Grant Gillespie (footballer) explained

Grant Gillespie
Birth Date:2 July 1991[1]
Birth Place:Bellshill, Scotland
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Greenock Morton
Clubnumber:21
Youthyears1:2006–2009
Youthclubs1:Hamilton Academical
Years1:2009–2018
Clubs1:Hamilton Academical
Caps1:199
Goals1:4
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Dundee United
Caps2:6
Goals2:0
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Raith Rovers
Caps3:27
Goals3:2
Years4:2019
Clubs4:Derry City
Caps4:8
Goals4:1
Years5:2020
Caps5:4
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2022
Clubs6:Queen's Park
Caps6:40
Goals6:3
Years7:2022–
Clubs7:Greenock Morton
Caps7:60
Goals7:10
Club-Update:11:26, 5 May 2024 (UTC)

Grant Gillespie (born 2 July 1991) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Greenock Morton. He has previously played for Hamilton Academical, Dundee United, Raith Rovers, Derry City, Ayr United and Queen's Park.

Career

Hamilton Academical

Gillespie made his senior debut for Hamilton Academical on 15 August 2009, in a Scottish Premier League match against Kilmarnock.[2] In May 2011, he signed a new two-year contract with Hamilton.[3]

In May 2012, Gillespie urged manager Billy Reid to make him a first-team regular for the forthcoming 2012–13 season.[4] In January 2012, after making an "impact" as a substitute in the previous game, Gillespie spoke publicly about his desire to start the team's next match.[5] In February 2013, he commented that he wanted a win in the upcoming derby against Airdrieonians.[6] In April 2013, Gillespie signed a new two-year contract with the club.[7]

In August 2013 Gillespie stated that the team needed to "dig in and grind out results" in the season ahead.[8] In October 2014 he signed a new contract with the club, to last until the summer of 2018.[9] Gillespie left the club in January 2018.[10]

Dundee United

Gillespie signed a short-term contract with Dundee United.[11] He was released by the club at the end of his contract in May 2018.[12]

Raith Rovers

Gillespie signed with League One club Raith Rovers in June 2018.[13]

Derry City

In July 2019 he signed for Derry City.[14] After making 10 appearances, scoring 1 goal, he left in January 2020.

Ayr United

In January 2020 he returned to Scotland, signing for Ayr United until the end of their season.[15] [16]

Queen's Park

In August 2020 he signed for Queen's Park,[17] before leaving in 2022.

Greenock Morton

In June 2022 he signed for Greenock Morton.[18] Gillespie was named club captain by manager Dougie Imrie, and made his first competitive appearance against Hibernian in the League Cup Group Stage. Gillespie would score 2 times in this group, against Hibernian and Bonnyrigg Rose respectively.[19] [20] Gillespie would continue his positive start to life at Morton by scoring in the first league game of the season against his former club Hamilton.[21]

Gillespie signed a contract extension on New Year's Day, keeping him at the club until summer 2024.[22]

With Gillespie's contract expiring summer 2024, Morton announced that he had signed a new one-year contract.[23]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hamilton Academical2009–10Scottish Premier League10000010
2010–111701010190
2011–12Scottish First Division16010101[24] 0190
2012–13321212000362
2013–14Scottish Championship33110205[25] 0411
2014–15Scottish Premiership3601040410
2015–163011000311
2016–1731140501[26] 0411
2017–1830004070
Hamilton Academical Total1994111190702365
Dundee United2017–18Scottish Championship6010000070
Raith Rovers2018–19Scottish League One272303120353
Derry City2019[27] League of Ireland Premier Division812020121
Ayr United (loan)2019–20Scottish Championship000000
Career total2407171241902909

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fixtures 2012/13 . 5 August 2013 . Hamilton Academical F.C. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140326014523/http://www.acciesfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1883%3Afixtures-201213&catid=41%3Astats&Itemid=2 . 26 March 2014.
  2. Web site: Kilmarnock 3 – 0 Hamilton. 15 August 2009. 15 August 2009. BBC Sport.
  3. Web site: Grant Gillespie signs new Hamilton Accies contract. 27 May 2011. 26 May 2011. BBC Sport.
  4. Web site: Accies midfielder aims to prove he's ready for a regular first-team place. 24 May 2012. Andrew McGilvray. Hamilton Advertiser.
  5. Web site: Grant: Let me start the game at Raith. 17 January 2013. Andrew McGilvray. Hamilton Advertiser.
  6. Web site: Dump the Diamonds: Gillespie wants derby win. 14 February 2013. Andrew McGilvray. Hamilton Advertiser.
  7. Web site: Gillespie signs Extension. 8 April 2013. Hamilton Academical F.C..
  8. Web site: Midfielder Grant Gillespie says Accies need to dig in this season for wins. 15 August 2013. 16 August 2013. Andrew McGilvray. Hamilton Advertiser.
  9. Web site: Hamilton's Crawford and Gillespie agree new deals. 24 October 2014. 26 October 2014. BBC Sport.
  10. acciesfc. 956941436376711168. 26 January 2018. 26 January 2018. With almost 500 appearances between them the club has today said Goodbye to Michael Devlin, Greg Docherty and Grant Gillespie. Statement to follow on website shortly.
  11. Web site: Dundee United: Stephen Thompson to step down as chairman. 31 January 2018. 31 January 2018. BBC Sport.
  12. Web site: Captain Willo Flood among Dundee United departures . BBC Sport . BBC . 15 May 2018 . 15 May 2018.
  13. Web site: Raith new boy Grant Gillespie determined to make this a season to remember. Neil. Robertson.
  14. Web site: Grant Gillespie: Derry City sign Scottish midfielder until end of season. 25 July 2019. BBC Sport. 27 August 2019.
  15. Web site: Grant Gillespie signs – Ayr United Football Club.
  16. Web site: Former Candystripe Grant Gillespie joins Ayr United on a short-term deal. ExtraTime.ie.
  17. Web site: Grant Gillespie Signs for the Spiders. Ian. Cairns. 11 August 2020.
  18. Web site: Grant Gillespie joins on a one-year-deal. 20 June 2022.
  19. News: Hibernian v Greenock Morton . en-GB . BBC Sport . 10 June 2023.
  20. News: Greenock Morton v Bonnyrigg Rose . en-GB . BBC Sport . 10 June 2023.
  21. News: Morton and 10-man Hamilton share points . en-GB . BBC Sport . 10 June 2023.
  22. Web site: 1 January 2023 . Grant Gillespie extends his stay . 10 June 2023 . Greenock Morton FC . en-GB.
  23. Web site: 24 May 2024 . Grant Gillespie signs contract extension - Greenock Morton FC . 25 June 2024 . en-US.
  24. Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  25. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and four in the Premiership play-offs
  26. Appearance in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
  27. Web site: Scotland - G. Gillespie - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com.