Grant Gillespie (footballer)
Scottish footballer (born 1991)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grant Gillespie (born 2 July 1991) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton. He has previously played for Hamilton Academical, Dundee United, Raith Rovers, Derry City, Ayr United and Queen's Park.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 July 1991[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bellshill, Scotland | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Greenock Morton | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2009 | Hamilton Academical | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2018 | Hamilton Academical | 199 | (4) |
| 2018 | Dundee United | 6 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Raith Rovers | 27 | (2) |
| 2019 | Derry City | 8 | (1) |
| 2020 | Ayr United | 4 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Queen's Park | 40 | (3) |
| 2022– | Greenock Morton | 114 | (12) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 May 2026 | |||
Career
Hamilton Academical
Gillespie made his senior debut for Hamilton Academical on 15 August 2009, in a Scottish Premier League match against Kilmarnock.[2] In May 2011, he signed a new two-year contract with Hamilton.[3]
In May 2012, Gillespie urged manager Billy Reid to make him a first-team regular for the forthcoming 2012–13 season.[4] In January 2012, after making an "impact" as a substitute in the previous game, Gillespie spoke publicly about his desire to start the team's next match.[5] In February 2013, he commented that he wanted a win in the upcoming derby against Airdrieonians.[6] In April 2013, Gillespie signed a new two-year contract with the club.[7]
In August 2013 Gillespie stated that the team needed to "dig in and grind out results" in the season ahead.[8] In October 2014 he signed a new contract with the club, to last until the summer of 2018.[9] Gillespie left the club in January 2018.[10]
Dundee United
Gillespie signed a short-term contract with Dundee United.[11] He was released by the club at the end of his contract in May 2018.[12]
Raith Rovers
Gillespie signed with League One club Raith Rovers in June 2018.[13]
Derry City
In July 2019 he signed for Derry City.[14] After making 10 appearances, scoring 1 goal, he left in January 2020.
Ayr United
In January 2020 he returned to Scotland, signing for Ayr United until the end of their season.[15][16]
Queen's Park
In August 2020 he signed for Queen's Park,[17] before leaving in 2022.
Greenock Morton
In June 2022 he signed for Greenock Morton.[18] Gillespie was named club captain by manager Dougie Imrie, and made his first competitive appearance against Hibernian in the League Cup Group Stage. Gillespie would score 2 times in this group, against Hibernian and Bonnyrigg Rose respectively.[19][20] Gillespie would continue his positive start to life at Morton by scoring in the first league game of the season against his former club Hamilton.[21]
Gillespie signed a contract extension on New Year's Day, keeping him at the club until summer 2024.[22]
With Gillespie's contract expiring summer 2024, Morton announced that he had signed a new one-year contract.[23]
Career statistics
- As of match played 14 September 2024[24]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hamilton Academical | 2009–10[25] | Scottish Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[26] | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12[27] | Scottish First Division | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[28] | 32 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14[29] | Scottish Championship | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| 2014–15[30] | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 41 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16[31] | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17[32] | 31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 41 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18[33] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 199 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 236 | 5 | ||
| Dundee United | 2017–18[33] | Scottish Championship | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Raith Rovers | 2018–19[34] | Scottish League One | 27 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4[f] | 0 | 37 | 3 |
| Derry City | 2019[35] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | |
| Ayr United (loan) | 2019–20[35] | Scottish Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| Queens Park | 2020–21 | Scottish League Two | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| 2021–22 | Scottish League One | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3[c] | 3 | 29 | 5 | |
| Total | 40 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 45 | 3 | ||
| Greenock Morton | 2022–23 | Scottish Championship | 32 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1[c] | 0 | 38 | 11 |
| 2023–24 | Scottish Championship | 29 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2[c] | 0 | 39 | 4 | |
| 2024–25 | Scottish Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 65 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 85 | 15 | ||
| Career total | 350 | 20 | 25 | 3 | 44 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 428 | 27 | ||
- Includes Scottish Cup, FAI Cup
- Includes Scottish League Cup, League of Ireland Cup
- Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
- One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup, four in Scottish Premiership play-offs
- Appearance in Scottish Premiership play-offs
- Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, two appearances in Scottish Championship play-offs