Alex Gilliead

Alex Gilliead

Gilliead playing for Carlisle United in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Alex Nicholas Gilliead [1]
Date of birth	(1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 (age 29) [2]
Place of birth	Shotley Bridge, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Carlisle United (on loan from Shrewsbury Town)
Youth career
2012–2014	Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2018	Newcastle United	0	(0)
2015–2016	→ Carlisle United (loan)	35	(5)
2016–2017	→ Luton Town (loan)	18	(1)
2017	→ Bradford City (loan)	9	(0)
2017–2018	→ Bradford City (loan)	42	(1)
2018–2019	Shrewsbury Town	27	(1)
2019–2021	Scunthorpe United	79	(7)
2021–2024	Bradford City	123	(5)
2024–	Shrewsbury Town	40	(0)
2025–	→ Carlisle United (loan)	0	(0)
International career
2011–2012	England U16	4	(0)
2012–2013	England U17	8	(0)
2014	England U18	2	(0)
2015–2016	England U20	7	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9:33, 5 May 2025 (UTC)

Alex Nicholas Gilliead (born 11 February 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or winger for Carlisle United EFL League Two club Shrewsbury Town. He has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-20 levels.

Club career

Newcastle United

Born in Shotley Bridge, County Durham, ^[2] Gilliead was offered a trial by Newcastle United in 2011, after he was first noticed playing for Swalwell Juniors. ^[3] He signed scholarship terms in the summer of 2012, ^[3] before signing a three-year professional contract with the club on 4 July 2013. ^[4] Gilliead signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract on 28 January 2016 to keep him at the club until 30 June 2018, with the option of a further year. ^[5]

Loan to Carlisle United

On 14 September 2015, Gilliead joined League Two club Carlisle United on a one-month youth loan. ^[6] He made his professional debut five days later in a 2–2 draw with York City, assisting both of Carlisle's goals. ^{[7] [8]} Gilliead's loan was extended until the end of 2015–16, having made five appearances during his initial loan spell. ^[9] He followed up his loan extension by scoring his first professional goal two days later in a 1–0 win at home to Exeter City. ^{[10] [11]} Gilliead completed the loan spell with 41 appearances and five goals. ^[12]

Loan to Luton Town

On 31 August 2016, Gilliead joined League Two club Luton Town on loan until 7 January 2017. ^[13] He debuted as an 85th-minute substitute in a 2–1 defeat at home to Grimsby Town on 10 September. ^[14] Gilliead scored his first goal for Luton in a 2–0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion U21 in the EFL Trophy on 4 October. ^[15] He later scored his first league goal for the club in a 3–1 win at home to Barnet on 31 December. ^[16] Gilliead scored two goals in 21 appearances and returned to Newcastle following the expiration of his loan spell. ^{[17] [18]}

Loan to Bradford City

On 12 January 2017, Gilliead signed for League One club Bradford City on loan until the end of 2016–17. ^[19] He made his debut two days later as a 76th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat away to Shrewsbury Town and completed the loan spell with 10 appearances. ^[17]

Gilliead returned to Bradford City on a six-month loan on 7 July 2017. ^[20] On 4 January 2018, Gilliead's loan at Bradford was extended until the end of the season. ^[21] He scored two goals from 48 appearances, ^[22] as Bradford finished in 11th place in the table. ^[23]

Shrewsbury Town

Gilliead signed for League One club Shrewsbury Town on 10 July 2018 on a two-year contract, following his release by Newcastle. ^[24]

Scunthorpe United

Gilliead signed for Scunthorpe United, who were newly relegated to League Two, on 9 July 2019 on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. ^[25] He was one of 17 players released by Scunthorpe at the end of the 2020–21 season. ^[26]

Return to Bradford City

Gilliead rejoined Bradford City, this time on a permanent basis, in the summer of 2021. ^[27] His first Bradford goal since 2018 came in a 2-0 home win over Rochdale on 2 October 2021.

Gilliead signed a 2-year contract extension with Bradford in June 2023.

