Suzanne Grant
{{Short description|Scottish footballer (born 1984)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Suzanne Winters
| image = Suzanne Grant.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Suzanne Grant in May 2009
| alt =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1984|04|17}}
| birth_place = Inverness, Scotland
| height =
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1=
| youthclubs1=
| years1 = 2004–2006
| years2 = 2006–2009
| years3 = 2009
| years4 = 2009–2015
| years5 = 2010
| years6 = 2011–2012
| years7 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Glasgow City
| clubs2 = Hibernian Ladies
| clubs3 = Arsenal Ladies{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/ladies/statistics?season=2008-2009|title=Statistics 2008-2009|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|access-date=26 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326054133/http://www.arsenal.com/ladies/statistics?season=2008-2009|archive-date=26 March 2012}}
| clubs4 = Celtic Ladies
| clubs5 = → Keynsham Town (loan)
| clubs6 = → Keynsham Town (loan)
| clubs7 = Motherwell Ladies
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| caps3 = 8
| goals3 = 3
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
| caps6 =
| goals6 =
| caps7 =
| goals7 =
| nationalyears1= 2000–2013
| nationalteam1= Scotland
| nationalcaps1= 105
| nationalgoals1 = 13
}}
Suzanne Winters (née Grant) (born 17 April 1984){{cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/womensfootball/Suzanne-eyes-century-with-Scots.3961855.jp|title=Suzanne eyes century with Scots Ladies|work=The Scotsman|date=9 April 2008|access-date=26 August 2009}} is a former Scottish footballer, who played as striker. She made 105 appearances for the Scotland national team between 2000 and 2013, making her international debut aged 16 despite not playing for a senior women's team. Her twin sister, Shelley Grant, has also played for Scotland.
Grant played in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) for Glasgow City, Hibernian, Celtic and Motherwell and in the FA Women's Premier League (FA WPL) for Arsenal and Keynsham Town. She won domestic trebles with both Hibernian and Arsenal, and scored eleven goals on her debut for Motherwell. She retired from playing in 2017.
Club career
= Early career =
During her youth career, Grant played for Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.{{cite web|url=http://www.youthfootballscotland.co.uk/news-a-media/my-youth-career/1268-suzanne-grant|title=Suzanne Grant|access-date=22 February 2011|publisher=Youth Football Scotland}}{{cite web | url=http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2015/07/10/ladies-sign-striking-legend-grant/ | title=Ladies sign striking legend Suzanne Grant | publisher=Motherwell FC | date=10 July 2015 | access-date=19 August 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/amp/FOOTBALL%3A+Nicky+has+Scot+her+wish+with+a+recall%3B+WOMEN%27S+FOOTBALL.-a0119550935|title=Nicky has Scot her wish with a recall|date=21 July 2004|access-date=15 June 2019|publisher=Daily Record |via=The Free Library }} She also enjoyed a spell with Glasgow City,{{cite news|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/WomensSeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/2005/EngvScot_SquadsNamed.aspx|title=Brown returns to fold|publisher=The FA|date=12 April 2005|access-date=26 September 2008}} which included a Scottish Women's Cup Final hat-trick in 2006, as Glasgow City disposed of Aberdeen 5–1.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/no-great-drama-in-a-one-sided-battle-amicus-scottish-cup-final-1.19866|title=No great drama in a one-sided battle Amicus Scottish Cup Final|publisher=The Herald (Glasgow)|date=21 May 2006|access-date=26 October 2013|first=Alan|last=Campbell}} Shortly afterwards, she joined Hibernian Ladies in 2006, and in 2007 won the domestic treble of the SWPL title, the Scottish Women's Cup (and again in 2008) and the SWPL Cup with the club.
