Graham Hockless
Encyclopedia
Graham Hockless is an English footballer
who plays as a midfielder
for Australian side Green Gully Cavaliers
. He notably played as a professional in England
for Grimsby Town
between 2001 and 2005.
but despite being a regular in the clubs, youth and reserve teams in 2000, he was allowed to join Grimsby Town
on a free transfer along with Chris Bolder
.
The Mariners at the time, were playing in the First Division
three divisions higher than Hull so the youngster had taken a big step up in joining them. In his first season, Graham failed to make a single appearance for the club and spent the season in the reserve side. It wasn't until 18 months after signing for the club that he made his debut against Reading
. Grimsby would end up relegated at the end of the 2002–03 season
In the following season manager Paul Groves gave Hockless more of a chance within the first team, and after playing in a handful of games he began to become a regular with his performances making an impact in the team as well. In the second to last game of the season Hockless came to prominence when his curling cross setup Isaiah Rankin
to score a last gasp winner against Brentford
to take the 2003–04 relegation battle down to the last day of the season.
Grimsby were unable to avoid relegation after suffering a 2–1 defeat against Tranmere Rovers
on the final day of the 2003–04 season, thus meaning the club and Graham's second succcesive relegation. Hockless went on to receive the "Supporters Young Player Of The Season Award" . This was something that would attract other clubs in summer 2004, and rumours circulated in the local media that Sheffield Wednesday
and former club Hull City
(who were now in a higher league than Grimsby) were to swoop for Graham in the transfer window. Despite the interest, Hockless committed himself to the club and signed a one year contract extension..
Russell Slade
took over as the clubs manager for the start of the 2004–05 season but rarely included Hockless, and despite confusion for his prolonged absence by the clubs supporters the player was constantly looked past in favour of players such as Thomas Pinault
and Ashley Sestanovich
. Hockless was eventually allowed to leave the club on loan and joined Conference National
outfit Leigh RMI
, but after featuring in only 2 games for Leigh he returned to Grimsby.
the player who joined Grimsby from Hull with him in 2001 also made the move too North Ferriby following a season with Ossett Town
.
signing for Richmond SC
before moving to Heidelberg United
in 2008 where he picked up the Gold Medal for the best player in the Victorian Premier League
. In 2010 he signed for Green Gully Cavaliers
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Australian side Green Gully Cavaliers
Green Gully Cavaliers
Green Gully Soccer Club is a football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Green Gully is one of the biggest clubs in Melbourne, it participated in the old National Soccer League between 1984-1986....
. He notably played as a professional in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
between 2001 and 2005.
Grimsby Town
Hockless was brought through the youth ranks at his hometown club of Hull CityHull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
but despite being a regular in the clubs, youth and reserve teams in 2000, he was allowed to join Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
on a free transfer along with Chris Bolder
Chris Bolder
Christopher James "Chris" Bolder is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League side North Ferriby United. Bolder played in the Football League for Grimsby Town between 2001 and 2004...
.
The Mariners at the time, were playing in the First Division
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
three divisions higher than Hull so the youngster had taken a big step up in joining them. In his first season, Graham failed to make a single appearance for the club and spent the season in the reserve side. It wasn't until 18 months after signing for the club that he made his debut against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. Grimsby would end up relegated at the end of the 2002–03 season
In the following season manager Paul Groves gave Hockless more of a chance within the first team, and after playing in a handful of games he began to become a regular with his performances making an impact in the team as well. In the second to last game of the season Hockless came to prominence when his curling cross setup Isaiah Rankin
Isaiah Rankin
Isaiah Marcus Rankin is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Isthmian League Premier Division side Hendon....
to score a last gasp winner against Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
to take the 2003–04 relegation battle down to the last day of the season.
Grimsby were unable to avoid relegation after suffering a 2–1 defeat against Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
on the final day of the 2003–04 season, thus meaning the club and Graham's second succcesive relegation. Hockless went on to receive the "Supporters Young Player Of The Season Award" . This was something that would attract other clubs in summer 2004, and rumours circulated in the local media that Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and former club Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
(who were now in a higher league than Grimsby) were to swoop for Graham in the transfer window. Despite the interest, Hockless committed himself to the club and signed a one year contract extension..
Russell Slade
Russell Slade
Russell Slade is an English football manager currently in charge of League One side Leyton Orient.-Notts County:Slade was assistant manager to Mick Walker at Notts County, and took over as caretaker manager when Walker was sacked in September 1994. When County appointed Howard Kendall as manager...
took over as the clubs manager for the start of the 2004–05 season but rarely included Hockless, and despite confusion for his prolonged absence by the clubs supporters the player was constantly looked past in favour of players such as Thomas Pinault
Thomas Pinault
Thomas Pinault is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Racing Club de Grasse in France CFA 2....
and Ashley Sestanovich
Ashley Sestanovich
Ashley Shane Sestanovich is an English former professional footballer of Croatian and Grenadian descent....
. Hockless was eventually allowed to leave the club on loan and joined Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
outfit Leigh RMI
Leigh RMI F.C.
Leigh Genesis Football Club, formerly known as Horwich Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. and Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. , was an English semi-professional association football team that folded after relegation from the Northern Premier League in 2011...
, but after featuring in only 2 games for Leigh he returned to Grimsby.
North Ferriby United
In June 2005, Hockless left Town and signed for non league side North Ferriby United, which was too come as a shock for many following the players rumoured transfer activity 12 months earlier. Chris BolderChris Bolder
Christopher James "Chris" Bolder is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League side North Ferriby United. Bolder played in the Football League for Grimsby Town between 2001 and 2004...
the player who joined Grimsby from Hull with him in 2001 also made the move too North Ferriby following a season with Ossett Town
Ossett Town F.C.
Ossett Town Football Club are an English football club based in Ossett, in the City of Wakefield district, West Yorkshire, playing in the Northern Premier League in the 2011-12 season.-History:...
.
Australia
After one full season with United, Hockless emigrated to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
signing for Richmond SC
Richmond SC
Richmond Soccer Club is an Australian association football club from Richmond, Victoria, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. They currently play in the Victorian Premier League.-History:...
before moving to Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United Football Club is a football club based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia...
in 2008 where he picked up the Gold Medal for the best player in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
. In 2010 he signed for Green Gully Cavaliers
Green Gully Cavaliers
Green Gully Soccer Club is a football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Green Gully is one of the biggest clubs in Melbourne, it participated in the old National Soccer League between 1984-1986....
.
External links
- electronicfishcake.com Player Profile