Famous Players – The 1960’s

Clinton Boulton

Versatile defender Clinton began his career as an apprentice with the Vale in 1963 making his debut on Boxing Day 1964 at the age of 16 years 354 days, becoming the then youngest player to appear for the club. 

He then played a further 5 games that season as Vale were relegated from the Third Division under Jackie Mudie.  When he scored in the last game of that campaign, he also became the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history.

He turned professional in 1965 aged 17 and manager Sir Stanley Matthews made him captain at just 18 year old for the 1966/67 season when he became the mainstay of the team’s defence.

As an ever present in the 1969/70 season under manger Gordon Lee he helped the club gain promotion out of the Fourth Division before being sold to Torquay Utd in 1971 for a fee of £10,000 where he played for a further 8 seasons.

Clinton died in January 2021 age 72