John McGrath (Irish footballer)

John Matthew McGrath (born 27 March 1980) is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder and is player-manager of Northern Premier League side Mickleover.

For other people named John McGrath, see John McGrath (disambiguation).

John McGrath
McGrath in 2011
Personal information
Full name John Matthew McGrath[1]
Date of birth (1980-03-27) 27 March 1980[1]
Place of birth Limerick, Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Mickleover (player-manager)
Youth career
1996–1999 Belvedere
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Aston Villa 2 (0)
2002–2003 → Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 22 (2)
2003–2005 Doncaster Rovers 11 (0)
2004 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 8 (0)
2005 Kidderminster Harriers 19 (0)
2005 Limerick (1)
2006 Weymouth 13 (3)
2006–2007 Tamworth 42 (3)
2007–2013 Burton Albion 215 (14)
2013 → York City (loan) 9 (0)
2013–2014 Alfreton Town 23 (1)
2015– Mickleover
Total 364 (24)
International career
2000 Republic of Ireland U21 5 (0)
Managerial career
2016– Mickleover
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:16, 5 October 2016 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Limerick, County Limerick,[1] McGrath played local schoolboy football with Templeglantine and Corbally, before joining Belvedere in 1996.[2] He was part of the team that won an unprecedented FAI Youth Cup, Leinster Youths Cup and DDSL U-18 Premier League treble.[2] He joined English Premier League club Aston Villa on 3 September 1999 following a two-week trial.[1][2] After making only two appearances he went out on loan to Football Conference side Dagenham & Redbridge in November 2002.[3]

McGrath was then signed by Doncaster Rovers on 10 July 2003 in time for the start of their first campaign back in the Football League after being promoted from the Football Conference.[4] He made 14 appearances for Doncaster as they won the Third Division title.[5] He spent two months on loan at Shrewsbury Town,[6] before signing for Kidderminster Harriers in January 2005.[7] In May 2005, McGrath was released by Kidderminster, having been sent off in his last game, away to Northampton Town on 7 May.[8][9]

After trials with York City, Darlington, Limerick and Scunthorpe United,[10] McGrath joined hometown club Limerick, playing in the League of Ireland First Division, for the remainder of the 2005 season in August 2005,[11] scoring his only goal against Athlone Town on 7 October.[12] He left the club to return to England with Conference South side Weymouth for the rest of the 2005–06 season in January 2006.[13] He made 13 appearances and scored 3 goals for Weymouth as they won the Conference South championship.[14]

McGrath was only at Weymouth for a short period before joining Conference National side Tamworth in July 2006.[15] On 10 May 2007, McGrath and Tamworth teammate Jake Edwards joined local rivals Burton Albion following Tamworth's relegation to the Conference North.[16] His first season at Burton saw the club make the play-off semi-finals after he had played in 60 games and scored 9 goals,[17] being named the club's Player of the Year.[18] He signed a new one-year contract with the club in May 2008,[18] despite having talks with York City manager Colin Walker.[19] McGrath made 48 appearances and scored 6 goals for Burton during the 2008–09 season, as the team won the Conference Premier title and so gained promotion to League Two.[20] He signed a new contract with Burton in May 2009.[21]

McGrath signed for League Two rivals York City on an initial one-month loan on 12 February 2013,[22] making his debut later that day in a 0–0 draw at home to Gillingham.[23] Having made five appearances for York,[23] the loan was extended until the end of the 2012–13 season on 7 March 2013.[24] He was sent back to Burton on 4 April 2013 having been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Nigel Worthington.[25] He had made 9 appearances for York.[23] He played for Burton in both legs of their 5–4 aggregate play-off semi-final defeat to Bradford City, and finished the season with 11 appearances for the club, before being released on 6 May 2013.[23][26]

After spending much of pre-season on trial with Alfreton Town, McGrath signed a one-year contract with the Conference Premier club on 3 August 2013.[27] His season was ended by a knee injury sustained during a 3–2 win away to Wrexham on 26 December 2013.[28] He had made 26 appearances and scored one goal for Alfreton in the 2013–14 season.[29]

In 2015 McGrath joined Northern Premier League side Mickleover Sports, on 28 April 2016 he was named the new player-manager[30]

International career

McGrath made his debut for the Republic of Ireland national under-21 team as a half-time substitute for Peter Murphy in a 2–1 home defeat to Greece on 25 April 2000.[31][32] He made his first and only start for the under-21s in a 2–0 defeat away to the Netherlands on 1 September 2000.[31][33] He finished his under-21 career with five caps, all of which were amassed during 2000.[31]

