Simon Grand
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simon Grand (born 23 February 1984) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Bamber Bridge.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 February 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Chorley, England | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lancaster City | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rochdale | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2004 | Rochdale | 40 | (2) |
| 2004–2007 | Carlisle United | 35 | (4) |
| 2007 | → Grimsby Town (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2007 | Grimsby Town | 5 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Morecambe | 6 | (1) |
| 2008–2010 | Northwich Victoria | 63 | (9) |
| 2010–2011 | Fleetwood Town | 10 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | → Mansfield Town (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Aldershot Town (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Southport | 83 | (11) |
| 2013–2014 | AFC Telford United | 35 | (4) |
| 2014–2016 | Barrow | 80 | (6) |
| 2016–2017 | Salford City | 40 | (9) |
| 2017–2018 | AFC Fylde | 35 | (4) |
| 2018–2022 | Chester | 121 | (9) |
| 2022–2023 | Charnock Richard | 43 | (10) |
| 2023–2024 | Lancaster City | 24 | (3) |
| 2024– | Bamber Bridge | 9 | (0) |
| Lancaster City | ? | (?) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024 | Lancaster City (caretaker) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:08, 22 February 2026 (GMT) | |||
He notably played in the Football League for Rochdale, Carlisle United, Grimsby Town, Morecambe and Aldershot Town, and in non-league football for Northwich Victoria, Fleetwood Town, Southport, Mansfield Town, AFC Telford United, Barrow, Salford City, AFC Fylde and Chester.
Career
Rochdale
Born in Chorley, 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.[1][2] 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.[1][3] 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.[1][4] He made no further appearances for Rochdale and was released by the club in May 2004.[1][5]
Carlisle United
Grand joined Conference National club, Carlisle United, in August 2004, after a successful trial.[1][6] 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.[1][7][8] Shortly before the end of the season, he signed a two-year contract keeping him at the club until 2007.[9] In December 2005, he scored the match winning penalty as Carlisle beat Tranmere Rovers 11–10 on penalties in the Football League Trophy.[10] 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.[1][11] 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.[1][12]
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.[13][14] However, after making only seven appearances for Grimsby, he was released in May 2007.[15]
Morecambe
Grand joined Football League newcomers Morecambe in August 2007 on a 12-month deal, after a successful trial with the Christie Park club.[15]
Non-League
After leaving Morecambe in the close season, Grand signed for Northwich Victoria on non-contract terms in August 2008.[16] He signed a permanent contract until the end of the 2008–09 season in October.[17]
Grand signed for Fleetwood Town prior to the start of the 2010–11 season and in October 2010, he joined Mansfield Town on loan making 9 appearances in the Conference League and FA Cup. In January 2011, he joined Aldershot Town on loan.[18]
Prior to the start of the 2011–12 season Grand moved down the west coast of England to join Southport on a free transfer[19] and made his competitive club debut on 13 August 2011 on the first day of the 2011–12 season.[20] He scored his first Southport goal, heading their second goal in a 3–2 away win over Forest Green. Grand scored 3 more goals for Southport in the 2011–12 season, also captaining the side on occasion in the absence of club captain, Alan Moogan. On 28 June 2012, Grand was appointed Southport's new club captain, following Moogan's move to becoming player/coach.
Following his release from Southport, it was announced on the club site he joined Telford on 10 May 2013, linking up again with Liam Watson. On 26 April 2014 he won promotion to the Conference Premier with Telford after they clinched the Conference North title on the final game of the season.
On 20 May 2014, Grand joined Barrow, and was named as team captain in August 2014 for the upcoming 2014–15 season.
In July 2016 he joined Salford City.[21]
Chester
In July 2018, 34-year-old Grand signed for Chester linking up with his former joint managers at Salford City Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley[23] and extended his contract for further year in May 2019.[24] He restored strong partnership with experienced centre back Danny Livesey, formed earlier at Carlisle United in 2004–06, and rebuilt at Barrow in 2014–16.
