John Grant (footballer, born 1981)

John Grant
Grant playing for Aldershot Town in 2008
Personal information
Full name John Anthony Carlton Grant[1]
Date of birth (1981-08-09) 9 August 1981 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2002 Crewe Alexandra 7 (0)
2001–2002 Northwich Victoria 11 (4)
2002–2003 Hereford United 26 (4)
2003–2004 Telford United 32 (6)
2004–2005 Shrewsbury Town 19 (2)
2005–2006 Halifax Town 49 (13)
2006–2010 Aldershot Town 127 (45)
2010Oxford United (loan) 7 (0)
2010–2011 Barrow 5 (0)
2011 Macclesfield Town 4 (0)
2013 Droylsden 9 (0)
Total 296 (74)
International career
2007 England C 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Anthony Carlton Grant (born 9 August 1981) is a former English footballer who last played for Droylsden as a striker and previously played for a variety of other English football clubs.

Club career

Crewe Alexandra

Born in Manchester, Greater Manchester, Grant started his career at Crewe Alexandra[1] who were at the time playing in the Division One. He said his brother Daniel Grant, a former schoolboy player at Manchester United, inspired him to play football so he signed in July 1999 and made his debut against Crystal Palace on the opening day of the 1999–2000 season. He was also a promising basketball player and trialed with Manchester Giants

He was later loaned to Hyde United, and Northwich Victoria.

2002 to 2005

In the 2002 close season, Grant signed for Hereford United, before going on to join the now defunct Telford United in July 2003. In the summer of 2004, Grant then signed for Shrewsbury Town, who had just beaten Aldershot Town in the Conference play-off final.

Halifax Town

Grant was on the move again in March 2005, when he joined Halifax Town.[2] Grant played and scored for Halifax Town in the 2006 Conference play-off final, at Leicester City's Walkers Stadium, against his former club Hereford United. Halifax Town lost the final.[3] That season Grant finished as Halifax Town's top scorer with 14 goals. Despite being offered a new contract by Halifax Town, he decided to join Aldershot Town in the summer of 2006.

Aldershot Town

In July 2006, Grant signed for Aldershot Town.[4] He scored twice on his debut against Gravesend & Northfleet,[5] on the opening day of the 2006–07 season. At the end of the season, Grant was Aldershot Town's top scorer with 23 goals and he was voted the fans 'Player of the Year'.

In December 2007, Grant scored his first and only senior hat-trick against Salisbury City. In February 2008, he committed himself to the club until the end of the 2009–10 season.[6] Grant ended the 2007–08 season as top-scorer with 25 goals, as Aldershot Town won the Conference National title and the Conference League Cup. He was also one of five Aldershot Town players that were named in the Conference Team of the Year.[7]

Grant made his 100th appearance for Aldershot Town against Notts County in September 2008 and he scored his 50th goal for Aldershot Town against Rotherham United in November 2008. In February 2010, he joined Oxford United on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season.[8]

Barrow

Grant was released by Aldershot at the end of the 2009–10 season. Subsequently, he joined Conference National club Barrow on 19 November 2010.[9] He made his debut the following day as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Grimsby Town.[10] Grant left Barrow by mutual consent on 31 January 2011.[11]

Macclesfield

On 5 August 2011 Grant signed for Macclesfield Town on a non-contract basis after training with the team during the pre-season.[12] He made four appearances during the 2011–12 season, the last in a 0–2 home defeat to Southend United on 29 October 2011.

Droylsden

Having been without a club since his release from Macclesfield halfway through the 2011–12 season, Grant signed for struggling Conference North club Droylsden in March 2013, making his debut in a 4–0 defeat at Gloucester City on 12 March 2013. He made a further eight appearances during the 2012–13 season, failing to score.

England National Game XI

He also made his England National Game XI debut in May 2007 against the Republic of Ireland. Grant was in the squad that won that year's Four Nations Tournament and scored against Scotland on his full debut in the 3–0 victory on 25 May 2007.

Honours

Aldershot Town

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ "Grant Signs For Town". halifaxafc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2005.
  3. ^ "Halifax 2–3 Hereford (aet)". BBC Sport. 20 May 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2006.
  4. ^ "Marcus Gayle and John Grant Arrive at the Rec and Dixon Remains Target". theshots.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 October 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2006.
  5. ^ "Shots 3–2 Gravesend and Northfleet". theshots.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 October 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2006.
  6. ^ "Statement From The Chairman". theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2008.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Shots Receive Awards at Conference Weekend". theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2008.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "United sign Grant". oufc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  9. ^ "Barrow snap up former Aldershot striker John Grant". BBC Sport. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Grimsby 1–1 Barrow". BBC Sport. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  11. ^ "Almond Loan Extended – Donnelly & Grant Leave". barrowafc.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  12. ^ "John Grant joins Macclesfield Town on non-contract deal". BBC Sport. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2012.

External links