Looking back at Simon Grand's time
at Spotland, you have to say that Grand really missed the presence of
Richard Jobson around the club, and his departure from the club had a
negative effect on his performance. I don't mean that in a bad way, but
during the season 2002-3, Simon had spent most of the year playing in the
reserves, playing under and alongside Jobson, and there was real
progression made by the Chorley born defender.
So much so, that Grand was brought into the first team, following a clutch
of injuries, and he was very impressive throughout his time in the First
Team. His first game came against Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup, and it was
perhaps right that this first game came in the Cup, because Grand was a
pivotal part in that season's FA Cup run which saw us reach the 5th Round.
Grand got the all important winner against Preston in Round Three, when he
tipped a Paul Simpson free kick over the line (though it was credited to
his manager), and he also impressed in the win against Coventry, and the
televised game against Wolves.
Grand was developing into a decent centre half, though he is not built in
the classic central defender mould. On first glance, you'd assume that he
struggle against the tougher forwards, but he has proved constantly that
he is up to the challenge, giving them very few opportunities whatsoever.
Whilst not possessed with bags of pace, he showed that he had a mature
footballing brain, and he was comfortable on the ball in a way not seen at
Spotland since the days of Reeves.
His maturity as a player also saw him become the youngest captain in our
history when he captained the side away at eventual champions Rushden and
Diamonds. Grand coped with the responsibility very well, even picking up a
goal on the night. He was rewarded for his performances with a clutch of
trophies at the Player Of The Season evening, picking up awards for the
SMAC Player of the Year, and the Most Improved Player of the Year.
His second full season as part of the first team proved to be more
difficult. He was given the nod early in the season due to injuries to
other defenders, but the confidence that he had in the previous year
didn't quite seem to be the same. He seemed to be playing more of a
Griffiths style role than a Jobson role, and it didn't seem to suit his
game.
He wasn't helped by a few injuries over the season which saw first team
opportunities restricted to just eleven starts in the League this term,
and with the signings of Livesey and Heald towards the end of the season,
first team chances became even more difficult with just one appearance
since the turn of the year.
In an ideal world, Grand would have been given a new contract at the end
of the 2003-4 season to see if he could return to the sort of form shown
in 2002-3, but with three central defenders already contracted for the
forthcoming season, a new deal for Grand would have practically ruled out
any chance of bringing another central defender into the club.
Since leaving the club, he went on
to have a successful couple of years at Carlisle, and Grimsby before
signing for Morecambe in the Summer of 2007.
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
