Non-League and Academy football writer

Most recently a player for Combined Counties Football League Division One side Hillingdon Borough, commanding central-defender Clayton Afonso, is a tremendous defender. From Brazil, Clayton has played for teams in Brazil, before then playing professionally for teams in Hong Kong (via some time spent in Japan), in a more than seven year spell. Clayton made 165 appearances in the Hong Kong Premier League, and he played for clubs such as Eastern, and Tai Po.

During his time playing non-League football in England, the 36 year old defender has so far played for St Panteleimon, in the Premier Division of the Spartan League (step 5), and during the most recent season he captained Hillingdon Borough, in what was a fine season for the step 6 side, who he made 45 competitive appearances for. During the same 2024/25 season, Clayton played for a very good and successful Sunday side, in East London Ballers, in the Essex Corinthian League. 

Capped internationally on one occasion by Hong Kong’s senior international team. On the occasions that I have seen Clayton play for both St Panteleimon and also Hillingdon Borough, Clayton made a really good impression on the matches which I saw him involved in. A tall and commanding central-defender who leads his teammates very well on the pitch, Clayton is excellent in the air (he scores a good amount of headed goals), and he is good at getting forward for set-pieces. However, his reading of the game, really good fitness and all-round defending are some of his greatest qualities as a player, and he is comfortable at bringing the ball out from defence. He is a fantastic footballer and defender.

Clayton is another player in non-League football, who is very talented, and who has played the game at an impressive level professionally. I hope to see Clayton play once again, during the 2025/26 season.

“ Everything he does is almost near perfect, from arriving on time, preparing himself with his personal routine, he is focused and determined to win. Clayton shows his leadership with his football. ” – Syed Tanveer Hussain, AKA Tani (Head-coach and technical development at East London Ballers)