Tony Grant (Irish footballer)

Tony Grant
Personal information
Full name Tony Grant
Date of birth (1976-08-20) 20 August 1976
Place of birth Drogheda, Republic of Ireland
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Duleek
Youth career
1994–1995 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1995–1996 Preston North End 1 (0)
1997–2000 Glenavon 119 (48)
2000–2003 Shamrock Rovers 112 (34)
2004–2006 Bohemians 68 (17)
2006–2008 Drogheda United 30 (1)
2008–2011 Glenavon 94 (25)
2012 Glenavon 6 (1)
Total 430 (126)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Tony Grant (born 20 August 1976 in Dublin) is an Irish professional footballer who currently plays for Duleek.

Career

Early years

Starting as a trainee with Leeds United, Grant signed for Preston North End in November 1995. He was loaned out to Glenavon, making a permanent move to the Lurgan club in January 1997; he scored the only goal in their Irish Cup final win over Cliftonville the same year.

League of Ireland

Grant signed for Shamrock Rovers in the summer of 2000 and scored on his debut for the club in August of that year. He was presented with the Player of the Year award at the end of his first season with the club. During his career with the "Hoops", he scored several decisive goals against rivals, Bohemians, including the only goal in Dalymount Park's centenary game and a back heeled winner in another 2001 derby, at Richmond Park.[1][2][3] Grant scored the winning goal for Rovers in the 2003 UEFA Intertoto-Cup tie with Odra Wodzisław in Poland.[4] He made a total of 6 appearances in European Competition for Shamrock Rovers.

On 24 February 2004, Bohemians announced the signing of Grant and James Keddy from Shamrock Rovers.[5] Less than two months later, the two clubs played each other at Dalymount Park.[6] The game finished 2–2 but was marked by a Pig's head being thrown onto the pitch by Rovers supporters, in a gesture aimed at Grant in particular.[7] The incident remained a topic of humour amongst the media for weeks after, as well as a reminder of the intensity of the rivalry between the two clubs.[8]

Grant suffered at first with several niggling injuries during his time with Bohemians, but won back his place in October 2004. In June 2005 he scored another winner in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.[9]

Grant signed for Drogheda United in 2006 making his debut in the UEFA Cup away to HJK Helsinki in Finland. Injury brought his first season to an early end.

He started off the 2007 season quite well scoring four goals in twenty appearances, fourteen of these appearances were as a substitute. One of those four goals happened to be the equaliser in the 2007 Setanta Cup Final.

Later years

In the summer of 2008 Grant rejoined Glenavon.[10] He was released by the club in May 2011 at the end of his contract and signed with Leinster Senior League side Glebe North He was then re-signed by Glenavon on 4 January 2012.[11] In June 2012, Grant retired due to consistent injuries.[12]

Honours

Team

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Bohemians 0–1 Shamrock Rovers (Television production). Radio Telefís Éireann. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  2. ↑ "Rovers spoil Dalymount celebrations". Radio Telefís Éireann. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "Rovers win Dublin derby". breakingnews.ie. 9 November 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  4. ↑ "European Results 1957 – date". shamrockrovers.ie. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  5. ↑ "Bohemians sign Grant and Keddy". Radio Telefís Éireann. 24 February 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  6. ↑ "Bohs earn draw after comeback". breakingnews.ie. 16 April 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  7. ↑ "Rivals set for new chapter in old capital affair". Irish Times. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "Fans hurl pig's head at ex-Hoops man". Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  9. ↑ "Grant to rescue for battling Bohemians". The Irish Times. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  10. ↑ "GLENAVON:Club focus". Belfast Newsletter. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  11. ↑ http://glenavonfc.com/blog/?p=13286
  12. ↑ http://glenavonfc.com/blog/?p=14580
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