Clayton McDonald
Encyclopedia
Clayton Rodney McDonald (born 26 December 1988) is an English
football defender
who plays for League Two
side Port Vale
. He is the son of former professional Rod McDonald
, and brother to another footballer also called Rod McDonald.
He graduated out of the Manchester City
youth academy in 2008, and spent the 2008–09 season on loan at League Two sides Macclesfield Town
and Chesterfield
. He spent the start of the 2009–10 season on loan at Walsall
, before the deal was made permanent in December 2009. He was released by the club at the end of the 2010–11 campaign, at which point he signed with Port Vale.
youth set-up
, he turned professional in 2008. He signed on loan for Macclesfield Town
in August 2008, and made his competitive debut in a 2–0 defeat at Accrington Stanley
on 23 August. He was substituted in the 70th minute after picking up an injury. Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander
commented that "He did a good job for us, I was delighted with his performance" and "for a young lad to come in and do so well, it augurs well for the future." Alexander stated they had an option to extend the loan, but both parties agreed it would be best if he returned to his parent club. McDonald signed on loan for Chesterfield
on transfer deadline day, 2 February 2009, initially on a one-month emergency loan. On his return to Manchester, he played for the Reserves
in the Manchester Senior Cup
final on 9 March, in the 1–0 defeat to Manchester United Reserves
at Ewen Fields
, Hyde
.
McDonald had signed a one-month loan deal with Walsall
in September 2009. His father
previously played for the club. McDonald impressed Walsall manager Chris Hutchings
, who twice had the loan extended for an extra month, before he signed for Walsall on a permanent basis in December 2009, following the player's release from Manchester City. The decision to leave City for Walsall won him praise from new teammate Troy Deeney
. He played 27 games in the 2009–10
campaign, and picked up his first senior goal on 16 February, in a 2–1 victory over Leeds United
at Elland Road
. He was more of a bit-part player in Walsall's 2010–11
season, making just seventeen appearances. In April 2011 he picked up a shoulder injury that would keep him out of action for the rest of the season.
After being told he would not be retained by the "Saddlers", he was due to sign a contract at Port Vale
in June 2011, but failed a medical due to a shoulder injury. Regardless of this he signed a six month deal with the club the following month. He aimed to regain his fitness, win a first team place, and thereby earn a longer stay at Vale Park
. He quickly managed to achieve the first two of these goals by October, as he started nine of Vale's first fourteen games of the season.
manager Chris Hutchings
said of McDonald "he's a talented young lad. He's strong in the air, tackles well and can play."
, was previously a professional footballer who played for Walsall
, Partick Thistle
, Chester City
, and numerous other non-league clubs. His younger brother, also named Rod, is also a professional footballer, and played for Stoke City
and Oldham Athletic
after leaving the Manchester City Academy
in 2005.
In August 2011, McDonald and former Manchester City teammate Ched Evans
appeared in court to face a charge of rape
following an alleged incident at a Premier Inn in Rhuddlan
on 30 May. The pair were released on bail and did not comment on the matter, but McDonald told Port Vale
's website that he 'strongly refutes' the allegation. Evans also issued a statement on Sheffield United
website to say that he "strenuously denies the charge". McDonald and Evans appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on 14 October, where they again denied the charge; they were remanded on bail and were due to go to trial in March 2012.
|2008–09||Manchester City
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2008–09||Macclesfield Town
||League Two
||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|2008–09||Chesterfield
||League Two
||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|2009–10||Manchester City
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2009–10
||Walsall
||League One
||26||1||0||0||0||0||27||1
|-
|2010–11
||Walsall
||League One
||14||0||1||0||1||0||17||0
|-
|2011–12
||Port Vale
||League Two
||13||0||1||0||1||0||16||0
|-
57||1||2||0||2||0||64||1
57||1||2||0||2||0||64||1
Notes:
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who plays for League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. He is the son of former professional Rod McDonald
Rod McDonald
Rodney McDonald is a retired English professional footballer. His sons, Clayton and Rod, are also professional footballers....
, and brother to another footballer also called Rod McDonald.
He graduated out of the Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
youth academy in 2008, and spent the 2008–09 season on loan at League Two sides Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
and Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. He spent the start of the 2009–10 season on loan at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, before the deal was made permanent in December 2009. He was released by the club at the end of the 2010–11 campaign, at which point he signed with Port Vale.
Playing career
A graduate of the Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
youth set-up
Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester City is represented at Reserve level by the Elite Development Squad, also referred to as just the Elite Squad, or EDS, a predominantly 'Under-21' side that replaced the previous Reserve team in a move to focus on youth development post-academy...
