William Grant (footballer)
{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = William Grant
| image =
| fullname = William Middleton Grant
| birth_date =14 November 1904
| birth_place = Bo'ness, Scotland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1994|09|23|1904|11|14|df=y}}
| death_place = Bo'ness, Scotland
| height =
| position = Defender
| youthyears1=
| youthclubs1= Bo'ness
| years1 = 1925–1927 | years2 =1927–1935| years3 = 1935–1939
| clubs1 = East Stirlingshire | clubs2 = Blackpool | clubs3 =Motherwell
| caps1 = 56 | goals1 = 1 | caps2 = 220 | goals2 = 0 | caps3 = 100 | goals3 = 1
| totalcaps= 376 | totalgoals = 2
}}
William Middleton Grant (14 November 1904 – 23 September 1994) was a Scottish professional footballer. He spent eight years at Blackpool, making over 200 Football League appearances for the club. He played as a defender.
Career
Grant, who had been signed from Scottish club East Stirlingshire{{cite journal|title=A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players|author=John Litster|publisher=Scottish Football Historian magazine|date=October 2012}} for a then record fee of £1600 for a second division player, made his debut for Blackpool eighteen games into their 1927–28 league season, a 2–2 draw at South Shields on 10 December 1927. He went on to make seventeen further league appearances that campaign, and one in the FA Cup.Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 230 The following season, 1928–29, Grant made 27 league appearances. This was under a new manager, Harry Evans, who succeeded Sydney Beaumont.Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 232
Grant appeared in all but two of Blackpool's league games as captain in 1929–30 as the club won the Division Two championship. Only Jimmy Hampson appeared in more games than he did.Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 234 In 1930–31, Blackpool's first season in English football's top flight, Grant was ever-present in the club's 42 league games — the only player at the club to claim such an achievement that particular season.Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 236 He achieved the same feat the following season, 1931–32, sharing the honour with Hampson.Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 238 1932–33 saw Grant's appearances limited, with only eighteen in the league to his name, as Blackpool returned to Division Two. He did, however, appear in the club's FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Sunderland in February 1933.Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 240
Sandy MacFarlane was appointed as Blackpool manager for the 1933–34 term, and Grant found himself surplus to requirements, making just five league starts.Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 242 He was given more chances in 1934–35 (28 appearances), but this proved to be his (and MacFarlane's) last season with the club. His 220th and final league appearance for Blackpool occurred on 4 May 1935, in a final-day 1–1 draw with Bolton Wanderers at Bloomfield Road.Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992, Breedon Books Sport, p. 244
He finished his career back in his native land with Motherwell,[https://www.motherwellnet.com/database/player-archive/g/willie-grant/ Willie Grant], MotherWELLnet playing right back in an 8–0 win against Celtic on 30 April 1937, to date Celtic's biggest ever defeat. He continued to play there until he retired in 1939. He then worked as a miner for many years in various pits around is home town of Bo'ness.
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite book | first=Roy | last=Calley| title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992 | publisher=Breedon Books Sport | year=1992 | isbn=1-873626-07-X}}
- [http://www.soccer.mistral.co.uk/books/fl3.pdf SoccerMistral.co.uk]
- {{cite book|first=Michael|last=Joyce|title=Football League Players' Records 1888-1939|year=2004 | isbn= 1-899468-67-6}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grant, William}}
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:East Stirlingshire F.C. players
Category:Blackpool F.C. players
Category:Motherwell F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Footballers from Falkirk (council area)
Category:Scottish Football League players