John McGrath (Irish footballer) explained

John McGrath
Fullname:John Matthew McGrath[1]
Birth Date:27 March 1980
Birth Place:Limerick, Ireland
Currentclub:Buxton (manager)
Youthyears1:1996–1999
Youthclubs1:Belvedere
Youthyears2:1999–2001
Youthclubs2:Aston Villa
Years1:2001–2003
Clubs1:Aston Villa
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2002–2003
Clubs2:→ Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)
Caps2:22
Goals2:2
Years3:2003–2005
Clubs3:Doncaster Rovers
Caps3:11
Goals3:0
Years4:2004
Clubs4:Shrewsbury Town (loan)
Caps4:8
Goals4:0
Years5:2005
Clubs5:Kidderminster Harriers
Caps5:19
Goals5:0
Years6:2005
Clubs6:Limerick
Goals6:1
Years7:2006
Clubs7:Weymouth
Caps7:13
Goals7:3
Years8:2006–2007
Clubs8:Tamworth
Caps8:42
Goals8:3
Years9:2007–2013
Clubs9:Burton Albion
Caps9:215
Goals9:14
Years10:2013
Clubs10:York City (loan)
Caps10:9
Goals10:0
Years11:2013–2014
Clubs11:Alfreton Town
Caps11:23
Goals11:1
Years12:2015–2022
Clubs12:Mickleover
Totalcaps:364
Totalgoals:24
Nationalyears1:2000
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:04:16, 5 October 2016 (UTC)
Manageryears1:2016–2024
Managerclubs1:Mickleover
Manageryears2:2024–
Managerclubs2:Buxton

John Matthew McGrath (born 27 March 1980) is an Irish football manager of National League North side Buxton.[2]

Club career

Born in Limerick, County Limerick,[1] McGrath played local schoolboy football with Templeglantine and Corbally, before joining Belvedere in 1996.[3] He was part of the team that won an unprecedented FAI Youth Cup, Leinster Youths Cup and DDSL U-18 Premier League treble.[3] He joined English Premier League club Aston Villa on 3 September 1999 following a two-week trial.[1] [3] After making only two appearances he went out on loan to Football Conference side Dagenham & Redbridge in November 2002.[4]

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.[5] He made 14 appearances for Doncaster as they won the Third Division title. 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]

After trials with York City, Darlington, Limerick and Scunthorpe United,[9] McGrath joined hometown club Limerick, playing in the League of Ireland First Division, for the remainder of the 2005 season in August 2005,[10] scoring his only goal against Athlone Town on 7 October.[11] He left the club to return to England with Conference South side Weymouth for the rest of the 2005–06 season in January 2006.[12] He made 13 appearances and scored 3 goals for Weymouth as they won the Conference South championship.

McGrath was only at Weymouth for a short period before joining Conference National side Tamworth in July 2006.[13] On 10 May 2007, McGrath and Tamworth teammate Jake Edwards joined local rivals Burton Albion following Tamworth's relegation to the Conference North.[14] 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, being named the club's Player of the Year.[15] He signed a new one-year contract with the club in May 2008,[15] despite having talks with York City manager Colin Walker.[16] 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. He signed a new contract with Burton in May 2009.[17]

McGrath signed for League Two rivals York City on an initial one-month loan on 12 February 2013,[18] making his debut later that day in a 0–0 draw at home to Gillingham. Having made five appearances for York, the loan was extended until the end of the 2012–13 season on 7 March 2013.[19] He was sent back to Burton on 4 April 2013 having been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Nigel Worthington.[20] He had made 9 appearances for York. 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.[21]

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.[22] His season was ended by a knee injury sustained during a 3–2 win away to Wrexham on 26 December 2013.[23] He had made 26 appearances and scored one goal for Alfreton in the 2013–14 season.

In 2015 McGrath joined Northern Premier League side Mickleover Sports, on 28 April 2016 he was named the new player-manager[24]

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.[25] [26] He made his first and only start for the under-21s in a 2–0 defeat away to the Netherlands on 1 September 2000.[25] [27] He finished his under-21 career with five caps, all of which were amassed during 2000.[25]

Personal life

His son Jay McGrath is also a professional footballer.[28]

Career statistics

Club statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa1999–2000[29] FA Premier League00000000
2000–01[30] FA Premier League3000000030
Total3000000030
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)2002–03[31] Football Conference222405[32] 0312
Doncaster Rovers2003–04Third Division11010101[33] 0140
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2004–05League Two8000000080
Kidderminster Harriers2004–05League Two190000000190
Weymouth2005–06[34] Conference South1330000133
Tamworth2006–07[35] [36] Conference National423422[37] 0485
Burton Albion2007–08[38] Conference Premier4644210[39] 3609
2008–09[40] Conference Premier4660020486
2009–10League Two451101011482
2010–11League Two413401000463
2011–12League Two310101010340
2012–13League Two6030002[41] 0110
Total215141323016424720
York City (loan)2012–13League Two9000000090
Alfreton Town2013–14[42] Conference Premier2312110261
Career total365232454025441831

