Nicky Grant
Nichola Anne "Nicky" Grant (born 13 August 1976) is a Scottish international footballer, who plays as a midfielder. She currently plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League for Forfar Farmington, having previously played in England for Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers Belles as well as in Iceland, Germany and Sweden. Grant amassed over 90 appearances for the Scotland women's national football team.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Nichola Anne Grant[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 13 August 1976||
Place of birth | Aberdeen, Scotland | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Forfar Farmington | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Cove Rangers | |||
Cumbernauld United | |||
Stenhousemuir | |||
2001 | ÍBV | 10 | (3) |
2002 | Arsenal | ||
2002–2003 | Glasgow City | ||
2003 | 1. FFC Frankfurt | ||
2003–2005 | Kilmarnock Ladies | ||
2005 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | ||
2005–2006 | Hibernian Ladies | ||
2006–2010 | Hamilton Academical Ladies | ||
2007 | QBIK | ||
2011 | Celtic Ladies | ||
2011 | Hamilton Academical Ladies | ||
2012– | Forfar Farmington | ||
International career‡ | |||
1993–2006 | Scotland | 98 | (7) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:00, 19 June 2011 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:00, 19 June 2011 (UTC) |
Club career
Born in Aberdeen and brought up in Elgin,[2] Grant first came to prominence as a member of a successful Cove Rangers team.[3] She scored twice in the 1996 Scottish Women's Cup final as Cove beat Aberdeen 5–1 at McDiarmid Park.[4] After switching to Cumbernauld United, Grant won a domestic treble in 1997–98.[5]
In the 2000 Scottish Women's Cup final, Grant scored four goals in Stenhousemuir's 9–0 win over Clyde.[6]
Grant spent the 2001 summer season in Iceland with ÍBV and scored three goals in ten Úrvalsdeild appearances.[7][8] She then collected an FA Women's Premier League winners medal with Arsenal Ladies in 2002, but did not wish to move to London long term.[9] In 2003 Grant joined Frauen Bundesliga champions 1. FFC Frankfurt as a full–time professional. She did not remain long in Germany due to injuries and returned to Scotland to work as a teacher while playing for Kilmarnock.[9]
In January 2005, Grant rejected an approach from Sunderland in favour of Doncaster Rovers Belles.[10] Grant helped Doncaster avoid relegation by scoring the second goal in a vital 2–0 win over Bristol City, but she was sent off for removing her shirt in celebration.[11]
In summer 2007 she joined Swedish Damallsvenskan club QBIK at the invitation of international teammate Ifeoma Dieke.[2]
After a spell at Hamilton Academical, Grant signed for Celtic in 2011.[12] She returned to Accies during the Scottish Women's Premier League mid–season break.[13] Grant signed for Forfar Farmington ahead of the 2012 season, after moving to the Angus area for work reasons.[14]
International career
Grant made her senior debut for Scotland against Italy in October 1993.[15] The Scots were beaten 4–0 in the 1995 UEFA Women's Championship qualification match hosted in Senigallia.[16]
In summer 2003 Grant had a disagreement with the Scotland management team and spent a year out of the national team. She was recalled in July 2004 after her Kilmarnock Ladies manager Jim Chapman interceded.[17]
Personal life
Grant's brother Graeme is also a footballer, who played with Buckie Thistle and Forres Mechanics in the Highland Football League, as well as spending 2002–03 with Elgin City in the Scottish Football League Third Division.[9]
As of 2019, she was the head teacher of Alness Academy having been appointed at the end of the previous year. She had previously held senior roles at schools in Aberdeenshire and Moray.[18]
Grant became the Director of Education for Highland in 2019, after just 9 months at Alness Academy.
References
- Sébastien Duret and Neil Morrison (19 June 2005). "European Women Championship 2005 - Match Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Mikael Adamsson (4 July 2007). "Lärarinna med landslagsmeriter förstärker Qbik" (in Swedish). NWT.se. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Vicki Davidson (2 June 1996). "HUNKY DORY!; Your OTHER national squad choose their Euro 96 heart-throbs". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- "FIVE-STAR ACES HAVE IT DON AND DUSTED". Daily Record. Glasgow. 13 May 1996. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Alan Marshall (25 May 1998). "Fleet streets ahead of 'em". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Ian Black (8 May 2000). "'Magoo' regrets she was unable to save the day". The Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Denis Polsinelli and Óskar Ó. Jónsson (15 January 2005). "Iceland - Women's Premier League 2001". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- "Nicky Grant". KSI.is. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- Steven Rattray (31 December 2003). "FOOTBALL: Keeping it in the family; DAILY KICK-ABOUTS HELPED SIBLINGS MAKE GRADE". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Ross Heppenstall (24 January 2005). "Northern Division: Black Cats gaining momentum once more!". Givemefootball.com. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Paula Cocozza (7 February 2005). "Women's football". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- "Celtic Women enjoy Easter victory". Celtic FC. 26 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- "Former Scottish female international gets Alness head job".
- Muirhead, Andy (13 March 2012). "A double Grants for Forfar Farmington". Scotzine. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- "Scotland Women A Squad". The Pink 2. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- "Italy - Women - International Results". RSSSF. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Ginny Clark (21 July 2004). "FOOTBALL: Nicky has Scot her wish with a recall; WOMEN'S FOOTBALL". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Scottish former female international gets Alness head job, Press & Journal, 20 November 2018