= Arsenal (2009) =
Grant left Hibernian Ladies to join Arsenal Ladies on 20 February 2009.{{cite news |date=14 May 2009 |title=Three is the magic number for Grant |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/ladies-news/three-is-the-magic-number-for-grant |access-date=26 August 2009 |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |archive-date=17 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517014801/https://www.arsenal.com/news/ladies-news/three-is-the-magic-number-for-grant |url-status=bot: unknown }} Highlights of her time with Arsenal included; scoring on her debut six days after signing, as a substitute in the FA Women's Premier League Cup Final victory. She also played in the FA Women's Cup winning side and in May 2009 she scored the only goal of the game against Everton Ladies that clinched the Premier League title for Arsenal. Grant described it as "the best week of my life.".{{cite news|url=http://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4213/Gunner_Grant_in_a_league_of_her_own.html|title=Gunner Grant in a league of her own|publisher=Strathspey Thistle|date=13 May 2009|access-date=26 March 2011}}
On as a 77th-minute substitute in the 2009 FA Women's Premier League Cup Final, Grant scored on what was her debut, in a 5–0 win over Doncaster Rovers Belles on 26 February 2009.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/league-cup-final-d-caster-0-5-arsenal-ladies | title=Arsenal 5–0 Doncaster RB | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=26 February 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} She scored with a penalty, on her Premier League debut, in a 5–0 win at Fulham on 19 March 2009.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/ladies-fulham-0-5-arsenal-match-report | title=Fulham 0–5 Arsenal | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=20 March 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} Grant made her first start one week later, in a 1–0 league win at Watford.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/ladies-watford-0-1-arsenal-match-report | title=Watford 0–1 Arsenal | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=27 March 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} Her next goal, came from the penalty spot again, in a 3–0 home league win against Bristol Academy on 5 April 2009.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/ladies-arsenal-3-0-bristol-academy-report | title=Arsenal 3–0 Bristol Academy | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=6 April 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} She played the first 62 minutes in the 2009 FA Women's Cup Final, in a 2–1 defeat of Sunderland on 4 May 2009.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/women-s-cup-final-sunderland-1-2-arsenal | title=Sunderland 1–2 Arsenal | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=4 May 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} Grant also played in the semi-final win against Everton.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/fa-women-s-cup-s-f-everton-1-3-arsenal | title=Everton 1–3 Arsenal | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=23 March 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} In her last match for Arsenal, Grant scored the decisive goal in the final league match of the season, in a 1–0 win at Everton to secure the Premier League title and the domestic treble for Arsenal.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/ladies-everton-0-1-arsenal-match-report | title=Everton 0–1 Arsenal | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=10 May 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} Grant had made four other league appearances during the season.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/ladies-arsenal-0-3-everton-match-report | title= Arsenal 0–3 Everton | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=29 March 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/ladies-birmingham-1-3-arsenal-report | title=Birmingham City 1–3 Arsenal | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=2 April 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/ladies-doncaster-r.b.-0-0-arsenal-report | title=Doncaster RB 0–0 Arsenal | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=12 April 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/chelsea-0-2-arsenal | title=Chelsea 0–2 Arsenal | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=30 April 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} She also won the London FA Women's County Cup with Arsenal, netting twice in both the semi-final and the Final.{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/county-cup-s-f-arsenal-7-0-crystal-palace | title=Arsenal 7–0 Crystal Palace | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=16 March 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/0809/post/ladies/london-county-cup-final-millwall-2-3-arsenal | title=Arsenal 3–2 Millwall Lionesses | publisher=Arsenal FC | date=29 April 2009 | access-date=19 August 2015}} Grant finished her time at Arsenal, with four goals from 11 appearances in all competitions, but not including County Cup matches.
