| Harry Clifton | |
| Fullname: | Harry Louis Clifton[1] |
| Birth Date: | 12 June 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Grimsby, England |
| Position: | Midfielder, Winger |
| Currentclub: | Doncaster Rovers |
| Youthyears1: | 2007–2015 |
| Youthclubs1: | Grimsby Town |
| Years1: | 2015–2024 |
| Clubs1: | Grimsby Town |
| Caps1: | 238 |
| Goals1: | 21 |
| Years2: | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs2: | → Grantham Town (loan) |
| Caps2: | 38 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
| Years3: | 2024– |
| Clubs3: | Doncaster Rovers |
| Caps3: | 1 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2019–2020 |
| Nationalteam1: | Wales U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 10:18, 1 July 2024 (UTC) |
Harry Louis Clifton (born 12 June 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and winger for club Doncaster Rovers. He is a former Wales under-21 international.
Clifton joined Grimsby Town as an under-10 and progressed through the club's youth system.[2]
Clifton signed his first professional contract in July 2015.[3] He joined NPL Premier Division side Grantham Town in September 2016, initially on a month's loan deal.[4] [5] After impressing in his initial loan, it was then extended another two months.[6] After scoring 3 goals in 21 appearances, his loan was extended in December 2016 until the end of the 2016–17 season.[7] Clifton made 47 appearances for them, scoring six goals.[8] He returned to Grimsby in May 2017, signing another two-year deal.[9] [10]
Clifton made his full debut on 29 August 2017 in the EFL Trophy against Doncaster Rovers.[11] He made his professional League Two debut on 30 January 2018, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute, in a 3–0 defeat at Yeovil Town.[12] Clifton made his full league debut against Exeter City on 24 February.[13]
He signed a new three-year contract with Grimsby in June 2018.[14]
Clifton scored his first professional league goal on 27 November 2018, scoring an equaliser in the 33rd minute with a header, in a 5–2 win against Tranmere Rovers.[15] Three days later, he scored Grimsby's second goal on 70-minutes in the FA Cup second round, racing through on goal scoring a follow-up after his initial shot was saved, in a 2–0 victory against National League side Chesterfield.[16]
Clifton played the full 120 minutes of the 2022 National League play-off final as Grimsby beat Solihull Moors 2–1 at the London Stadium to return to the Football League.[17]
On 24 June 2022, Clifton signed a new two-year deal with The Mariners.[18]
Clifton was part of the Grimsby team that reached the FA Cup quarter final for the first time since 1939, he played the full 90 minutes of the 2–1 win away at Premier League side Southampton that secured that achievement.[19] [20]
On 5 May 2023, Clifton won the Supporters' Player of the Year award, and four other awards, at the club's annual Player of the Season awards night.
Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Clifton was offered a new contract.[21] On 2 June 2024, the club announced that Clifton would be departing the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the month.[22]
On 2 June 2024, Clifton was announced to have agreed a two-year deal with Doncaster Rovers with the club holding the option for a further twelve months.[23]
Clifton was called up to the Wales Under-21's squad to join their training camp at the end of March 2019.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Grimsby Town | 2015–16 | National League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | League Two | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | League Two | 39 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20 | League Two | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | League Two | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | National League | 43 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 44 | 7 | |||
| 2022–23 | League Two | 44 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 9 | ||
| 2023–24 | League Two | 42 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 4 | ||
| Total | 238 | 21 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 267 | 25 | |||
| Grantham Town (loan) | 2016–17[24] | NPL Premier Division | 38 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | 47 | 6 | ||
| Doncaster Rovers | 2024-25[25] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 269 | 26 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 309 | 31 | |||
Grimsby Town
Individual