I've been critical of Harry's play at times , particularly in respect of his passing, but for these last couple of months he seems to have come on leaps and bounds.
It seemed to start when he filled in at left back, it was noticeable within a couple of games how much better & confident he got at kicking the ball with his left, but also how he soon looked quite comfortable there. This continued when he went to right back, and then he added the swashbuckling runs and some excellent crossing. He also seems to have got a bit quicker & is displaying 1 or 2 touches of skill that i didn't know he had.

Would love to know what's sparked this improvement - does he actually enjoy or prefer being a full back/wing back, or has someone (Hurst/Doig/ davies?) been giving him some in depth coaching support?

Agreed. I’ve been critical of Clifton and often felt that has he not been a local lad he’d have been the boo boy a long while ago.

However, since the arrival of Hurst, the change in shape and probably attitudes within the squad he has improved and along with Hewitt almost became mr dependable. He’s played on various positions and acruslly worked his nads off.

Credit where credit is due and acruslly he’d be one that you’d want here next year.

I don’t think he’s been any different other than a consistent run of games has allowed him to hit some form.

He had really good spell in midfield playing alongside hessenthaler.

This season despite quite a lot of undue criticism he’s consistently proved he’s a capable football league player in multiple positions. He is underrated because as you say the weakest area of his game is with the ball, the rest of his game more than makes up for this for me.

I think he’ll stay, but he’d easily get another club in the league if he wanted to leave.

I thought he started the season well and was one of our better performers early on, he then had a spell in and out of the side because of injury. For me he's had a decent individual season and must run Hewitt close for player of the year. His versatility makes him an important player.

Long-term his versatility might let him down as he will never have the chance to cement a place of his own. In small, tight knit squads those attributes are certainly required. He's certainly a Hurst player with his attitude and discipline.

I think he has played consistently well over the last several weeks. I would certainly like him to stay at BP and be a regular team member. I think he has a lot to offer for the future and can be used in different positions.

Players like him are crucial to a squad. Will always give his all wherever and whenever he is asked to play. He's better than some give him credit for as a player.

Well he'll certainly give 100% effort and never give up, takes all kinds of players to make a team and sometimes you need those people who will run all game and chase down every ball. Next season loose balls and poor passes will probably be punished less so it increases his value to a game.

Hear good things about him as a person too as much as people can be a judge of character and he seems like a good young pro. Don't hear any wild stories of running down the street naked or passing out on the toilet floor of a well known nightclub as with young pros we've had in the past.  ;D

"I am just grateful there is going to be new leadership, ambition and values"

For me this statement is particularly cutting and articulate for a young man. Those 14 words summarise exactly how I feel. Fingers crossed for Harry that the deal goes through as JF would be seething! That said, he is probably too ignorant to let it bother him. It strikes at the heart far more than the obvious and warranted abuse that had been found on here.

I think Harry has really kicked on during the second half of this season, and behind Hewitt has been our most consistent player.

Always gives 150%, versatile, town through and through,  and genuinely a good player. He has always got stuck in and been reliable in defence, but I like the way he is getting forward more now. I think it probably helps that he now has a manager who should appreciate his natural abilities, rather than Holloway attempting to get him playing one touch passing football.

If he wasn't so versatile I would say he should be one of the players we build a squad around. However ultimately due to his versatility he will end up playing all over the place, but in a smaller squad, when we only have 5 subs, this could be vital.

Really hope he stays, and gets at least a new 2 year deal. Could actually see him doing a Macca and spending his entire career here.

Harry is Grimsby through and through and deserves his place in the team on merit.

We need him, I really hope he re signs for us.

I think Max is naturally the better footballer but needs his fitness managing a lot more. Clifton is a natural athlete. I mentioned earlier about his versatility which will definitely help us throughout the season and game to game.

McKeown, Clifton, Coke, Lenny and Max are essential characters to have in the squad.

Not sure if I misunderstood what PH said in his interview, but it seems Max pushed himself too much in our erm "pre-season" which has caused the injury problems this year.

I heard he fell off his moped whilst doing a deliveroo shift.

Quoted from Abdul19

I heard he fell off his moped whilst doing a deliveroo shift.

Who Max Wright? I knew Fenty shouldn't have told him to get another job😉

If Clifton wasn’t one of our own , he’d have got pelters ... like the rest , not up to scratch by a long chalk this season and needs to show more and kick on ... doesn’t create , doesn’t get in the box , doesn’t dictate play ... better at full back

He’s our Kevin Jobling . Can be relied on to do a job wherever he’s asked to play . Every team needs someone like him and well worth another contract.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

He’s our Kevin Jobling . Can be relied on to do a job wherever he’s asked to play . Every team needs someone like him and well worth another contract.

Was going to make the same point, but couldn't remember the name of the player. Kevin Jobling was probably a better player than Clifton, but the sentiment is the same.

Every team needs a Clifton type.

Think he might be more of a Tommy Watson  rather than a Jobling

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

He’s our Kevin Jobling . Can be relied on to do a job wherever he’s asked to play . Every team needs someone like him and well worth another contract.

Loved Jobling, pure class. Miles better than Paul Agnew.

Quoted from Brazilnut

Think he might be more of a Tommy Watson  rather than a Jobling

Aye good comparison

Quoted from toontown

Aye good comparison

I’d have said Tommy Watson could get goals, that’s a bit of a gap in Harry’s game.  Clifton probably more solid than TW in contrast.

