Ashley Grimes (footballer, born 1986)

Ashley Grimes

Personal information
Full name	Ashley James Grimes[1]
Date of birth	9 December 1986[1]
Place of birth	Swinton, Greater Manchester, England
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder Forward
Club information
Current team	Southport
Number	8
Youth career
	Manchester United
0000–2003	Bolton Wanderers
2003–2006	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2008	Manchester City	0	(0)
2007	→ Swindon Town (loan)	4	(0)
2008–2011	Millwall	21	(2)
2010–2011	→ Lincoln City (loan)	27	(15)
2011–2013	Rochdale	74	(18)
2013–2014	Bury	15	(0)
2014–2015	Walsall	27	(2)
2015–2016	Barrow	7	(0)
2016–	Southport	7	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:12, 17 September 2016 (UTC).

Ashley James Grimes (born 9 December 1986) is an English semi-professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Southport.

Born in Swinton, Greater Manchester, he began his career as a youth player with Manchester United. After a spell with Bolton Wanderers, he joined Manchester City in 2003. He went professional in 2006, but struggled to break into the first team and went on loan to Swindon Town in 2007 then moved to Millwall a year later. He spent the 2010–11 season on loan with Lincoln City before a permanent transfer to Rochdale at the end of the season. After two seasons with Rochdale, he moved to Bury in 2013 and then Walsall a year later. In July 2015 he signed for Barrow.

Career

Manchester City

Born in Swinton, Greater Manchester,^[1] Grimes began his footballing career with Barr Hill Lads' Club in Salford before signing for Manchester United where he spent two years in the academy before signing for Bolton Wanderers. He was then released by Bolton at the age of 16 and went on trial at Manchester City. Grimes signed his first full-time contract as a trainee with Manchester City in 2006 but made no appearances for City.^[2] He joined Swindon Town on a one-month loan in March 2007,^[3] where he made four substitute appearances.^[2]

In May 2007, Grimes signed his contract with the club.^[4] At the end of the 2007–08 season saw Grimes being released by the club.^[5]

Millwall

He joined Millwall on 1 August 2008 on a free transfer.^[6] He scored his first senior goal in the 3–0 win at Chester City in the FA Cup First Round.^[7] His impressive display at the club earned a new contract with the club, which keep him until 2011.^[8] He scored his first league goal in a 3–1 victory away at Cheltenham Town, after the team had gone 1–0 down due to an own goal.^[9] Grimes had been the fan favourite when the supporters chant "I say, I say, I say, I say – Ashley, Ashley!", which is reference of former Coronation Street butcher Fred Elliott.^[10]

The 2009–10 season saw Grimes first team opportunities limited. His potential move to Crawley Town was blocked by Manager Kenny Jackett, citing injury situation at the club.^[11]

Grimes joined Lincoln City on loan making his debut on 30 October 2010 in a 2–2 draw away at Wycombe Wanderers.^[12][13] By late-November, Grimes loan spell with the club was extended until January, before it was extended until the end of the season.^[14][15] Up to and including the 8 March 2011, Grimes has played 21 games in all competitions in his loan spell. He has scored 16 goals, including a hat-trick against Stockport County in a 4–3 away win.^[16]

Despite both the manager's and player's, himself, wishes to sign a permanent deal,^[17][18] Though winning Player of the Season of 2010–11, Grimes future with Lincoln City appears to be uncertain following Lincoln City relegation to the Non-League Football Conference and ruled out playing in League Two ahead of the 2011–12 season.^[19][20]

At the end of the 2010–2011 season Grimes was released after his contract expired with the club.^[21]

Rochdale

Despite being linked with a move to Colchester United,^[22] Grimes signed a two-year contract with League One side Rochdale on a free transfer after his contract had expired at Millwall. He expressed excitement at working with Steve Eyre; he said "I have agreed to sign and I'm very pleased to be linking up with Steve Eyre once again".^[23]

After making his debut in the opening game of the season, in a 2–0 loss against Sheffield Wednesday, Grimes scored his first goals for Rochdale when he bagged a brace in Rochdale's 3–2 win after extra time against Chesterfield in the League Cup on 9 August 2011.^[24] Grimes have since slowly produced a goal scoring form, including a scoring two braces this season against Wycombe Wanderers ^[25] and Bury.^[26] The club would be relegated to League Two after finishing twenty-four place and Grimes played under manager Eyre and John Coleman.

In 2012–13 season, Grimes was linked with a move to League One side Crawley Town, but Coleman insists Grimes remains happy at the club.^[27] Grimes, himself, turned down a move to Crawley Town, citing Coleman's management style.^[28] Following a slow goal-scoring form and lack of playing for recent week, having featured with cameo appearances from the bench.^[29] After being on the bench for the next two matches, Grimes scored four goals (both braces) in two consecutive games against Aldershot Town^[30] and Cheltenham Town.^[31] However, Grimes' goal scoring form began to fade and scoring ten goals, just behind Bobby Grant, who scored sixteen. At the end of the 2012–2013 season, Grimes was among eight players to be released by the club.^[32]

Bury

After leaving Rochdale, Grimes signed for Bury in June 2013 on a two-year deal.^[33] Grimes was previously linked with a move to Rotherham United.^[34]

