Hailing from Victoria, Australia, he enjoyed success at national level in the mid-1960s, taking runner-up spots three times in the 800 m at the Australian Athletics Championships.

He was a finalist in the 440 yd, taking eighth place, and helped the Australian 4 × 440 yard relay team to fifth.

[2] His career peak came in the 880 yd final, in which he broke the games record to take the gold medal in a time of 1:46.9 minutes, beating Kenya's Wilson Kiprugut (an Olympic medallist) and the home favourite George Kerr who was a former Commonwealth champion.

[5][6] Clough continued to compete in his later years as a masters athlete.

He won a 400 m/400 m hurdles double in the men's over-40 category at the 1977 World Masters Athletics Championships.