Grant Gillespie (born 2 July 1991) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton. He has previously played for Hamilton Academical, Dundee United, Raith Rovers, Derry City, Ayr United and Queen's Park.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 July 1991[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bellshill, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Greenock Morton | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2009 | Hamilton Academical | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2018 | Hamilton Academical | 199 | (4) |
| 2018 | Dundee United | 6 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Raith Rovers | 27 | (2) |
| 2019 | Derry City | 8 | (1) |
| 2020 | Ayr United | 4 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Queen's Park | 40 | (3) |
| 2022– | Greenock Morton | 66 | (10) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:32, 12 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editHamilton Academical
editGillespie made his senior debut for Hamilton Academical on 15 August 2009, in a Scottish Premier League match against Kilmarnock.[2] In May 2011, he signed a new two-year contract with Hamilton.[3]
In May 2012, Gillespie urged manager Billy Reid to make him a first-team regular for the forthcoming 2012–13 season.[4] In January 2012, after making an "impact" as a substitute in the previous game, Gillespie spoke publicly about his desire to start the team's next match.[5] In February 2013, he commented that he wanted a win in the upcoming derby against Airdrieonians.[6] In April 2013, Gillespie signed a new two-year contract with the club.[7]
In August 2013 Gillespie stated that the team needed to "dig in and grind out results" in the season ahead.[8] In October 2014 he signed a new contract with the club, to last until the summer of 2018.[9] Gillespie left the club in January 2018.[10]
Dundee United
editGillespie signed a short-term contract with Dundee United.[11] He was released by the club at the end of his contract in May 2018.[12]
Raith Rovers
editGillespie signed with League One club Raith Rovers in June 2018.[13]
Derry City
editIn July 2019 he signed for Derry City.[14] After making 10 appearances, scoring 1 goal, he left in January 2020.
Ayr United
editIn January 2020 he returned to Scotland, signing for Ayr United until the end of their season.[15][16]
Queen's Park
editIn August 2020 he signed for Queen's Park,[17] before leaving in 2022.
Greenock Morton
editIn June 2022 he signed for Greenock Morton.[18] Gillespie was named club captain by manager Dougie Imrie, and made his first competitive appearance against Hibernian in the League Cup Group Stage. Gillespie would score 2 times in this group, against Hibernian and Bonnyrigg Rose respectively.[19][20] Gillespie would continue his positive start to life at Morton by scoring in the first league game of the season against his former club Hamilton.[21]
Gillespie signed a contract extension on New Year's Day, keeping him at the club until summer 2024.[22]
With Gillespie's contract expiring summer 2024, Morton announced that he had signed a new one-year contract.[23]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 14 September 2024[24]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hamilton Academical | 2009–10[25] | Scottish Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[26] | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12[27] | Scottish First Division | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[28] | 32 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14[29] | Scottish Championship | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| 2014–15[30] | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 41 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16[31] | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17[32] | 31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 41 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18[33] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 199 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 236 | 5 | ||
| Dundee United | 2017–18[33] | Scottish Championship | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Raith Rovers | 2018–19[34] | Scottish League One | 27 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4[f] | 0 | 37 | 3 |
| Derry City | 2019[35] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | |
| Ayr United (loan) | 2019–20[35] | Scottish Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| Queens Park | 2020–21 | Scottish League Two | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| 2021–22 | Scottish League One | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3[c] | 3 | 29 | 5 | |
| Total | 40 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 45 | 3 | ||
| Greenock Morton | 2022–23 | Scottish Championship | 32 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1[c] | 0 | 38 | 11 |
| 2023–24 | Scottish Championship | 29 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2[c] | 0 | 39 | 4 | |
| 2024–25 | Scottish Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 65 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 85 | 15 | ||
| Career total | 350 | 20 | 25 | 3 | 44 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 428 | 27 | ||
- ^ Includes Scottish Cup, FAI Cup
- ^ Includes Scottish League Cup, League of Ireland Cup
- ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Scottish Challenge Cup
- ^ One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup, four in Scottish Premiership play-offs
- ^ Appearance in Scottish Premiership play-offs
- ^ Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup, two appearances in Scottish Championship play-offs
References
edit- ^ "Fixtures 2012/13". Hamilton Academical F.C. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Kilmarnock 3 – 0 Hamilton". BBC Sport. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- ^ "Grant Gillespie signs new Hamilton Accies contract". BBC Sport. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ^ Andrew McGilvray (24 May 2012). "Accies midfielder aims to prove he's ready for a regular first-team place". Hamilton Advertiser.
- ^ Andrew McGilvray (17 January 2013). "Grant: Let me start the game at Raith". Hamilton Advertiser.
- ^ Andrew McGilvray (14 February 2013). "Dump the Diamonds: Gillespie wants derby win". Hamilton Advertiser.
- ^ "Gillespie signs Extension". Hamilton Academical F.C. 8 April 2013.
- ^ Andrew McGilvray (15 August 2013). "Midfielder Grant Gillespie says Accies need to dig in this season for wins". Hamilton Advertiser. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ "Hamilton's Crawford and Gillespie agree new deals". BBC Sport. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ @acciesfc (26 January 2018). "With almost 500 appearances between them the club has today said Goodbye to Michael Devlin, Greg Docherty and Grant Gillespie. Statement to follow on website shortly" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 January 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Dundee United: Stephen Thompson to step down as chairman". BBC Sport. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ "Captain Willo Flood among Dundee United departures". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ Robertson, Neil. "Raith new boy Grant Gillespie determined to make this a season to remember".
- ^ "Grant Gillespie: Derry City sign Scottish midfielder until end of season". BBC Sport. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ "Grant Gillespie signs – Ayr United Football Club".
- ^ "Former Candystripe Grant Gillespie joins Ayr United on a short-term deal". ExtraTime.ie.
- ^ Cairns, Ian (11 August 2020). "Grant Gillespie Signs for the Spiders".
- ^ "Grant Gillespie joins on a one-year-deal". 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Hibernian v Greenock Morton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Greenock Morton v Bonnyrigg Rose". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Morton and 10-man Hamilton share points". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Grant Gillespie extends his stay". Greenock Morton FC. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Grant Gillespie signs contract extension - Greenock Morton FC". 24 May 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Grant Gillespie at Soccerway
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^ "Games played by Grant Gillespie in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Scotland - G. Gillespie - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.