Martin Grainger

Martin Grainger

Grainger warming up at the Bescot Stadium in 1996.
Personal information
Full nameMartin Robert Grainger
Date of birth23 August 1972
Place of birthEnfield, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing positionDefender
Youth career
-1989Colchester United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1989–1993Colchester United62(7)
1993–1996Brentford101(12)
1996–2005Birmingham City225(25)
2004→ Coventry City (loan)7(0)
Teams managed
2008Cheshunt
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 June 2008.
† Appearances (Goals).

Martin Grainger (born 23 August 1972 in Enfield, England) is a former English football player, he was a defender who ended his playing career with Birmingham City in December 2004. He was an attacking left back who could also play further up the field or even as a winger and was a dead ball specialist.

Career

Playing career

An experienced player, his career started in 1989 at Colchester United, where he made 37 league starts between July 1992 and October 1993, before moving on to Brentford on 21 October for a fee of £60,000. He was a first-team regular throughout his time at the club, making 100 league starts and scoring 12 goals. He joined Birmingham City on 25 March 1996, and quickly became an inspirational player due to his continued consistency and ability from set-pieces.

He picked up the fans' Player of the Season award for 1999–2000, but as Birmingham continued to improve in the First Division, and eventually earned promotion into the Premiership, Grainger's playing time became limited. He played for Birmingham in the 2001 Football League Cup Final loss to Liverpool, with Grainger unfortunately missing one of the spot kicks in the shootout. He failed to appear for Birmingham due to injury during the first half of the 2003–04 season, and in February he was loaned to Coventry City, for whom he made seven league appearances. On 18 March 2004, he was recalled to Birmingham's team due to an injury crisis, and got on the scoresheet in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester United, but was himself injured and failed to appear in any matches for the rest of the season.

Grainger retired from football on 1 January 2005, having spent 13 years as a player. His goal-scoring appearance against Manchester United, on 10 April 2004, proved to be his final professional fixture. In the years following his retirement, Grainger has continued to be a popular figure amongst supporters of Birmingham City. He currently works as a VIP chauffeur.[1]

Managerial career

In January 2008, Grainger was appointed as Cheshunt's new manager. However, he left the post after less than a week in charge.[2] Cheshunt had lost the only game under his tenure; a 4–0 defeat to Hemel Hempstead Town.[3] He is currently the shortest-reigning manager of the club.

Personal life

Grainger's son Charlie plays as a goalkeeper. He joined Leyton Orient in 2009,[4] turned professional in 2014,[5] and has represented England at under-18 level.[6]

Honours

Club

Colchester United[7]
Birmingham City[8][9]

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Blues legends – Martin Grainger". Birmingham Mail. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
  2. ↑ "Grainger quits as Cheshunt boss". East Herts Herald. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Beyeler, Marc (13 January 2008). "Grainger era starts with defeat". Hertfordshire Mercury Sports News. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  4. ↑ Davies, Jonny (16 April 2013). "The big interview: Charlie Grainger". Leyton Orient F.C. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Grainger: It's going to be a great season". Farnborough F.C. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (5 March 2014). "Déjà-vu for England U18s as they slip to Croatia defeat". The Football Association. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Conference Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
  8. ↑ "Division One (Championship) Play-Off Finalists". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
  9. ↑ "League Cup Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
  10. ↑ "Individual Awards". Coludaybyday.co.uk.