= Return to Scotland and loans (2009–2017)=
Having had to commute to London from Glasgow for each of Arsenal's games, Grant joined Celtic Ladies in the 2009 close season and scored over 100 goals for Celtic wearing the number 99 shirt.{{cite news|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=128&newsID=4873|title=Women's A Squad Announced|publisher=The Scottish FA|date=3 August 2009|access-date=26 August 2009}} She won the 2010 SWPL Cup with Celtic, as they beat Spartans 4–0 in the Final at Ainslie Park.{{cite web | url=http://www.womenssoccerscene.co.uk/womens-football-news-2009-2010/100513-06.htm | title=Celtic break trophy duck in style | publisher=WSS | date=13 May 2010 | access-date=19 August 2015 | archive-date=18 May 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518112937/https://womenssoccerscene.co.uk/womens-football-news-2009-2010/100513-06.htm | url-status=dead }} As well as assisting the fourth goal in the Final, Grant scored a hat-trick in the semi-finals.{{cite web | url=http://www.spartansfcwomen.com/Spartans%20Archive/match%20results%202010.html | title=Spartans WFC 2010 Archives | publisher=Spartans FC | access-date=19 August 2015}}
Grant signed for Keynsham Town Ladies for extra games when the Scottish season ended.{{cite news|url=http://www.womenssoccerscene.co.uk/|title=Keynsham land Scottish international striker|publisher=Women's Soccer Scene|date=12 November 2010|access-date=12 November 2010}} In December 2010 she put her own football career on hold to join fiancé David Winters in Vietnam, where Winters was playing for a second division Vietnamese club.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}} She then travelled to the 2011 Cyprus Cup with Scotland and was back with Celtic for the new Scottish season, being named as an unused substitute (due to injury) for The Hoops' 8–0 humbling by rivals Glasgow City on 13 March 2011.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/03/13/scotland/women-football-league-cup/glasgow-city-lfc/celtic-lfc/1083203/|title=Glasgow City vs. Celtic 8 - 0|publisher=Women Soccerway|date=13 March 2011|access-date=26 March 2011}}
At the end of the Scottish season Grant returned to Keynsham Town, scoring in an FA Women's Premier League Cup defeat to Reading{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/mobile/football/16782754|title=Women's football: Barnet begin Cup defence with win|work=BBC Sport|date=29 January 2012|access-date=13 February 2012|author=Tony Leighton}} and twice in an FA Women's Cup victory over Gillingham.{{cite web|url=http://gillinghamladies.clubfans.co.uk/2012/02/13/keynsham-ladies-4-1-gills-ladies/|title=Keynsham Ladies 4-1 Gills Ladies|publisher=Gillingham Ladies FC|date=13 February 2012|access-date=13 February 2012}} Grant was back at Celtic in time for the start of the new Scottish season.
On 10 July 2015, Grant signed for ambitious SWFL Second Division side Motherwell, saying: "I am very happy to be at Motherwell FC, who are extremely ambitious, and I am looking forward to be back playing and hopefully help the club achieve its aim of progressing to the top league and winning trophies."{{cite web|url=http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2015/07/10/ladies-sign-striking-legend-grant/|title=Ladies sign striking legend Grant|date=10 July 2015|publisher=Motherwell fc|access-date=10 July 2015}} She scored 11 goals on her début in a 21–0 win against Edinburgh South on 2 August 2015, also providing numerous assists. Her performance prompted Sky News to wonder if she had made the "best début in history".{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/sportswomen/news/9933924/is-suzanne-grants-debut-for-motherwell-ladies-the-best-ever|title=Is Suzanne Grant's debut for Motherwell Ladies the best ever?|publisher=Sky Sports|date=3 August 2015|access-date=3 August 2015}}
She retired from professional football in November 2017, as a result of a knee injury sustained playing for Motherwell against Hearts the previous month.{{cite news|title=Suzanne Winters says career-ending knee injury was 'devastating'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41954951|access-date=13 November 2017|work=BBC Sport|date=11 November 2017}}
International career
Grant made her senior Scotland debut as a 16-year-old, scoring twice against Northern Ireland.{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-16481855.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026120053/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-16481855.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2012|title=Q&A: Suzanne Grant|publisher=Scotland on Sunday|date=27 April 2008|access-date=26 August 2009}} She had been called up for the national side despite not playing for an organised women's team at the time, just her school and a local boys' club.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=273&newsCategoryID=39&newsID=5890|title=Suzanne Grant celebrates 75th cap|access-date=28 March 2011|publisher=The Scottish Football Association|date=21 May 2010}} Grant won her 50th cap for the senior side in April 2008, playing in the game against Belgium.
