Martin Gritton

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Martin Gritton
Personal information
Full name Martin Francis Gritton [1]
Date of birth (1978-06-01) 1 June 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1996–1998 Porthleven
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1998–2002 Plymouth Argyle 44 (7)
2001 → Yeovil Town (loan) 4 (0)
2001 → Shelbourne (loan) 6 (0)
2002 → Torquay United (loan) 5 (1)
2002–2004 Torquay United 88 (22)
2004–2006 Grimsby Town 49 (6)
2006–2007 Lincoln City 27 (3)
2007 → Mansfield Town (loan) 19 (6)
2007–2009 Macclesfield Town 52 (13)
2009–2011 Chesterfield 29 (5)
2010–2011 → Torquay United (loan) 12 (0)
2011 Chester 5 (1)
2011 Yeovil Town 2 (0)
2011–2012 Stockport County 11 (0)
2012 Truro City 8 (2)
Total361(66)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Martin Francis Jeremy Gritton (born 1 June 1978) is a Scottish former professional footballer and sports co-commentator primarily for BBC Radio Devon.

Contents

As a player he was a striker from 1998 to 2012. He was a journeyman player and has previously played for Plymouth Argyle, Shelbourne, Torquay United, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Macclesfield Town, Chesterfield, Chester, Yeovil Town, Stockport County and Truro City

Career

Although born in Glasgow, Gritton moved to South-West England at an early age and played for Cornish non-league sides Perranwell, Truro City, [2] and Porthleven while studying at the University of Portsmouth helping the latter reach the quarter-finals of the FA Vase in 1998. [3] He impressed Plymouth Argyle manager Kevin Hodges in a trial in the summer of 1998 and joined the Pilgrims initially on a non-contract deal to allow him to complete his degree. His league debut came as a substitute on 8 August 1998 in Plymouth's 2–1 home win against Rochdale. Although doing enough to earn himself a full-time deal at Home Park, he never fully established himself in the starting line-up and was allowed out on loan, to Yeovil Town in February 2001 [4] and to Irish side Shelbourne in November 2001.

In August 2002, after playing only twice in Plymouth's 2001–02 promotion side, he joined Torquay United on loan, signing permanently on a free transfer the following month. He settled in well at Plainmoor scoring 16 times in his first season and helping the Gulls to automatic promotion the following season. With Torquay struggling in the higher division and looking to cut costs he was allowed to move to Grimsby Town in December 2004 for a nominal fee . [5]

Although linked with a welcome return to Torquay United, he joined Lincoln City on 30 January 2006. [6] The timing of this move meant that he played against Torquay United in two consecutive games. He was mostly used as a substitute in the 2006–07 season due to the form of Jamie Forrester. In January 2007 he joined Mansfield Town on loan for the remainder of the 2006–07 season. [7] On 30 January 2007, he scored a hat-trick against his former club Torquay. He was released on a free transfer the following May, joining Macclesfield a few weeks later. [8]

On 8 January 2009, Chesterfield purchased Gritton from Macclesfield Town for a fee of £40,000 on a 2+1⁄2-year deal. [9] He re-joined former club Torquay on loan for the start of the 2010–11 season. [10] He returned to Chesterfield in January 2011 and had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. [11]

He then joined Chester F.C., and on 22 March 2011 signed on a short-term contract with Yeovil Town until the end of the 2010–11 season. [12] He was informed by the club at the end of the season that he would not be awarded a new deal. [13]

In June 2011 he signed a one-year contract with Stockport County. [14] He played eleven games for the club before being released in March 2012. [15] He subsequently joined Truro City on a non-contract basis, [16] [17] scoring his first goal in a 3–0 win against Thurrock. [18]

