Nick started with Greene and Pearce the local auctioneers and estate agents as a trainee. He was very involved is setting up the local sale room and acted as auctioneer. Nick then moved on to work for other firms outside the town as an auctioneer but remained resident in Market Drayton.

Nick has a passionate interest in sport. He is a former chairman of the Greenfields Sports Association. The Association is run by volunteers representing the local football, rugby and tennis clubs that play on the site. Including visiting teams and regional competitions, over 7,000 people play at Greenfields each year, 5,000 of them being under 16 years old. Sport coaching is available to all club members and this is linked to the local junior schools.

Local businesses with food connections include Muller and Palethorpes who provide team shirts and training gear. Other sponsors include Scott Shepley and Cookies. Nick Clay helps organise the beer for festival days and Palethorpes provide the pies for Market Drayton Town F.C. match days. Employees of local food connected companies are also individual members and 'works teams' play at Greenfields. Nick and his colleagues are looking to build a new club house with a function room and changing facility to be shared by their 500 members and visiting players, as well as an all weather surface and improvements to car and coach parking.