Return to Shrewsbury Town

On 30 August 2024, Gilliead returned to League One club Shrewsbury Town on a two-year deal. ^[28]

On 1 September 2025, Gilliead returned to another of his former clubs, joining Carlisle United on loan until 11 January 2026, ten years on from an initial loan spell with the now National League club. ^[29]

International career

Gilliead has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-20 levels. ^[30]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 September 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Newcastle United	2014-15 [31]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2015-16 [32]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2016-17 [33]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2017-18 [34]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Carlisle United (loan)	2015-16 [32]	League Two	35	5	5	0	1	0	0	0	41	5
Luton Town (loan)	2016-17 [33]	League Two	18	1	2	0	0	0	1 [a]	1	21	2
Bradford City (loan)	2016-17 [33]	League One	9	0	—		—		1 [b]	0	10	0
Bradford City (loan)	2017-18 [34]	League One	42	1	3	1	1	0	2 [a]	0	48	2
Shrewsbury Town	2018-19 [35]	League One	27	1	4	0	1	0	3 [a]	2	35	3
Scunthorpe United	2019-20 [36]	League Two	35	6	1	0	1	0	5 [a]	0	42	6
	2020-21 [37]	League Two	44	1	1	0	1	0	1 [a]	0	47	1
	Total		79	7	2	0	2	0	6	0	89	7
Bradford City	2021-22 [38]	League Two	43	1	2	0	1	0	3 [a]	0	49	1
	2022-23 [39]	League Two	43	1	1	0	2	0	4 [c]	0	50	1
	2023-24 [40]	League Two	38	3	1	0	2	0	7 [a]	0	48	3
	Total		124	5	4	0	5	0	14	0	147	5
Shrewsbury Town	2024-25 [41]	League One	42	0	1	0	0	0	2 [a]	0	45	0
	2025-26 [42]	League Two	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		45	0	1	0	1	0	2	0	49	0
Carlisle United (loan)	2025-26 [42]	National League	3	0	0	0	—		0	0	3	0
Career total			382	20	21	0	11	0	29	3	443	23

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in League One play-offs
3. Three appearances in EFL Trophy, one appearance in League Two play-offs

References

1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
2. "Alex Gilliead". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
3. "Alex Gilliead". Newcastle United F.C. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
4. Marshall, Anthony (4 July 2013). "New deals for young stars". Newcastle United F.C. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
5. Mennear, Richard (28 January 2016). "Newcastle winger signs new contract". The Shields Gazette. South Shields. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
6. Mennear, Richard (14 September 2015). "Newcastle duo join Carlisle on loan and are told to fight for a place". The Shields Gazette. South Shields. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
7. "York City 2–2 Carlisle United". BBC Sport. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
8. Waugh, Chris (21 September 2015). "Newcastle United's Alex Gilliead 'buzzing' after providing two assists on Carlisle debut". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
9. Ryder, Lee (15 October 2015). "Newcastle United extend loan deals for Macaulay Gillesphey and Alex Gilliead". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
10. "Carlisle United 1–0 Exeter City". BBC Sport. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
11. Ryder, Lee (18 October 2015). "Newcastle United youngster proving to be a hit with Carlisle United fans after scoring first senior goal". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
12. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
13. "Newcastle midfielder Gilliead signs loan deal at Luton". Luton Today. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
14. Easterby, Tom (12 September 2016). "Loan watch: Armstrong's dream debut". Newcastle United F.C. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
15. Simmonds, Mike (4 October 2016). "Hatters through in EFL Trophy after dominant display against Baggies". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
16. Cunliffe, James (31 December 2016). "Luton Town round off 2016 with home win over Barnet". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017.
17. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
18. Simmonds, Mike (7 January 2017). "Gilliead returns to Newcastle United". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
19. "Alex Gilliead: Newcastle United midfielder joins Bradford City on loan". BBC Sport. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
20. Parker, Simon (7 July 2017). "Newcastle winger returns to Valley Parade until January". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
21. Parker, Simon (4 January 2018). "Bradford City: Gilliead extends loan for rest of the season". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
22. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
23. "League One: 2017/18: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
24. "Alex Gilliead: Shrewsbury Town sign winger after Newcastle departure". BBC Sport. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
25. "Alex Gilliead: Scunthorpe United sign winger from Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
26. "Scunthorpe United release 17 players including several key men". Grimsbylive. 13 May 2021 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
27. "Gilliead Returns as Sixth Summer Signing".
28. "Alex Gilliead Returns!". www.shrewsburytown.com. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
29. "ALEX GILLIEAD JOINS THE BLUES ON LOAN". www.carlisleunited.co.uk. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
30. "Alex Gilliead". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017.
31. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
32. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
33. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
34. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
35. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
36. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
37. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
38. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
39. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
40. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
41. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
42. "Games played by Alex Gilliead in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2025.

External links

• Alex Gilliead at Soccerbase