Charlie Clough

Originally from Taunton in Somerset, Clough was admitted into the Bristol Rovers youth set-up, based at the Bristol Academy of Sport, and was promoted to the first-team squad in the summer of 2007. His Football League debut, aged 17, came in a League One match against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Memorial Stadium on 26 April 2008 as a substitute in the 68th minute.[4]

At the start of the 2008–09 season he was sent to Mangotsfield United on a month's loan to gain some first team experience, with the loan later extended into a second month.[5] In September 2010, he joined Newport County on a one-month loan.[6] In January 2011, he joined struggling Southern Premier League club Weymouth on a month-long loan.[7]

On 28 February 2011, he joined Bath City on an initial loan period of a month.[8] He made his debut for Bath City on 1 March 2011 in a 5–1 away defeat against Rushden & Diamonds.[9] He was recalled from his loan period on 28 April 2011 having scored two goals in eleven appearances.[10] He re-joined Bath on loan later that year, when they signed him in a month-long emergency deal.[11] In March 2012, he joined A.F.C. Telford United on loan.[12]

In December 2011, he was told he would be allowed to leave Bristol Rovers alongside teammate Ben Swallow.[13]

In the summer of 2012, Clough joined Dorchester Town, signing a permanent deal.[14] On 4 November 2012, he was a part of the Dorchester side that earned a shock 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup first round.[15]

In April 2013, he was named the Dorset Echo Player of the Year at the club.[16] In September 2013, Dorchester 'reluctantly' agreed to a request from Clough to have him put on the transfer list.[17]

On 12 September 2013, he moved to Conference South league rivals Sutton United who paid an undisclosed fee for his signature.[18] He scored on 9 November 2013 in a 4–1 away defeat against Conference National Kidderminster Harriers in the first round of the FA Cup.[19]

He was made captain at Sutton United amid interest from clubs at a higher level.[20] During the 2013–14 season, he helped the club to the Conference South play-off semi-finals where they lost against Dover Athletic who would go on to win promotion to the Conference National.[21]

On 4 January 2015, it was confirmed he would be joining Conference National club Forest Green Rovers for an undisclosed fee.[22] He made his Forest Green debut on 17 January 2015, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away win against Braintree Town.[23] He scored his first goal for the club on 21 February 2015 in a 3–0 home win over former club AFC Telford United.[24] He helped Forest Green into the 2014–15 Conference National play-offs for the first time, playing in both legs of a semi-final defeat against former club Bristol Rovers.[25]

He scored his first goal of the 2015–16 season in stoppage time to earn Forest Green a 2–1 win over Macclesfield Town on 30 January 2016.[26] Later that season, he helped the club reach the 2015-16 National League play-off final at Wembley Stadium, and played the full 90 minutes in a game that ended in a 3–1 defeat to Grimsby Town.[27] It was confirmed the next day that he had agreed a contract extension to stay at the club.[28]

In November 2016, he signed a new contract with Forest Green, agreeing a deal until the summer of 2019.[29]

On 23 January 2017, Clough signed for Barnet for an undisclosed fee.[30] He was released by Barnet at the end of the 2017–18 season.[31]

Clough re-joined Sutton for the 2018–19 season.[32]

Clough left Sutton in December 2018 and joined Bruneian club DPMM for the 2019 season, joining up with his former manager at Forest Green, Adrian Pennock.[33] He scored his first goal for the Bruneian side in a 1–1 draw away to Young Lions FC on 7 August.[34] DPMM were crowned champions of the Singapore Premier League on his first season at the club.[35] Clough played a huge part in the title-winning campaign, his club claiming the joint-best defensive record of the league after 24 matches.[36]