Alex Gilliead
English association football player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alex Nicholas Gilliead (born 11 February 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or winger most recently for Shrewsbury Town. He has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-20 levels.
|
Gilliead playing for Carlisle United in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alex Nicholas Gilliead[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 February 1996[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Shotley Bridge, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2014 | Newcastle United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2018 | Newcastle United | 0 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | → Carlisle United (loan) | 35 | (5) |
| 2016–2017 | → Luton Town (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2017 | → Bradford City (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Bradford City (loan) | 42 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Shrewsbury Town | 27 | (1) |
| 2019–2021 | Scunthorpe United | 79 | (7) |
| 2021–2024 | Bradford City | 123 | (5) |
| 2024–2026 | Shrewsbury Town | 45 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | → Carlisle United (loan) | 37 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2011–2012 | England U16 | 4 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | England U17 | 8 | (0) |
| 2014 | England U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | England U20 | 7 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:43, 7 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Newcastle United
Born in Shotley Bridge, County Durham,[2] Gilliead was offered a trial by Newcastle United in 2011, after he was first noticed playing for Swalwell Juniors.[3] He signed scholarship terms in the summer of 2012,[3] before signing a three-year professional contract with the club on 4 July 2013.[4] Gilliead signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract on 28 January 2016 to keep him at the club until 30 June 2018, with the option of a further year.[5]
Loan to Carlisle United
On 14 September 2015, Gilliead joined League Two club Carlisle United on a one-month youth loan.[6] He made his professional debut five days later in a 2–2 draw with York City, assisting both of Carlisle's goals.[7][8] Gilliead's loan was extended until the end of 2015–16, having made five appearances during his initial loan spell.[9] He followed up his loan extension by scoring his first professional goal two days later in a 1–0 win at home to Exeter City.[10][11] Gilliead completed the loan spell with 41 appearances and five goals.[12]
Loan to Luton Town
On 31 August 2016, Gilliead joined League Two club Luton Town on loan until 7 January 2017.[13] He debuted as an 85th-minute substitute in a 2–1 defeat at home to Grimsby Town on 10 September.[14] Gilliead scored his first goal for Luton in a 2–0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion U21 in the EFL Trophy on 4 October.[15] He later scored his first league goal for the club in a 3–1 win at home to Barnet on 31 December.[16] Gilliead scored two goals in 21 appearances and returned to Newcastle following the expiration of his loan spell.[17][18]
Loan to Bradford City
On 12 January 2017, Gilliead signed for League One club Bradford City on loan until the end of 2016–17.[19] He made his debut two days later as a 76th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat away to Shrewsbury Town and completed the loan spell with 10 appearances.[17]
Gilliead returned to Bradford City on a six-month loan on 7 July 2017.[20] On 4 January 2018, Gilliead's loan at Bradford was extended until the end of the season.[21] He scored two goals from 48 appearances,[22] as Bradford finished in 11th place in the table.[23]
Shrewsbury Town
Gilliead signed for League One club Shrewsbury Town on 10 July 2018 on a two-year contract, following his release by Newcastle.[24]
Scunthorpe United
Gilliead signed for Scunthorpe United, who were newly relegated to League Two, on 9 July 2019 on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[25] He was one of 17 players released by Scunthorpe at the end of the 2020–21 season.[26]
Return to Bradford City
Gilliead rejoined Bradford City, this time on a permanent basis, in the summer of 2021.[27] His first Bradford goal since 2018 came in a 2-0 home win over Rochdale on 2 October 2021.
Gilliead signed a 2-year contract extension with Bradford in June 2023.
Return to Shrewsbury Town
On 30 August 2024, Gilliead returned to League One club Shrewsbury Town on a two-year deal.[28]
On 1 September 2025, Gilliead returned to another of his former clubs, joining Carlisle United on loan until 11 January 2026, ten years on from an initial loan spell with the now National League club.[29]
International career
Career statistics
- As of end of 2025–26 season
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Newcastle United | 2014–15[31] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[12] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17[17] | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Carlisle United (loan) | 2015–16[12] | League Two | 35 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 41 | 5 | |
| Luton Town (loan) | 2016–17[17] | League Two | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 1 | 21 | 2 | |
| Bradford City (loan) | 2016–17[17] | League One | 9 | 0 | — | — | 1[b] | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[32] | League One | 42 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 48 | 2 | |
| Total | 51 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 2 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town | 2018–19[33] | League One | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 2 | 35 | 3 |
| Scunthorpe United | 2019–20[34] | League Two | 35 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 42 | 6 |
| 2020–21[35] | League Two | 44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 47 | 1 | |
| Total | 79 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 89 | 7 | ||
| Bradford City | 2021–22[36] | League Two | 43 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 49 | 1 |
| 2022–23[37] | League Two | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2023–24[38] | League Two | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[a] | 0 | 48 | 3 | |
| Total | 123 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 147 | 5 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town | 2024–25[39] | League One | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| 2025–26[40] | League Two | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 0 | ||
| Carlisle United (loan) | 2025–26[41][42] | National League | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| Career total | 415 | 20 | 24 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 31 | 3 | 481 | 24 | ||
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- Appearance in League One play-offs
- Three appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League Two play-offs
