Joe Grayson
{{short description|English footballer (born 1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Joe Grayson
| image =
| caption =
| full_name = Joseph Nicholas Graysonhttps://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-released-and-retained-list---2016-17.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|3|26|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}{{soccerway|joe-grayson/454518|accessdate=8 January 2019}}
| position = Defender, midfielder
| currentclub = Gateshead
| clubnumber = 18
| youthyears1 = 2014–2018
| youthclubs1 = Blackburn Rovers
| years1 = 2018–2021
| clubs1 = Blackburn Rovers
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019
| clubs2 = → Grimsby Town (loan)
| caps2 = 8
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2021
| clubs3 = → Oxford United (loan)
| caps3 = 4
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2021–2023
| clubs4 = Barrow
| caps4 = 26
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2022–2023
| clubs5 = → Dundee (loan)
| caps5 = 13
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2023
| clubs6 = → Stockport County (loan)
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2023–
| clubs7 = Gateshead
| caps7 = 37
| goals7 = 1
| club-update = 19:10, 12 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Joseph Nicholas Grayson (born 26 March 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for {{English football updater|Gateshea}} club Gateshead.
Having come through the youth academy at Blackburn Rovers, he spent time on loan with Grimsby Town and Oxford United before signing a permanent contract with Barrow in 2021. He has since played for both Dundee and Stockport County on loan. After leaving Barrow, Grayson joined Gateshead, with whom he won the FA Trophy with at Wembley.
Early and personal life
His father is Simon Grayson.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/16120241.Bantams_boss_hoping_for_better_family_fortunes/|title=Bradford City: Grayson's son could have mixed emotions as Blackburn player|date=28 March 2018|accessdate=28 March 2018|first=Simon |last=Parker|publisher=Telegraph & Argus}} He attended Moorland School.{{cite web|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/teams/development-squad/profiles/defender/joe-grayson/|title=Profile|accessdate=9 January 2019|publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C.}}
Career
=Blackburn Rovers=
Grayson joined Blackburn Rovers in the 2014, turning professional in July 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/15354994.Academy_trio_Joe_Grayson__Stefan_Mols_and_Charley_Doyle_sign_professional_deals_with_Blackburn_Rovers/|title=Academy trio Joe Grayson, Stefan Mols and Charley Doyle sign professional deals with Blackburn Rovers|date=18 July 2017|accessdate=28 March 2018|first=Rich |last=Sharpe|publisher=Lancashire Telegraph}} He made his senior debut on 28 August 2018, in the EFL Cup, in a 4–1 home victory against Lincoln City. In doing so him and his father became the third father-son duo to both play for Blackburn Rovers.
He moved on loan to Grimsby Town in January 2019 for the rest of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2019/january/grimsby-move-for-grayson/|title=Grayson goes to Grimsby|date=18 January 2019|accessdate=18 January 2019|publisher=Blackburn Rovers F.C.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2019/january/grayson-signs-until-end-of-season/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121348/https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2019/january/grayson-signs-until-end-of-season/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=19 January 2019|title=Grayson Signs On Loan Until End Of Season|date=18 January 2019|accessdate=18 January 2019|publisher=Grimsby Town F.C.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46922091|title=Joe Grayson: Grimsby Town sign Blackburn Rovers midfielder on loan|date=18 January 2019|accessdate=18 January 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}
On 1 February 2021, Grayson joined League One side Oxford United on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2021/february/joe-grayson-joins-oxford-united/|title=Joe Grayson Joins Oxford United|publisher=Oxford United F.C.|date=1 February 2021|accessdate=1 February 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55891863|title=Oxford sign Blackburn's Grayson on loan| work=BBC Sport }}
On 13 May 2021, Grayson announced on social media that he was being released by Rovers at the end of the 2020–21 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19301424.joe-grayson-leave-rovers-15-years-club/|title=Joe Grayson to leave Rovers after 15 years at the club|publisher=Lancashire Telegraph|date=13 May 2021|accessdate=13 May 2021}}
=Barrow=
On 23 June 2021, it was announced that Grayson would join League Two side Barrow on a two-year contract following his release from Blackburn.{{cite web|url=https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2021/june/230621-barrow-complete-signing-of-former-blackburn-rovers-midfielder-joe-grayson/|title=Barrow AFC Sign Joe Grayson|publisher=Barrow A.F.C.|date=23 June 2021|accessdate=23 June 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57574857|title=Barrow sign Grayson as Ntlhe commits| work=BBC Sport }} He was injured between December 2021 and April 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/20034857.defender-joe-grayson-back-boost-barrow-afc-port-vale/|title=Defender back to boost Bluebirds|date=1 April 2022|website=The Mail}}
