Formed in 1908 the Clayton Football Club as it was then known, first played in The Berwick Football Association and its successor the Dandenong District Football Association.
When the Dandenong competition folded and reformed as the South West Gippsland FL in 1954, Clayton opted to join the Federal Football League. We managed to brreak through and win the last two premierships during our time in that league, going back-to-back in 1980 and 1981.
Clayton then commenced in the South East Suburban Football League in 1982, winning the premiership the first year competing in that league. They followed up a few years later by winning the 1984 premiership. With the decline in the quality of administration in the SESFL at that time, the Club applied and were cleared to play in the Eastern District Football League (EDFL). They spent three years at the top of the 2nd Division ladder before winning the 1993 premiership that allowed the club to be promoted to the 1st Division. After five years in the top division of the EDFL the club opted to return to their natural local competition in 1999.
Clayton won the 2001 and 2006 1st Division premierships, a regular finalist for most years in that period. By 2008 Clayton began to struggle with the quality of the competition, and finished last in their division that year. As a result the club was relegated back to 2nd Division in 2009. They bounced back the following year in 2010, winning the premiership and promotion straight back into 1st Division. After competing in 1st Division since 2010, in 2017 Clayton went through a winless season which will see them now compete in 2nd Division in 2018.
In 2011 Clayton established their first Netball team, driven by the passion and determination of some women around the club who wanted to get involved. The Club won its first netball premiership in 2014, in Division 3 against Dingley in a thrilling match that went into extra time. In 2018 Clayton will be fielding three Netball teams, the most in the Clubs history.
In more recent times, 2018 saw Clayton field its first ever Women's Football team, affectionalty known as the "Claydies", in the SFNL Division 2 Womens competition. They went on to make Club history by winning the SFNL Division 2 Womens Premership in their inaugural season. Since 2018, our Men's Senior football team have been highly competitive, contesting the 2019 Grand Final and finishing in the top 4 on the ladder at the end of each home and away sesason.
History is made as The Claydies team debut in 2018
You can explore more of our proud Club history in the Trophy Room and Gallery section of our website, and on our Wikipedia page.
#GoClays