However, Grimes struggled in the first team, having been overshadowed by strikers and went on to make 18 appearance in all competitions. Grimes was also fallen out with manager Ronnie Jepson.^[35] As a result, Grimes was placed on the transfer list.^[36] However, on 24 July 2014 ahead of a new season, Grimes left Bury by mutual consent.^[37]

Walsall

On 25 July 2014 – the following day after having left Bury – it was confirmed that Grimes has signed a one-year deal with Walsall.^[38] Grimes made his debut for the Saddlers in a 1–1 draw against Port Vale in their first game of the season on 9 August 2014.^[39] On 1 February 2015, Grimes scored his first goal since April 2013 in a 1–1 home draw against Gillingham.^[40]

In June 2016 he joined Southport.^[41]

Career statistics

As of match played 7 March 2015.

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester City	2006–07	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2007–08		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Swindon Town (loan)	2006–07[42]	League Two	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
Millwall	2008–09[43]	League One	17	2	3	2	0	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	21	4
	2009–10[44]	League One	4	0	2	0	2	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	9	0
	2010–11[45]	Championship	0	0	—		0	0	—		0	0
	Total		21	2	5	2	2	0	2	0	30	4
Lincoln City (loan)	2010–11[46]	League Two	27	15	3	2	—		0	0	30	17
Rochdale	2011–12[47]	League One	36	8	1	0	3	3	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	42	11
	2012–13[48]	League Two	38	10	1	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	1	41	11
	Total		74	18	2	0	4	3	3	1	83	22
Bury	2013–14[49]	League Two	15	0	0	0	2	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	18	0
Walsall	2014–15[50]	League One	25	1	2	0	2	0	4[lower-alpha 1]	0	33	1
Career totals			166	36	12	4	10	3	10	1	198	44

1. Appearances in Football League Trophy

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Mainstream Publishing. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
2. "Ashley Grimes". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
3. "Robins swoop to sign four players". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 March 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
4. "City sign up six". Manchester Evening News. 17 May 2007. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
5. "Club confirms released list". Manchester City Official Website. 3 July 2008. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
6. "Transfers – May 2008". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
7. "BBC Sport – Match Report: Chester 0–3 Millwall". BBC Sport. 9 November 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
8. "Grimes earns new Lions deal". Sky Sports. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
9. "BBC Sport – Match Report: Cheltenham Town 1–3 Millwall". BBC Sport. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
10. "Sport quotes of the week". BBC Sport. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
11. "Lions call off Grimes' loan exit". Sky Sports. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
12. "Lincoln City sign Gavin Hoyte & Ashley Grimes on loan". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
13. "Wycombe 2–2 Lincoln City". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
14. "Loan duo extend Imps deals". Sky Sports. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
15. "Grimes set to extend Imps stay". Sky Sports. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
16. hat-trick "BBC Match Report: Stockport County 3 – 4 Lincoln City" Check |url= value (help). BBC Sport. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
17. "Tilson eyes Grimes deal". Sky Sports. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
18. "Grimes open to Imps transfer". Sky Sports. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
19. "Grimes Named Player Of The Season". Lincoln City F.C. 11 May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
20. "Grimes unsure on future". Sky Sports. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
21. "Lions let seven leave". Sky Sports. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
22. "Grimes open to Colchester deal". Sky Sports. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
23. "Grimes plumps for Rochdale". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
24. "BBC Sport – Match Report: Rochdale 3–2 Chesterfield (aet)". BBC Sport. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
25. "Dale win in basement battle". Sky Sports. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
26. "Coleman makes winning start". Sky Sports. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
27. "Coleman: Grimes happy at Dale". Sky Sports. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
28. "Ashley Grimes turns down Crawley because of John Coleman's style". Manchester Evening News. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
29. "Grimes keen for regular action". Sky Sports. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
30. "Aldershot 4 Rochdale FC 2: League Two match report". Manchester Evening News. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
31. "Rochdale 4 Cheltenham 1". Manchester Evening News. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
32. "Rochdale: Ashley Grimes heads eight departing players". BBC Sport. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
33. "Bury: Gareth Roberts & Ashley Grimes join, Euan Holden returns". BBC Sport. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
34. "Transfer news: Rotherham lining up move for Rochdale midfielder Ashley Grimes". Sky Sports. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
35. "Return of Ashley Grimes offers hope to Shakers' nowhere men". Bury Times. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
36. "Jensen heads Shakers list". Sky Sports. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
37. "Grimes leaves Bury". Sky Sports. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
38. "GRIMES MAKES A CLEAN BREAK WITH THE SADDLERS". Walsall F.C. 25 July 2014. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
39. "Port Vale 1–1 Walsall". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
40. "Walsall 1 Gillingham 1 – Grimes ends drought to earn Saddlers point". Walsall Advertiser. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
41. "Busy Southport bring in Grimes". nonleaguedaily.com.
42. "Swindon 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
43. "Millwall 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
44. "Millwall 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
45. "Millwall 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
46. "Lincoln 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
47. "Rochdale 2011/2012 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
48. "Rochdale 2012/2013 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
49. "Games played by Ashley Grimes in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
50. "Games played by Ashley Grimes in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 March 2015.

External links

• Ashley Grimes career statistics at Soccerbase