Career statistics

As of 2 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Plymouth Argyle 1998–99 [19] Third Division 2000000020
1999–2000 [20] Third Division30630111 [lower-alpha 1] 0357
2000–01 [21] Third Division10110202 [lower-alpha 1] 1152
2001–02 [22] Third Division2000000020
Total447403131549
Yeovil Town (loan) 2000–01 [23] Football Conference 40———40
Shelbourne (loan) 2001–02 [24] League of Ireland Premier Division 6020000080
Torquay United 2002–03 [25] Third Division431323101 [lower-alpha 1] 04716
2003–04 [26] Third Division314000000314
2004–05 [27] League One 19610101 [lower-alpha 1] 0226
Total932333202010026
Grimsby Town 2004–05 [28] League Two 234——00234
2005–06 [29] League Two26210201 [lower-alpha 1] 0302
Total496102010536
Lincoln City 2005–06 [30] League Two101——00101
2006–07 [31] League Two17200003 [lower-alpha 2] 0202
Total273000030303
Mansfield Town (loan) 2006–07 [32] League Two196000000196
Macclesfield Town 2007–08 [33] League Two31811001 [lower-alpha 1] 0339
2008–09 [34] League Two21531111 [lower-alpha 1] 0267
Total52134211205916
Chesterfield 2008–09 [35] League Two204——00204
2009–10 [36] League Two91001000101
2010–11 [37] League Two00—000000
Total295001000305
Torquay United (loan) 2011–12 [38] League Two12010002 [lower-alpha 1] 0150
Chester 2010–11 [39] NPL Division One North 51——0051
Yeovil Town 2011–12 [40] League One20—000020
Stockport County 2011–12 [41] Conference Premier 11000—00110
Truro City 2011–12 [42] Conference South 8200—0082
Career total361661559213139874
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ One appearance in Football League Trophy and two appearances in Football League Two play-offs

Personal life

After leaving Truro, Gritton retired from football and moved to London.

Gritton has worked as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Devon's coverage of Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United games. He has also occasionally appeared for BBC Radio Humberside covering Grimsby Town matches. [43]

His brother, Kevin, was the drummer in the 1990s indie band Adorable who were signed to Creation Records and released two albums. Martin was the band's roadie on their 2019 reunion tour. [44]

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References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 170. ISBN   978-1-84596-246-3.
  2. ↑ "Truro target big name recruits". NonLeagueDaily.com. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "Legg back for Elburton's relegation battle". thisisDevon.co.uk. 4 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  4. ↑ Yeovil land Gritton on loan
  5. ↑ Gritton completes Grimsby switch
  6. ↑ Imps sign Grimsby striker Gritton
  7. ↑ Mansfield sign Conlon and Gritton
  8. ↑ Gritton joins Silkmen from Imps
  9. ↑ "Gritton signs deal with Spireites". BBC Sport. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  10. ↑ "Torquay United sign Martin Gritton from Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  11. ↑ "Striker Martin Gritton released by Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "Yeovil Town sign Chester striker Martin Gritton". BBC Sport. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  13. ↑ "Terry Skiverton offers seven new Yeovil Town deals". BBC Sport. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "Striker Martin Gritton joins Stockport County". BBC Sport. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  15. ↑ "Gritton to move on". Stockport County FC. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  16. ↑ "Truro City sign Martin Gritton on a non-contract deal". BBC Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  17. ↑ "New boy Gritton impresses". NonLeagueDaily.com. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  18. ↑ "Truro City beat Thurrock 3–0 to move closer to survival". BBC Sport. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  19. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=15070&season_id=128
  20. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=15070&season_id=129
  21. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=15070&season_id=130
  22. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=15070&season_id=131
  23. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=15070&season_id=130
  24. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001–02_Shelbourne_F.C._season#Player_appearances/goals
  25. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=132
  26. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=133
  27. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=134
  28. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=134
  29. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=135
  30. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=135
  31. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=136
  32. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=136
  33. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=137
  34. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=138
  35. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=138
  36. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=139
  37. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=140
  38. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=140
  39. ↑ http://www.chester-city.co.uk/stats_first1314.asp
  40. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=140
  41. ↑ https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=10712&season_id=141
  42. ↑ https://uk.soccerway.com/players/martin-gritton/50631/
  43. ↑ "Martin Gritton on the challenges of his Argyle commentary role". 11 September 2017.
  44. ↑ Troughton, Adrian (6 June 2019). "When the head was cool – Kevin restarts his indie band career". Derby Telegraph. Pressreader. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
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