, he turned professional in 2008. He signed on loan for Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
in August 2008, and made his competitive debut in a 2–0 defeat at Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
on 23 August. He was substituted in the 70th minute after picking up an injury. Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander
Keith Alexander (footballer)
Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...
commented that "He did a good job for us, I was delighted with his performance" and "for a young lad to come in and do so well, it augurs well for the future." Alexander stated they had an option to extend the loan, but both parties agreed it would be best if he returned to his parent club. McDonald signed on loan for Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
on transfer deadline day, 2 February 2009, initially on a one-month emergency loan. On his return to Manchester, he played for the Reserves
Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester City is represented at Reserve level by the Elite Development Squad, also referred to as just the Elite Squad, or EDS, a predominantly 'Under-21' side that replaced the previous Reserve team in a move to focus on youth development post-academy...
in the Manchester Senior Cup
Manchester Senior Cup
The Manchester FA Senior Cup is an annual football tournament held between the clubs of the Manchester Football Association which was first played in 1885...
final on 9 March, in the 1–0 defeat to Manchester United Reserves
Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010...
at Ewen Fields
Ewen Fields
Ewen Fields is a multi-use stadium in Tameside, England. It is the home ground of Hyde F.C. and Manchester City Reserves and has also in the past hosted Manchester United F.C. Reserves, Stockport County Reserves and Oldham Curzon Ladies. It is currently used for football...
, Hyde
Hyde, Greater Manchester
Hyde is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. As of the 2001 census, the town had a population of 31,253. Historically part of Cheshire, it is northeast of Stockport, west of Glossop and east of Manchester....
.
McDonald had signed a one-month loan deal with Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
in September 2009. His father
Rod McDonald
Rodney McDonald is a retired English professional footballer. His sons, Clayton and Rod, are also professional footballers....
previously played for the club. McDonald impressed Walsall manager Chris Hutchings
Chris Hutchings
Christopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and former manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
, who twice had the loan extended for an extra month, before he signed for Walsall on a permanent basis in December 2009, following the player's release from Manchester City. The decision to leave City for Walsall won him praise from new teammate Troy Deeney
Troy Deeney
Troy Matthew Deeney also known as Saul Deeney by Sky Sports Football is an English footballer who currently plays for Watford as a striker...
. He played 27 games in the 2009–10
2009–10 Football League
The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
campaign, and picked up his first senior goal on 16 February, in a 2–1 victory over Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
. He was more of a bit-part player in Walsall's 2010–11
2010–11 Walsall F.C. season
-Npower League One:-FA Cup:-Carling Cup:-Johnstone Paint Trophy:...
season, making just seventeen appearances. In April 2011 he picked up a shoulder injury that would keep him out of action for the rest of the season.
After being told he would not be retained by the "Saddlers", he was due to sign a contract at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in June 2011, but failed a medical due to a shoulder injury. Regardless of this he signed a six month deal with the club the following month. He aimed to regain his fitness, win a first team place, and thereby earn a longer stay at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
. He quickly managed to achieve the first two of these goals by October, as he started nine of Vale's first fourteen games of the season.
Style of play
WalsallWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
manager Chris Hutchings
Chris Hutchings
Christopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and former manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
said of McDonald "he's a talented young lad. He's strong in the air, tackles well and can play."
Personal life
His father, RodRod McDonald
Rodney McDonald is a retired English professional footballer. His sons, Clayton and Rod, are also professional footballers....
, was previously a professional footballer who played for Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
, Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, and numerous other non-league clubs. His younger brother, also named Rod, is also a professional footballer, and played for Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
after leaving the Manchester City Academy
Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester City is represented at Reserve level by the Elite Development Squad, also referred to as just the Elite Squad, or EDS, a predominantly 'Under-21' side that replaced the previous Reserve team in a move to focus on youth development post-academy...
in 2005.
In August 2011, McDonald and former Manchester City teammate Ched Evans
Ched Evans
Chedwyn Michael "Ched" Evans is a Wales international footballer currently playing as a striker for Sheffield United.Born in St Asaph, Denbighshire Evans was an inexperienced youth striker with Manchester City, when he arrived at Norwich City on loan in 2007...
appeared in court to face a charge of rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
following an alleged incident at a Premier Inn in Rhuddlan
Rhuddlan
Rhuddlan is a town and community in the county of Denbighshire , in north Wales. It is situated to the south of the coastal town of Rhyl and overlooks the River Clwyd. The town gave its name to the Welsh district of Rhuddlan from 1974 to 1996...
on 30 May. The pair were released on bail and did not comment on the matter, but McDonald told Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
's website that he 'strongly refutes' the allegation. Evans also issued a statement on Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
website to say that he "strenuously denies the charge". McDonald and Evans appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on 14 October, where they again denied the charge; they were remanded on bail and were due to go to trial in March 2012.
Statistics
|-|2008–09||Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2008–09||Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|2008–09||Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|2009–10||Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 Football League
The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
||Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||26||1||0||0||0||0||27||1
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Walsall F.C. season
-Npower League One:-FA Cup:-Carling Cup:-Johnstone Paint Trophy:...
||Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||14||0||1||0||1||0||17||0
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Port Vale's one-hundredth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League Two. It marked the start of Micky Adams' second spell in charge of the club, and despite fan unrest with the board, Vale fans and players were hopeful of promotion come...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||13||0||1||0||1||0||16||0
|-
57||1||2||0||2||0||64||1
57||1||2||0||2||0||64||1
Notes:
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
results included in totals.
External links
- Profile at the official Port Vale site