Grand played every minute of every regular season game in his second year at Chester but not ruled out his retirement as the season was cut short due to pandemic and future was uncertain.[25] After Chester lost his playoff game he agreed new contract ahead of the season 2020–21 season.[26]
Grand made a 100th appearance for Chester on 2 January 2021[27] and agreed terms to remain for the 2021/22 campaign.[28] He was released at the end of the 2021–22 season.[29]
Further career
In July 2022, Grand signed on for North West Counties Premier Division side Charnock Richard, and scored an equaliser against Padiham on his debut.
In January 2024, Grand joined Bamber Bridge.[30]
Career statistics
- As of match played 16 April 2024[31]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rochdale | 2002–03[32] | Third Division | 23 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| 2003–04[33] | Third Division | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 2 | ||
| Carlisle United | 2004–05[34] | Conference Premier | 23 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 1 | 29 | 3 | |
| 2005–06[35] | League Two | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 1 | 14 | 3 | |
| 2006–07[36] | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 35 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 49 | 6 | ||
| Grimsby Town | 2006–07[36] | League Two | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Morecambe | 2007–08[37] | League Two | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Northwich Victoria | 2008–09[38] | Conference Premier | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 34 | 5 | |
| 2009–10 | Conference North | 29 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 30 | 4 | ||
| Total | 63 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 64 | 9 | |||
| Fleetwood Town | 2009–10 | Conference North | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2010–11 | Conference Premier | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | |||
| Mansfield Town (loan) | 2010–11 | Conference Premier | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Aldershot Town (loan) | 2010–11 | League Two | 6 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Southport | 2011–12 | Conference Premier | 42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 44 | 4 | |
| 2012–13 | Conference Premier | 41 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 44 | 7 | ||
| Total | 83 | 11 | 2 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 88 | 11 | |||
| Telford United | 2013–14 | Conference North | 35 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 37 | 4 | |
| Barrow | 2014–15 | Conference North | 40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 40 | 4 | |
| 2015–16 | National League | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 42 | 2 | ||
| Total | 80 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 82 | 6 | |||
| Salford City | 2016–17 | National League North | 40 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 42 | 9 | |
| AFC Fylde | 2017–18 | National League | 35 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 2[e] | 0 | 41 | 5 | |
| Chester | 2018–19[39] | National League North | 36 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[f] | 0 | 41 | 4 | |
| 2019–20[40] | National League North | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 5[g] | 0 | 39 | 3 | ||
| 2020–21[40] | National League North | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22[40] | National League North | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | ||
| total | 121 | 9 | 9 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | 140 | 9 | |||
| Charnock Richard | 2022–23[41] | NWCFL Premier Division | 41 | 10 | 5 | 1 | — | 7[h] | 1 | 53 | 11 | |
| 2023–24[42] | NWCFL Premier Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 43 | 10 | 5 | 1 | — | 7 | 1 | 55 | 12 | |||
| Lancaster City | 2023–24[43] | NPL Premier Division | 24 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 2[i] | 0 | 29 | 6 | |
| Bamber Bridge | 2023–24[44] | NPL Premier Division | 11 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 645 | 73 | 39 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 3 | 731 | 81 | ||
- Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
- One appearance in Football League Trophy and one appearance in FA Trophy
- Appearances in National League North play-offs
- One appearance in National League North play-offs and one appearance in FA Trophy
- Two appearances in the FA Trophy and one in Cheshire Senior Cup
- One appearance in National League North play-offs and four appearances in FA Trophy
- Three appearances in FA Vase, three appearances and one goal in Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, one appearance in the North West Counties Football League Challenge Cup
- One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 9 April 2024
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Lancaster City (caretaker) | 5 January 2024 | 26 January 2024 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.3 | [45][46][47] |
| Total | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.3 | |||
Honours
Carlisle United
- Football League Trophy runner-up: 2005–06[48]
Individual
- Conference North Team of the Year: 2014–15[49]
