Martin Gritton

Martin Francis Gritton (born 1 June 1978) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a striker from 1998 to 2012.

Martin Gritton
Personal information
Full name Martin Francis Gritton[1]
Date of birth (1978-06-01) 1 June 1978
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1996–1998 Porthleven
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2002 Plymouth Argyle 44 (7)
2001 → Yeovil Town (loan) 4 (0)
2001 → Shelbourne (loan) ? (?)
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)
Total 355 (66)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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 spawny 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 and a half-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]

Personal life

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

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. British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  10. "Torquay United sign Martin Gritton from Chesterfield". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  11. "Striker Martin Gritton released by Chesterfield". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  12. "Yeovil Town sign Chester striker Martin Gritton". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  13. "Terry Skiverton offers seven new Yeovil Town deals". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  14. "Striker Martin Gritton joins Stockport County". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 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.
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