to win both the National League and EFL League Two titles with the club over the 6 years he was with them. His contract was not renewed at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Sutton United

On 30 June 2023, Clay signed for EFL League Two side Sutton United.[45]

Dunfermline Athletic

Clay signed for Dunfermline Athletic of the Scottish second tier in September 2024.[46]

International career

Clay made his debut for the England C national team as a substitute in their 2–0 away win over Ukraine under-20s in the International Challenge Trophy on 22 March 2016.[47]

Career statistics

As of match played 2 April 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chesterfield 2009–10[48] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2010–11[11] League Two 3 1 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 4 1
2011–12[18] League One 5 0 1 0 1 0 1[c] 0 8 0
2012–13[23] League Two 19 0 2 1 0 0 2[c] 0 23 1
Total 27 1 3 1 1 0 4 0 35 2
Barrow (loan) 2010–11[14] Conference Premier 1 0 — — — 1 0
Alfreton Town (loan) 2011–12[20] Conference Premier 4 1 — — 0 0 4 1
York City 2013–14[28] League Two 8 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 10 0
FC Halifax Town 2013–14[20] Conference Premier 4 0 — — — 4 0
Worksop Town 2013–14[49] NPL Premier Division 9 0 — — — 9 0
Grimsby Town 2014–15[20] Conference Premier 39 2 2 0 — 6[d] 0 47 2
2015–16[20] National League 35 3 4 0 — 5[e] 0 44 3
Total 74 5 6 0 — 11 0 91 5
Motherwell 2016–17[41] Scottish Premiership 35 1 1 0 3 0 — 39 1
2017–18[50] Scottish Premiership — — 0 0 — 0 0
Total 35 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 39 1
Leyton Orient 2017–18[20] National League 43 4 2 0 — 4[f] 0 49 4
2018–19[20] National League 43 0 0 0 — 5[f] 1 48 1
2019–20[51] League Two 35 0 1 0 1 0 2[c] 0 39 0
2020–21[52] League Two 31 1 1 0 1 0 3[c] 0 36 1
Total 152 5 4 0 2 0 14 1 172 6
Career total 314 13 15 1 7 0 29 1 365 15
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes League Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  4. ^ Three appearances in FA Trophy, three in Conference Premier play-offs
  5. ^ Three appearances in FA Trophy, two in National League play-offs
  6. ^ a b Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Grimsby Town

Leyton Orient

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Leyton Orient" (PDF). English Football League. p. 45. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Craig Clay". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Craig Clay". Leyton Orient F.C. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Craig Clay: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Craig Clay". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  6. ^ Kelly, Tony (24 May 2013). "Craig Clay plots to bring passion to York City's central midfield". The Press. York. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Player profile: Craig Clay". Chesterfield F.C. Archived from the original on 19 March 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Two awards for hotshot Jack". Derbyshire Times. Chesterfield. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Chesterfield: Results/matches: 2009/10". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Contracts for five youngsters". Derbyshire Times. Chesterfield. 2 June 2010. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d "Games played by Craig Clay in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Chesterfield 5–5 Crewe". BBC Sport. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  13. ^ "Barrow sign Clay and Darikwa on loan from Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  14. ^ a b Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2011). Non-League Club Directory 2012. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-1-869833-70-1.
  15. ^ "League Two: 2010/11: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Law adds Craig Clay on loan". Alfreton Town F.C. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Two more go out on loan". Derbyshire Times. Chesterfield. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  18. ^ a b c "Games played by Craig Clay in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Bath City 0–3 Alfreton". BBC Sport. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h "C. Clay: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  21. ^ "League One: 2011/12: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Chesterfield trio agree new contracts". BBC Sport. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  23. ^ a b c d "Games played by Craig Clay in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  24. ^ "The Paul Cook interview – Spireites hope to keep abreast of the Robins". Chesterfield Post. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  25. ^ "Chesterfield release seven players as Tommy Wright leaves". BBC Sport. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  26. ^ "York City: Ryan Jarvis and Craig Clay join on free transfers". BBC Sport. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  27. ^ Kelly, Tony (18 May 2013). "Star turn Nigel Worthington tempts York City's new signings Ryan Jarvis and Craig Clay". The Press. York. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  28. ^ a b c "Games played by Craig Clay in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  29. ^ "Clay and Fyfield depart". York City F.C. 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016.
  30. ^ "Duo sign for Shaymen". FC Halifax Town. 16 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016.
  31. ^ "Midfielder Clay released by Town". Halifax Courier. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  32. ^ "Craig Clay leaves FC Halifax Town". FC Halifax Town. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016.
  33. ^ "New signing – Craig Clay". Worksop Town F.C. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  34. ^ "Stafford Rangers vs Worksop Town FC". Worksop Town F.C. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  35. ^ "Grimsby Town snap up Jon-Paul Pittman and Craig Clay". Grimsby Telegraph. 21 July 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  36. ^ a b c Garry, Tom (15 May 2016). "Forest Green Rovers 1–3 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  37. ^ Wood, Liam (24 May 2016). "Grimsby Town retained list: Who are the ins and outs at Blundell Park?". Grimsby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016.
  38. ^ Crann, Joe (11 July 2016). "English midfielder arrives for Wits training". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  39. ^ Mullen, Scott (12 August 2016). "Craig Clay gamble pays off to land Motherwell contract". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  40. ^ Young, Chick (26 July 2016). "Motherwell 3–0 East Stirlingshire". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  41. ^ a b "Games played by Craig Clay in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  42. ^ "Craig Clay joins the Steelmen". Motherwell F.C. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  43. ^ "Inverness CT 1–2 Motherwell". Motherwell F.C. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  44. ^ "Craig Clay: Leyton Orient sign midfielder from Scottish Premiership side Motherwell". BBC Sport. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  45. ^ "Matt makes double swoop". www.suttonunited.net. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  46. ^ https://dafc.co.uk/craig-clay-is-a-par/
  47. ^ "Recap: Grimsby Town's Craig Clay plays the final minutes of England C victory". Grimsby Telegraph. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.[dead link‍]
  48. ^ "Games played by Craig Clay in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  49. ^ "Match reports". Worksop Town F.C. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014.
  50. ^ "Games played by Craig Clay in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  51. ^ "Games played by Craig Clay in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  52. ^ "Games played by Craig Clay in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  53. ^ Alan Smith (22 May 2016). "Scott McManus strikes for Halifax to beat Grimsby in FA Trophy final". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  54. ^ "Leyton Orient 2-0 Crewe: Richie Wellens' side seal League Two title". Sky Sports. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  55. ^ "National League: 2018/19: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
    "Leyton Orient FC: Squad". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  56. ^ Stevens, Rob (19 May 2019). "AFC Fylde 1–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  57. ^ Sedgwick, Rob (13 June 2017). "Supporters Young Players of the Year". The Fishy. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
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