Paul Clayton was a Semi-professional footballer who played most of his playing days at Romford, he also had spells at Ilford, Barking and retiring at Stansted.
Clayton started his career at Ilford before the 2005âÂÂ06 season but there are no stats to be seen.
Paul joined Romford after starting the 2005âÂÂ06 season at Ilford. His debut was a 2âÂÂ1 loss away at Basildon United in the Essex Senior League, Clayton went on to make 14 appearances and scoring 1 goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Southend Manor in the League. In the 2006âÂÂ07 season Paul made 54 appearances for the Boro, scoring 4 in a 3âÂÂ1 loss vs Southend Manor in the Essex Senior Cup, a 3âÂÂ1 away win vs Basildon United in the League, a 4âÂÂ4 draw away at Barking and a 1âÂÂ1 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 5âÂÂ4 on penalties against Brentwood. In the 2007âÂÂ08 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 2008âÂÂ09 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 2009âÂÂ10 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 2010âÂÂ11 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 2011âÂÂ12 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 1âÂÂ0 away loss to Enfield Town in the Isthmian League North Division. Romford finished 13th with another mid-table performance. In the 2012âÂÂ13 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 won the Isthmian League North Division Golden Boot after a great season all round. For the 2013âÂÂ14 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 2014âÂÂ15 season Clayton only made 24 appearances as he left the club in February, his last game for the Boro was a 3âÂÂ2 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. 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. A Boro Legend.
Clayton made the Romford FC Team of the season 10 times in 2005-06, 2006âÂÂ07, 2007âÂÂ08, 2008âÂÂ09, 2009âÂÂ10, 2010âÂÂ11, 2011âÂÂ12, 2012âÂÂ13, 2013âÂÂ14, 2014-15
Clayton joined Ilford after his short stint with Barking at the end of last season. In the 2015âÂÂ16 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 3âÂÂ3 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 2016âÂÂ17 season Clayton made 16 appearances and he scored 6 goals in a 3âÂÂ2 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 1âÂÂ1 draw away at Waltham Forest. In the 2017âÂÂ18 season Paul Clayton only appeared once for Ilford, cant find stats for any other team.
Paul Clayton joined Stansted after a season off from football after leaving Ilford. According to he FA he made his debut in a 2âÂÂ0 loss vs Takeley in the Essex Senior League, 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 and the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy. In the 2019âÂÂ20 season all the games were declared Null and Void due to COVID-19 pandemic but before the season was called off Paul made 30 appearances and scored 5 goals. For the 2020âÂÂ21 season Paul appeared 16 times and scored 1 goal but the season was on and off due to Covid. The 2021âÂÂ22 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.
All stats from http://romfordfcarchive.co.uk/ and https://fulltime.thefa.com/home/index.html