John is a former Lancashire Academy representative hooker with good skills
and a great attitude. He originates from St Helens and joined Salford in
2001.
Clough spent close five years with Salford City Reds, mainly playing in the
clubs Academy teams where his form was rewarded with selection to the
Lancashire Academy squad for two origin games against Yorkshire in 2002.
That season Salford achieved a play-off place in the Academy competition and
John was also invited to train with the GB Under-18 ahead of their meeting
with Australia in 2002.
The following year Clough made his first team debut, scoring a try and
earned the praise of coach Karl Harrison for the way he played in the Reds
club record 100-12 victory over Gateshead Thunder.
Clough went on to make another 17 first team appearances for Salford,
however he had the toughest of tasks in trying to displace the Reds popular
captain Malcolm Alker. Alker's durability made it difficult for Clough to
get game time but he was also able to glean a lot from the workaholic
Salford rake and former Great Britain hooker James Lowes who joined the Reds
as assistant coach in November 2005.
Alker went on record to say the pressure Clough placed on him for the
hooking role helped bring on improvements in his own game, describing John
in the process as "a talented lad".
Clough's Salford service was interrupted for a month in 2005 when he was
taken on-loan by London Broncos, but their injury worries eased shortly
after signing and Clough became ill with Gastroenteritis. He returned north
at the end of the month with only a Senior Academy game to his credit.
Last season Clough started getting more game time, particularly during the
early part of the year when he made seven substitute appearances but those
dried up and John decided it was time to move on. The Shay and Halifax was
his destination and Clough initially joined the Yorkshire club on-loan. He
later agreed a deal to the end of the season, negotiating an early release
from Salford in July.
Ironically, Clough made his 'Fax debut in a 38-36 defeat at the Coliseum and
went on to make nine appearances for Halifax, scoring tries against Hull KR,
Doncaster and Whitehaven as Halifax finished 7th in National League One.
John is the elder brother of Saints star Paul who recently captained the
England Academy U-18s in their series with Australia. He is expected to push
hard for first team inclusion at Leigh in 2007.