Although primarily a forward, Grant played much of her football for Scotland in midfield.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/life-style/real-lives/scottish-women-s-world-cup-football-1.1050032|title=Scottish Women's World Cup football|access-date=20 February 2011|work=The Herald|author=Billy Briggs|date=23 August 2010}} Her 75th international appearance came against Bulgaria in April 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/videos/2010/05/21/suzanne-grant-hits-75-caps-for-scotland-86908-22275278/|title=Suzanne Grant hits 75 caps for Scotland|access-date=27 March 2011|publisher=The Daily Record|date=21 May 2010}}
In December 2011 Grant was among four Celtic women's team players to be approached about playing for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/16317753.stm|title=Olympic approach for four Scottish women |access-date=23 December 2011|date=23 December 2011|work=BBC Sport}}
Grant earned her 100th cap against the United States in February 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsCategoryID=6&newsID=11382 |title=Milestone for Grant in USA defeat |access-date=14 February 2013 |publisher=The Scottish Football Association |date=14 February 2013}} In June 2013 it was announced that Grant was pregnant with her first child and would not play again for the remainder of the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22816674 |title=Scotland women set for Germany test|access-date=7 June 2013 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=7 June 2013}}
=International goals=
Grant's goal against Portugal in 2004 is not included in her official SFA profile.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=110&playerID=36978&squadID=2|title=Suzanne Grant - Women's A Squad|access-date=26 August 2009|publisher=The Scottish FA}}
:Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.
Honours
Glasgow City
- Scottish Women's Cup: 2005–06
Hibernian
- Scottish Women's Premier League: 2006–07
- Scottish Women's Cup: 2006–07, 2007–08
- Scottish Women's Premier League Cup: 2006–07
Arsenal
- FA Women's Premier League National Division: 2008–09
- FA Women's Cup: 2008–09
- FA Women's Premier League Cup: 2008–09
- London FA Women's County Cup: 2009
Celtic
Personal life
Grant grew up in Grantown-on-Spey, in the Scottish Highlands. She has a twin sister, Shelley, who also previously played for Glasgow City and Scotland. Both twins were awarded the Freedom of Grantown in 2016.{{cite news|title=Freedom of town for twin footballers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36774453|access-date=14 November 2017|work=BBC News|date=12 July 2016}} Shelley is married to Scotland international footballer Don Cowie.{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/lure-of-arsenal-favours-grant-in-football-couple-s-tug-of-love-1-1037886|title=Lure of Arsenal favours Grant in football couple's tug of love|publisher=Johnston Publishing |work=The Scotsman|date=12 May 2009|access-date=14 November 2017}}
Grant has been in a relationship with professional footballer David Winters since 2003 and lives with him in East Kilbride. They had their first child, a son called Oscar, in November 2013 and second son Theo in June 2018. Grant trained throughout her pregnancy and returned to playing within five weeks of giving birth.{{cite news|last1=Gray|first1=Lisa|title=Celtic striker Suzanne Grant on staying fit during pregnancy and how she returned to pitch just weeks after son was born|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/celtic-striker-suzanne-grant-staying-3262492|access-date=14 November 2017|work=Daily Record|date=20 March 2014|location=Glasgow}} Grant and Winters married in 2017, shortly before her retirement from playing; she now uses her married name.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grant, Suzanne}}
Category:Scottish women's footballers
Category:Scotland women's international footballers
Category:Arsenal W.F.C. players
Category:Hibernian W.F.C. players
Category:Motherwell F.C. Women players
Category:FA Women's National League players
Category:Celtic F.C. Women players
Category:Footballers from Inverness
Category:Glasgow City F.C. players
Category:FIFA Women's Century Club
Category:Women's association football forwards