Personal life

His son Jay McGrath is also a professional footballer.[34]

Career statistics
McGrath playing for York City in 2013
As of match played 26 December 2013.
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 1999–2000[35] FA Premier League 000000—00
2000–01[36][37] FA Premier League 3000000030
Total 3000000030
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2002–03[38] Football Conference 22240—5[lower-alpha 1]0312
Doncaster Rovers 2003–04[5] Third Division 11010101[lower-alpha 2]0140
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2004–05[9] League Two 8000000080
Kidderminster Harriers 2004–05[9] League Two 190000000190
Weymouth 2005–06[14] Conference South 13300—00133
Tamworth 2006–07[39][40] Conference National 42342—2[lower-alpha 3]0485
Burton Albion 2007–08[17] Conference Premier 46442—10[lower-alpha 4]3609
2008–09[20] Conference Premier 46600—2[lower-alpha 3]0486
2009–10[41] League Two 45110101[lower-alpha 2]1482
2010–11[42] League Two 413401000463
2011–12[43] League Two 31010101[lower-alpha 2]0340
2012–13[23] League Two 6030002[lower-alpha 5]0110
Total 215141323016424720
York City (loan) 2012–13[23] League Two 9000000090
Alfreton Town 2013–14[29] Conference Premier 23121—1[lower-alpha 3]0261
Career total 365232454025441831
  1. Two appearances in FA Trophy, three in Football Conference play-offs
  2. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  3. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  4. Six appearances and two goals in FA Trophy, two appearances and one goal in Conference League Cup, two appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
  5. Appearances in League Two play-offs

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

Weymouth

Burton Albion

Individual

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. pp. 267–268. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. McDermott, Gerry (20 January 2001). "McGrath's left foot a big Villa hit". Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  3. "Daggers make loan swoop". BBC Sport. 30 November 2002. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. "Doncaster snap up McGrath". BBC Sport. 7 July 2003. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  5. "Games played by John McGrath in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  6. "McGrath stays with Shrews". BBC Sport. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  7. "McGrath finalises Harriers switch". BBC Sport. 13 January 2005. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  8. "John McGrath". Harriers Online. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  9. "Games played by John McGrath in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  10. "John McGrath – midfield". St@tto's Kidderminster Harriers Site. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  11. "Limerick sign McGrath until end of season". RTÉ Sport. 24 August 2005. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  12. "FAI: Limerick FC results".
  13. "McGrath signs on at Weymouth". RTÉ Sport. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  14. "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  15. "Winger McGrath to join Tamworth". BBC Sport. 13 July 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  16. "Burton sign up duo from Tamworth". BBC Sport. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  17. Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2008). Non-League Club Directory 2009. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-1-869833-59-6.
  18. "McGrath pens new Brewers contract". BBC Sport. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  19. "York City fail in bid for McGrath". BBC Sport. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  20. "John McGrath season details 2008/2009". Grimsby Town Mad. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  21. "Seven agree to stay with Burton". BBC Sport. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  22. "York City: Burton's McGrath and Aldershot's Rankine join on loan". BBC Sport. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  23. "Games played by John McGrath in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  24. "York City sign goalkeeping cover". The Press. York. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  25. Flett, Dave (4 April 2013). "York City boss Nigel Worthington sends back loan trio". The Press. York. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  26. Crawford, Colston (6 May 2013). "End of an era as Webster is released by Brewers". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  27. "John McGrath joins Alfreton Town". Alfreton Town F.C. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  28. "Alfreton Town's former Burton Albion midfielder John McGrath ruled out for the season ahead of live TV clash with Tamworth". Derby Telegraph. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  29. "J. McGrath". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  30. "Ex Burton Albion man named Mickleover Sports boss". Derby Telegraph. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  31. "John McGrath". 11v11. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  32. "Republic of Ireland v Greece, 25 April 2000". 11v11. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  33. "Netherlands v Republic of Ireland, 01 September 2000". 11v11. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  34. Calvert, Ronan (26 May 2021). "Newcastle West Town celebrate player's Ireland U19 call-up".
  35. "1999/00". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  36. "Games played by John McGrath in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  37. "John McGrath Profile, News & Stats | Premier League".
  38. "John McGrath season details 2002/2003". Grimsby Town Mad. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  39. Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2007). Non-League Club Directory 2008. Kingsbridge: Tony Williams Publications. pp. 256–257. ISBN 978-1-869833-57-2.
  40. "John McGrath season details 2006/2007". Grimsby Town Mad. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  41. "Games played by John McGrath in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  42. "Games played by John McGrath in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  43. "Games played by John McGrath in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
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