On 9 August 2022, Grayson joined Scottish Championship side Dundee on a season-long loan.{{Cite web |date=9 August 2022 |title=Joe is a Dee |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/joe-is-a-dee/ |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=Dundee Football Club – Official Website |language=en-US}} He made his debut 3 days later in a home win over Arbroath.{{Cite news |title=Dundee end Arbroath run in six-goal thriller |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62431314 |access-date=12 August 2022}} Grayson scored his first goal for Dundee against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 17 September 2022.{{Cite news |title=Harper scores brace as Inverness beat Dundee |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62859925 |access-date=26 December 2022}} On 18 January 2023, Grayson returned to his parent club after his loan was terminated.{{Cite web |date=18 January 2023 |title=Joe departs |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/joe-departs/ |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=Dundee Football Club – Official Website |language=en-US}}
On 1 February 2023, Grayson was confirmed to have joined Stockport County on loan until the end of the season, with the clubs having beaten the previous day's deadline.{{cite web|url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/county-complete-transfer-business-with-grayson-signing/|title=County complete transfer business with Grayson signing|website=www.stockportcounty.com|date=1 February 2023|accessdate=1 February 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64487283|title=Stockport sign Barrow defender Grayson on loan|work=BBC Sport }}
He was released by Barrow at the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2023/may/barrow-confirm-retained-list/|title=Barrow Confirm Retained List|website=www.barrowafc.com|date=9 May 2023|accessdate=9 May 2023}}
=Gateshead=
In July 2023, Grayson joined Hartlepool United on trial.{{cite web |last1=Ramage |first1=Joe |title=John Askey's stance on Hartlepool United's trialists including ex-Blackburn Rovers and Burnley midfielders |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/john-askeys-stance-on-hartlepool-uniteds-trialists-including-ex-blackburn-rovers-and-burnley-midfielders-4228814 |website=hartlepoolmail.co.uk |date=23 July 2023 |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |access-date=26 July 2023}} In August 2023 he signed for Gateshead.{{Cite web|url=https://gateshead-fc.com/joe-grayson-signs/|title=Joe Grayson signs|first=Jack|last=McGraghan|date=25 August 2023|website=Gateshead FC}} Grayson played in Gateshead's FA Trophy final victory over Solihull Moors in May 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c03dy70k7wet#Line-ups |title=Gateshead 2–2 Solihull Moors: Line-ups |website=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=12 May 2024}} On 5 July 2024, Gateshead announced that Grayson had signed a two-year extension to his contract, keeping him with the Tynesiders until 2026.{{Cite web |last=McGraghan |first=Jack |date=2024-07-05 |title=Joe Grayson extends Gateshead contract until 2026 |url=https://gateshead-fc.com/joe-grayson-extends-gateshead-contract-until-2026/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Gateshead FC |language=en}} Grayson scored his first goal for Gateshead on 30 November in a league draw away to Braintree Town.{{Cite web |title=Braintree Town 2-2 Gateshead: National League stats & head-to-head |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cew2e0eg95yt |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
Style of play
Grayson was described by Blackburn Rovers as "a classy left-footed midfielder with a great delivery from set-plays". He can also play as a defender, and Grimsby Town manager Michael Jolley described him as somebody who "is versatile to play in several different positions and adds further strength, balance and competition to our squad".
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 12 April 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=4|Blackburn Rovers
|2018–19{{Soccerbase season|id=96142|season=2018|accessdate=16 December 2021}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019–20{{Soccerbase season|id=96142|season=2019|accessdate=16 December 2021}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020–21{{Soccerbase season|id=96142|season=2020|accessdate=16 December 2021}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Grimsby Town (loan)
|8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| Oxford United (loan)
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{Efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| rowspan=3|Barrow
|2021–22{{Soccerbase season|id=96142|season=2021|accessdate=16 December 2021}} |League Two |26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2{{Efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| 2022–23{{Soccerbase season|id=96142|season=2022|accessdate=9 August 2022}}
|League Two |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| Dundee (loan)
|13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup.}} | 0 | 17 | 1 | |
| Stockport County (loan)
|League Two |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3" |Gateshead
|28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy.}} | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2024–25
|National League |9 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |9 |1 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!37 !1 !1 !0 !0 !0 !4 !0 !42 !1 | ||||||||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!88 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 108 | 6 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{Gateshead F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grayson, Joe}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:Oxford United F.C. players
Category:Barrow A.F.C. players
Category:Stockport County F.C. players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Gateshead F.C. players