It was while playing for the Welsh Schoolboys that Johnny Clayton was spotted by Everton and, on leaving school, he moved to Goodison Park where he remained for seven years without getting beyond their Central League team. He was signed by Wally Fielding as a right-half but became one of six players to wear the number 9 shirt in 1959–60 after Brian Green and Bill Parker were injured at Workington in the F.A. Cup replay. Eventually he dropped out of the 1959–60 team when a shin injury suffered at Gillingham caught up with him and necessitated an operation.He disagreed with Lem Newcomb over his position in the team. He wanted to play right-half and the manager put him at centre-forward until he was replaced by Reg Blore. He was transfer listed at his own request. “