Football League favourite to retire after 'perfect' end to 19-year career
- Tom Murphy
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Former Football League professional Bobby Grant has decided to hang up his boots after a memorable career that spanned over 19 years. Grant became a fan favourite at a number of clubs and reached the Championship during his peak.
The 34-year-old made his professional debut in 2006 and has since made over 500 appearances, the most recent of which have come for his local club Marine FC.
“I’m really proud of my career," he said. "I’ve had time to look back over the last few years and I’m delighted with how everything turned out.
"To end the way it did it was absolutely perfect, I am more than happy with the career I had and the way it ended with Marine was an unreal feeling."
The forward started his career at League Two side Accrington Stanley where he made his debut at the age of 16. At the time, he was the youngest player to represent the Lancashire side since 1959.
Grant made sure to give full praise to John Coleman, Stanley manager and the man who gave him the opportunity to express himself when he first broke through into the professional game.
“I had heart surgery at 15 that I thought was going to end it, so to be given my debut at 16, I owe massive credit to John Coleman and Phil Ackney because without them two I probably wouldn't get the opportunity to play," he added.
“The support network they gave me at the start of my career, the opportunities they gave me, I’ll be forever grateful and I always say to them that I can’t repay them for what they’ve done.
“I am not saying it would not have worked out as well but they gave me the opportunity that no one else did.”
After making a big impression he earned a move to Scunthorpe United in 2010. That transfer allowed Grant to ply his trade in the second tier.
The striker reveals that his time at the North Lincolnshire club was where he learnt the most on his way to being a successful footballer.
“You think you’re unstoppable but that move [to Scunthorpe] was probably the biggest eye opener for me in terms of learning, in terms of growing up. You are either going to do this properly or you might as well stop," he said.
“At Accrington I was still living at home, making that move [to Scunthorpe], I had to move away and at a young age I had to make the sacrifices and I’ve gone up there and everything was a whole different ball game.
“I was a boy going into a men's dressing room. That is how I felt, that is how big the jump is to the Championship from League Two.”
After making over 400 appearances professionally, Grant then opted to drop into non league football where he played for the likes of Wrexham, Radcliffe and Marine.
Grant made the move to Radcliffe after a loan spell at league side Oldham Athletic and became player-manager in his second season. His team missed out on promotion by just two points resulting in his dismissal.
“We took the club from 21st or 20th in the Northern Premier League nd we finished seventh in a short period of time. We rebuilt a squad, we brought a style in and I got sacked”, he said.
A fitting end came at Marine FC, a club that is just a walk away from his house. After joining in January 2024, the striker made an instant impact that in turn helped them achieve promotion to the National League North.
He then scored in his final game during a 4-1 win against South Shields- a perfect send off for a player who has had a special career.
“The connection was there with the people at Marine, the board, the manager, the players, everything just fitted," he said of the final throes of his playing days.
“My time at Marine is without doubt the most enjoyable of my career even though with the level I have played at. There wasn’t any pressure, I was just playing with freedom to go and help a football club where I live achieve something.
“I have loved absolutely every minute of it and I would not change it.”
Grant has brought smiles on the pitch but off it too. He maintains that the relationships he had made during his playing career are the most important thing.
“It is about treating people properly, it is about giving your time back, I am a big believer in that”, he said.
“I am just honest, I give my time back before the game, after the game. If people talk to you and you talk back to them, some people might need help with other things and if you turn your back on them- it is not the right thing to do.”
This story was published for the Liverpool Echo
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