There’s probably no perfect comparison - but utility type players a massive plus in a small squad.

Quoted from grimsbybrown

I’d have said Tommy Watson could get goals, that’s a bit of a gap in Harry’s game.  Clifton probably more solid than TW in contrast.

There’s probably no perfect comparison - but utility type players a massive plus in a small squad.

Yep agreed

Quoted from goldenfish

If Clifton wasn’t one of our own , he’d have got pelters ... like the rest , not up to scratch by a long chalk this season and needs to show more and kick on ... doesn’t create , doesn’t get in the box , doesn’t dictate play ... better at full back

He did get pelters, on a number of occasions throughout the season. But he has been playing much better over the last couple of months which probably goes along with when he has been playing on a regular basis.

Playing for a proper manager probably helps

Quoted from The_Laughing_Mariner

Playing for a proper manager probably helps

You're not saying Andy Capp was really a Handicap are you ?

very good

I’m a Harry Clifton fan but his career as not really taken off like I hoped it would. I honestly think if he hadn’t had a strong finish to the season his career at town would have been over and it still might be ?

Useful player to have in the squad. He’s got a lot of experience now, and is versatile and committed. He might never be a League One player but he’s easily good enough for our level. Absolutely no doubt we should keep him.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Useful player to have in the squad. He’s got a lot of experience now, and is versatile and committed. He might never be a League One player but he’s easily good enough for our level. Absolutely no doubt we should keep him.

I hope we do keep him , it will be interesting how the new owners deal with this money wise / length of contract

Quoted from HarrogateMariner

I think Harry has really kicked on during the second half of this season, and behind Hewitt has been our most consistent player.

Always gives 150%, versatile, town through and through,  and genuinely a good player. He has always got stuck in and been reliable in defence, but I like the way he is getting forward more now. I think it probably helps that he now has a manager who should appreciate his natural abilities, rather than Holloway attempting to get him playing one touch passing football.

If he wasn't so versatile I would say he should be one of the players we build a squad around. However ultimately due to his versatility he will end up playing all over the place, but in a smaller squad, when we only have 5 subs, this could be vital.

Really hope he stays, and gets at least a new 2 year deal. Could actually see him doing a Macca and spending his entire career here.

You want to build a team around a player that can't pass to his own team mates when not under pressure? We'd be stuck in NL for years if Clifton is the lynchpin of the team. He's a worker and gives everything, seems a grounded person too who would be a good squad member, but he's not really kicked on enough to be a league footballer. I think he'll get a new contract on the basis of the last few games, but he needs to get some composure quickly if he wants to make it in the league.

If only you judged the controller of the club according to the same standards pp

I don’t recall anyone on this thread saying he was going to be the linchpin. If you can find us a better squad player PP feel free to enlighten us mere fans .

I'd make him captain for next season, give him a 3yr contract. He has room to improve, his left foot was for standing on, but each game on the left shows improvement. His first touch has improved, it needed to and he seems to have cut out the suicidal square pass, which to be honest caused a few goals to be conceded. He is GTFC. He never gave up.

I haven't changed my view, he is a damn good versatile squad player, more than useful at NL level. Better at full back than in the middle I reckon.

We shouldn't be offering 3 year contracts or building a team around him obviously, he has obvious limitations even at league 2 level. But he does deserve a new deal. I don't think its impossible he will get a deal with a league club though

First half of the season I would have said thanks for all the effort but been happy to see him released and end up somewhere like Boston next season. However, the second half of the season he's shown signs that there's the makings of a decent full back there, certainly good enough to be a squad player in the Conference. I wouldn't rule out Harry playing CM but for me there isn't enough creativity, not for league football anyway. One year deal with a 1 year option would be decent for both parties.

Quoted from toontown

I haven't changed my view, he is a damn good versatile squad player, more than useful at NL level. Better at full back than in the middle I reckon.

We shouldn't be offering 3 year contracts or building a team around him obviously, he has obvious limitations even at league 2 level. But he does deserve a new deal. I don't think its impossible he will get a deal with a league club though

Agree with most of that but I think he was missed massively (along with Coke) in the middle of the park against Morecombe when he was moved to full back. He has been at the top of his game for the last month and we’d be fools to get rid of such a versatile and dependable player. I’d also say that I think his passing has improved recently, something I’ve freely criticised him for myself in the past.

Quoted from cardiffmariner

Agree with most of that but I think he was missed massively (along with Coke) in the middle of the park against Morecombe when he was moved to full back. He has been at the top of his game for the last month and we’d be fools to get rid of such a versatile and dependable player. I’d also say that I think his passing has improved recently, something I’ve freely criticised him for myself in the past.

His passing did improve under hollowhead to be fair, albeit from a poor level.

I hope we re-sign him and are in a position to give him a long run of games in the mid field, I'm no expert but his versatility and willingness to play anywhere when required has stopped him developing as a player.

Having in him the same side as Coke (who I hope we've got next season too) appears to have freed him up a bit and released his work rate and energy to make a better impact in games. If Hurst can develop him further and stop him being a jigsaw he could be an influential player for us in the NL.

    

Cliftons game has improved over the 2nd half of the season and has proved he can play in a few positions. He has earned a place next year in the squad and would be an asset to the team with his versatility.

Never been his biggest fan but over the last couple of months he earned himself a contract at league 2 level. Conference is a no brainer