Martin Gritton
Scottish footballer
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Martin Francis Gritton (born 1 June 1978) is a Scottish former professional footballer and sports co-commentator primarily for BBC Radio Devon.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Martin Francis Gritton[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 June 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1998 | Porthleven | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2002 | Plymouth Argyle | 44 | (7) |
| 2001 | → Yeovil Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2001 | → Shelbourne (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2002 | → Torquay United (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2002–2004 | Torquay United | 88 | (22) |
| 2004–2006 | Grimsby Town | 49 | (6) |
| 2006–2007 | Lincoln City | 27 | (3) |
| 2007 | → Mansfield Town (loan) | 19 | (6) |
| 2007–2009 | Macclesfield Town | 52 | (13) |
| 2009–2011 | Chesterfield | 29 | (5) |
| 2010–2011 | → Torquay United (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2011 | Chester | 5 | (1) |
| 2011 | Yeovil Town | 2 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Stockport County | 11 | (0) |
| 2012 | Truro City | 8 | (2) |
| Total | 361 | (66) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
As a player he was a striker from 1998 to 2012. He previously played for Plymouth Argyle, Shelbourne, Torquay United, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Macclesfield Town, Chesterfield, Chester, Yeovil Town, Stockport County and Truro City
Career
Although born in Glasgow, Gritton moved to South-West England at an early age and played for Cornish non-league sides Perranwell, Truro City,[3] and Porthleven while studying at the University of Portsmouth helping the latter reach the quarter-finals of the FA Vase in 1998.[4] He impressed Plymouth Argyle manager Kevin Hodges in a trial in the summer of 1998 and joined the Pilgrims initially on a non-contract deal to allow him to complete his degree. His league debut came as a substitute on 8 August 1998 in Plymouth's 2–1 home win against Rochdale. Although doing enough to earn himself a full-time deal at Home Park, he never fully established himself in the starting line-up and was allowed out on loan, to Yeovil Town in February 2001[5] and to Irish side Shelbourne in November 2001.
In August 2002, after playing only twice in Plymouth's 2001–02 promotion side, he joined Torquay United on loan, signing permanently on a free transfer the following month. He settled in well at Plainmoor scoring 16 times in his first season and helping the Gulls to automatic promotion the following season. With Torquay struggling in the higher division and looking to cut costs he was allowed to move to Grimsby Town in December 2004 for a nominal fee.[6]
Although linked with a welcome return to Torquay United, he joined Lincoln City on 30 January 2006.[7] The timing of this move meant that he played against Torquay United in two consecutive games. He was mostly used as a substitute in the 2006–07 season due to the form of Jamie Forrester and Mark Stallard. In January 2007 he joined Mansfield Town on loan for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.[8] On 30 January 2007, he scored a hat-trick against his former club Torquay. He was released on a free transfer the following May, joining Macclesfield a few weeks later.[9]
On 8 January 2009, Chesterfield purchased Gritton from Macclesfield Town for a fee of £40,000 on a 2+1⁄2-year deal.[10] He re-joined former club Torquay on loan for the start of the 2010–11 season.[11] He returned to Chesterfield in January 2011 and had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.[12]
He then joined Chester F.C., and on 22 March 2011 signed on a short-term contract with Yeovil Town until the end of the 2010–11 season.[13] He was informed by the club at the end of the season that he would not be awarded a new deal.[14]
In June 2011 he signed a one-year contract with Stockport County.[15] He played eleven games for the club before being released in March 2012.[16] He subsequently joined Truro City on a non-contract basis,[17][18] scoring his first goal in a 3–0 win against Thurrock.[19]
Career statistics
- As of 2 April 2024
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Plymouth Argyle | 1998–99[20] | Third Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999–2000[21] | Third Division | 30 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1[a] | 0 | 35 | 7 | |
| 2000–01[22] | Third Division | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2001–02[23] | Third Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 44 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 54 | 9 | ||
| Yeovil Town (loan) | 2000–01[22] | Football Conference | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Shelbourne (loan) | 2001–02[24][circular reference] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Torquay United | 2002–03[25] | Third Division | 43 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 47 | 16 |
| 2003–04[26] | Third Division | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 | |
| 2004–05[27] | League One | 19 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 22 | 6 | |
| Total | 93 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 26 | ||
| Grimsby Town | 2004–05[27] | League Two | 23 | 4 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06[28] | League Two | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| Total | 49 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 6 | ||
| Lincoln City | 2005–06[28] | League Two | 10 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||
| 2006–07[29] | League Two | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 20 | 2 | |
| Total | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| Mansfield Town (loan) | 2006–07[29] | League Two | 19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 6 |
| Macclesfield Town | 2007–08[30] | League Two | 31 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 33 | 9 |
| 2008–09[31] | League Two | 21 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1[a] | 0 | 26 | 7 | |
| Total | 52 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 59 | 16 | ||
| Chesterfield | 2008–09[31] | League Two | 20 | 4 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 20 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10[32] | League Two | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2010–11[33] | League Two | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 29 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 5 | ||
| Torquay United (loan) | 2011–12[33] | League Two | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Chester | 2010–11[34] | NPL Division One North | 5 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Yeovil Town | 2011–12[33] | League One | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Stockport County | 2011–12[35] | Conference Premier | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Truro City | 2011–12[36] | Conference South | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| Career total | 361 | 66 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 398 | 74 | ||
- Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
- One appearance in Football League Trophy and two appearances in Football League Two play-offs
Personal life
After leaving Truro, Gritton retired from football and moved to London.
Gritton has worked as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Devon's coverage of Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United games. He has also occasionally appeared for BBC Radio Humberside covering Grimsby Town matches.[37]
His brother, Kevin, was the drummer in the 1990s indie band Adorable who were signed to Creation Records and released two albums.
