Simon Grand
Encyclopedia
Simon Grand is an English
professional footballer who plays for Southport
as a defender.
, Grand started his career at Rochdale
as a trainee in August 2001 and won the club's Young Player of the Year award in May 2002.
He made his debut in a 2nd round FA Cup
tie against Bristol Rovers
in December 2002 and established himself in the first team, making 28 appearances in all competitions in the remainder of the 2002-03 season
and helping Rochdale to the 5th round of the FA Cup in February 2003 where they were beaten by Wolves
.
He began the 2003-04 season
in the first team and was a regular until January 2004 when, having made 21 appearances in all competition, he was dropped from the side following the arrival of new manager Steve Parkin
.
He made no further appearances for Rochdale and was released by the club in May 2004.
club, Carlisle United
, in August 2004, after a successful trial.
He scored on his debut against Tamworth
in September 2004 and made 29 appearances in all competitions in the 2004-05 season
as Carlisle won promotion to the Football League. Shortly before the end of the season, he signed a two-year contract keeping him at the club until 2007.
In December 2005, he scored the match winning penalty as Carlisle beat Tranmere Rovers
11-10 on penalties in the Football League Trophy
.
However, he found it hard to get ahead of Kevin Gray
, Danny Livesey
and Peter Murphy in the centre back position and made only 14 appearances in the 2005-06 season
as Carlisle clinched a second successive promotion as League Two champions. At the end of the season, Carlisle were willing to listen to offers for Grand and, after making a further six appearances for Carlisle in the 2006-07 season
, he joined Grimsby Town
.
newcomers Morecambe
in August 2007 on a 12-month deal, after a successful trial with the Christie Park club.
prior to the start of the 2010–11 season. In October 2010, he joined Mansfield Town
on loan. In January 2011, he joined Aldershot Town
on loan. Prior to the start of the 2011–12 season Grand moved down the west coast of England
to join Southport
on a free transfer
and made his competitive club debut on 13 August 2011 on the first day of the 2011-12 season. He scored his first Southport goal, heading their second goal in a 3-2 away win over Forest Green
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who plays for Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
as a defender.
Rochdale
Born in ChorleyChorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
, Grand started his career at Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
as a trainee in August 2001 and won the club's Young Player of the Year award in May 2002.
He made his debut in a 2nd round FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
tie against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in December 2002 and established himself in the first team, making 28 appearances in all competitions in the remainder of the 2002-03 season
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
and helping Rochdale to the 5th round of the FA Cup in February 2003 where they were beaten by Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
He began the 2003-04 season
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
in the first team and was a regular until January 2004 when, having made 21 appearances in all competition, he was dropped from the side following the arrival of new manager Steve Parkin
Steve Parkin
Stephen John "Steve" Parkin is an English former footballer and manager, currently working as assistant manager at Bradford City.-Mansfield Town:...
.
He made no further appearances for Rochdale and was released by the club in May 2004.
Carlisle United
Grand joined Conference NationalConference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
club, Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, in August 2004, after a successful trial.
He scored on his debut against Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
in September 2004 and made 29 appearances in all competitions in the 2004-05 season
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
as Carlisle won promotion to the Football League. Shortly before the end of the season, he signed a two-year contract keeping him at the club until 2007.
In December 2005, he scored the match winning penalty as Carlisle beat Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
11-10 on penalties in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
.
However, he found it hard to get ahead of Kevin Gray
Kevin Gray
Kevin John Gray is an English footballer, playing as a defender for Workington.-Football career:He started his career at Mansfield Town signing as a trainee in July 1990 and had a successful four year period at Mansfiled...
, Danny Livesey
Danny Livesey
Daniel Richard "Danny" Livesey is an English football player who currently plays for Carlisle United....
and Peter Murphy in the centre back position and made only 14 appearances in the 2005-06 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
as Carlisle clinched a second successive promotion as League Two champions. At the end of the season, Carlisle were willing to listen to offers for Grand and, after making a further six appearances for Carlisle in the 2006-07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
, he joined Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
.
Grimsby Town
Grand joined Grimsby Town in January 2007, initially on loan until the end of the 2006-07 season but signing a permanent 18-month deal two weeks later. However, after making only seven appearances for Grimsby, he was released in May 2007.Morecambe
Grand joined Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
newcomers Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
in August 2007 on a 12-month deal, after a successful trial with the Christie Park club.
Northwich Victoria
After leaving Morecambe in the close season, Grand signed for Northwich Victoria on non contract terms in August 2008. He signed a permanent contract until the end of the 2008–09 season in October.Fleetwood and Southport
Grand signed for Fleetwood TownFleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
prior to the start of the 2010–11 season. In October 2010, he joined Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
on loan. In January 2011, he joined Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
on loan. Prior to the start of the 2011–12 season Grand moved down the west coast of England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
to join Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
on a free transfer
Free transfer
In professional association football, a free transfer, also known as a Bosman transfer, involves a professional association football club releasing a player once the player's contract has expired or made available just before the end of the contract....
and made his competitive club debut on 13 August 2011 on the first day of the 2011-12 season. He scored his first Southport goal, heading their second goal in a 3-2 away win over Forest Green
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
.