Tony Grant (Irish footballer)
Encyclopedia
Tony Grant is an Irish
professional footballer
.
, Grant signed for Preston North End in November 1995. He was loaned out to Glenavon
, making a permanent move to the Lurgan
club in January 1997; he scored the only goal in their Irish Cup
final win over Cliftonville
the same year.
in the summer of 2000 and scored on his debut for the club in August of that year. He was presented with the Player of the Year award at the end of his first season with the club. During his career with the "Hoops", he scored several decisive goals against rivals, Bohemians
, including the only goal in Dalymount Park's
centenary game and a back heeled winner in another 2001 derby, at Richmond Park
. Grant scored the winning goal for Rovers in the 2003 UEFA Intertoto-Cup tie with Odra Wodzisław in Poland. He made a total of 6 appearances in European Competition for Shamrock Rovers.
On 24 February 2004, Bohemians announced the signing of Grant and James Keddy
from Shamrock Rovers. Less than 2 months later, the two clubs played each other at Dalymount Park. The game finished 2–2 but was marked by a pig's
head being thrown on to the pitch by Rovers supporters, in a gesture aimed at Grant in particular. The incident remained a topic of humour amongst the media for weeks after, as well as a reminder of the intensity of the rivalry between the two clubs.
Tony suffered at first with several niggling injuries during his time with Bohemians, but won back his place in October 2004. In June 2005 he scored another winner in the UEFA Intertoto Cup
.
Grant signed for Drogheda United
in 2006 making his debut in the UEFA Cup
away to HJK Helsinki
in Finland. Injury brought his first season to an early end.
He started off the 2007 season quite well scoring four goals in twenty appearances, fourteen of these appearances were as a substitute. One of those four goals happened to be the equaliser in the 2007 Setanta Cup
Final.
: 1
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
professional footballer
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...
.
Early years
Starting as a trainee with Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Grant signed for Preston North End in November 1995. He was loaned out to Glenavon
Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
, making a permanent move to the Lurgan
Lurgan
Lurgan is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town is near the southern shore of Lough Neagh and in the north-eastern corner of the county. Part of the Craigavon Borough Council area, Lurgan is about 18 miles south-west of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway...
club in January 1997; he scored the only goal in their Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
final win over Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
the same year.
League of Ireland
Grant signed for Shamrock RoversShamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
in the summer of 2000 and scored on his debut for the club in August of that year. He was presented with the Player of the Year award at the end of his first season with the club. During his career with the "Hoops", he scored several decisive goals against rivals, Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
, including the only goal in Dalymount Park's
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
centenary game and a back heeled winner in another 2001 derby, at Richmond Park
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
. Grant scored the winning goal for Rovers in the 2003 UEFA Intertoto-Cup tie with Odra Wodzisław in Poland. He made a total of 6 appearances in European Competition for Shamrock Rovers.
On 24 February 2004, Bohemians announced the signing of Grant and James Keddy
James Keddy
James Keddy is a former Irish footballer who is currently managing Mount Merrion YMCA F.C..-Career:Keddy made his League of Ireland debut for Home Farm on the 13th of October 1991...
from Shamrock Rovers. Less than 2 months later, the two clubs played each other at Dalymount Park. The game finished 2–2 but was marked by a pig's
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
head being thrown on to the pitch by Rovers supporters, in a gesture aimed at Grant in particular. The incident remained a topic of humour amongst the media for weeks after, as well as a reminder of the intensity of the rivalry between the two clubs.
Tony suffered at first with several niggling injuries during his time with Bohemians, but won back his place in October 2004. In June 2005 he scored another winner in the UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
.
Grant signed for Drogheda United
Drogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
in 2006 making his debut in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
away to HJK Helsinki
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
in Finland. Injury brought his first season to an early end.
He started off the 2007 season quite well scoring four goals in twenty appearances, fourteen of these appearances were as a substitute. One of those four goals happened to be the equaliser in the 2007 Setanta Cup
Setanta Sports Cup 2007
The Setanta Sports Cup 2007 is the 3rd staging of the cross-border cup competition that takes place between football clubs from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
Final.
Later years
In the summer of 2008 Grant rejoined Glenavon.. He was released by the club in May 2011 at the end of his contractTeam
League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 1
-
- Drogheda UnitedDrogheda UnitedDrogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
- 2007 Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
: 1 - GlenavonGlenavon F.C.Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
- 1996/97
- Drogheda United
- Setanta Cup: 1
- Drogheda UnitedDrogheda UnitedDrogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
- 2007Setanta Sports Cup 2007The Setanta Sports Cup 2007 is the 3rd staging of the cross-border cup competition that takes place between football clubs from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
- Drogheda United
Individual
- Player of the Year:
- Shamrock RoversShamrock Rovers F.C.Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
- 2000/01
- Shamrock Rovers