Claude Clough

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Claude Clough

| image =

| fullname = Claude Hamilton Clough

| birth_date = {{birth date|1884|10|8|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/131157/default.aspx |title=Not such a baby Bomber |first=Callum |last=Twomey |date=21 March 2012 |publisher=Australian Football League |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322144214/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/131157/default.aspx |archivedate=22 March 2012 |df=dmy }}

| birth_place = St Kilda, Victoria

| death_date = {{death date and age|1922|2|23|1884|10|8|df=y}}

| death_place = St Kilda, Victoria

| originalteam = Collegians

| debutdate = 1900

| debutteam = St Kilda

| debutopponent = Melbourne

| height =

| weight =

| position =

| statsend = 1901

| years1 = 1900–1901

| club1 = St Kilda

| games_goals1 = 23 (8)

| careerhighlights =

}}

Claude Hamilton Clough (8 October 1884 – 23 February 1922{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4697340 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=24 February 1922 |accessdate=22 March 2012 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the early 1900s.

He holds the record as the youngest-ever player in the league, having made his debut at 15 years, 209 days. Until March 2012, the record was thought to be held by Keith Bromage, who made his debut at 15 years and 287 days. Research by the official AFL historians discovered that Clough was born in 1884, not the previously thought 1880.

Clough's first game of league football in 1900 was notable, as the result of the match was overturned almost a week after the game concluded. The match finished as a draw, with both teams having scored 68 points,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9540366 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=7 May 1900 |accessdate=22 March 2012 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}} but a point kicked by {{AFL Mel}} at the end of the third quarter was later disallowed and St Kilda was awarded the win.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9540888 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=12 May 1900 |accessdate=22 March 2012 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}} (It would take 106 years before another game's result would be later overturned—coincidentally involving St Kilda—in the infamous Sirengate match.) The 1900 victory with Clough also marked St Kilda's first win since they entered the league in 1897, and it was their only win for the season.{{cite book | title=AFL Record Season Guide 2010 | editor=Lovett, Michael | year=2010 | pages=754–755 | isbn=978-0-9806274-5-9}}

Clough died at his home in Fulton Street, St Kilda, in February 1922, aged 37.{{cite journal |title=Deaths |journal=The Argus |date=24 February 1922 |page=1 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4697340}}