Honours

Doncaster Rovers

2003–04

Weymouth

2005–06

Burton Albion

2008–09

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Barry J. . Hugman . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 . 2010 . Mainstream Publishing . 978-1-84596-601-0 . 267–268 .
  2. Web site: Buxton FC appoint new first team manager. 6 May 2024. 8 May 2024.
  3. News: Gerry. McDermott. McGrath's left foot a big Villa hit. Irish Independent. Dublin. 20 January 2001. 12 February 2013.
  4. News: Daggers make loan swoop. BBC Sport. 30 November 2002. 12 February 2013.
  5. News: Doncaster snap up McGrath. BBC Sport. 7 July 2003. 12 February 2013.
  6. News: McGrath stays with Shrews. BBC Sport. 28 September 2004. 12 February 2013.
  7. News: McGrath finalises Harriers switch. BBC Sport. 13 January 2005. 12 February 2013.
  8. Web site: John McGrath. Harriers Online. 12 February 2013.
  9. News: John McGrath – midfield. St@tto's Kidderminster Harriers Site. 12 February 2013.
  10. News: Limerick sign McGrath until end of season. RTÉ Sport. 24 August 2005. 12 February 2013.
  11. Web site: FAI: Limerick FC results.
  12. News: McGrath signs on at Weymouth. RTÉ Sport. 7 January 2006. 12 February 2013.
  13. News: Winger McGrath to join Tamworth. BBC Sport. 13 July 2006. 12 February 2013.
  14. News: Burton sign up duo from Tamworth. BBC Sport. 11 May 2007. 12 February 2013.
  15. News: McGrath pens new Brewers contract. BBC Sport. 22 May 2008. 12 February 2013.
  16. News: York City fail in bid for McGrath. BBC Sport. 27 May 2008. 12 February 2013.
  17. News: Seven agree to stay with Burton. BBC Sport. 19 May 2009. 12 February 2013.
  18. News: York City: Burton's McGrath and Aldershot's Rankine join on loan. BBC Sport. 12 February 2013. 12 February 2013.
  19. News: York City sign goalkeeping cover. The Press. York. 7 March 2013. 1 June 2014.
  20. News: Dave. Flett. York City boss Nigel Worthington sends back loan trio. The Press. York. 4 April 2013. 1 June 2014.
  21. News: Colston . Crawford . End of an era as Webster is released by Brewers . Derby Telegraph . 6 May 2013 . 1 June 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140601194007/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/End-era-Webster-released-Brewers/story-18904582-detail/story.html . 1 June 2014.
  22. Web site: John McGrath joins Alfreton Town . Alfreton Town F.C . 3 August 2013 . 4 August 2013.
  23. News: 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 . 1 June 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202104016/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/TV-clash-gives-Alfreton-Town-chance-winning-habit/story-20449754-detail/story.html . 2 February 2014.
  24. Web site: Ex Burton Albion man named Mickleover Sports boss . Derby Telegraph. 28 April 2016 . 2 April 2017 .
  25. Web site: John McGrath . 11v11. 12 February 2013.
  26. Web site: Republic of Ireland v Greece, 25 April 2000. 11v11. 12 February 2013.
  27. Web site: Netherlands v Republic of Ireland, 01 September 2000. 11v11. 12 February 2013.
  28. Web site: Newcastle West Town celebrate player’s Ireland U19 call-up. Ronan. Calvert. May 26, 2021.
  29. Web site: 1999/00. Soccerbase. 1 June 2014.
  30. Web site: John McGrath Profile, News & Stats | Premier League.
  31. Web site: John McGrath season details 2002/2003 . https://archive.today/20130420152912/http://www.grimsbytown-mad.co.uk/burton_albion/player/season_132/john_mcgrath_4231/index.shtml . dead . 20 April 2013 . Grimsby Town Mad . 12 February 2013.
  32. Two appearances in FA Trophy, three in Football Conference play-offs
  33. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  34. Web site: Player Details: Season 2005–2006. SoccerFactsUK. 12 February 2013.
  35. Book: Mike . Williams . Tony . Williams . Non-League Club Directory 2008 . 2007 . Tony Williams Publications . Kingsbridge . 978-1-869833-57-2 . 256–257 .
  36. Web site: John McGrath season details 2006/2007 . https://archive.today/20130420051111/http://www.grimsbytown-mad.co.uk/burton_albion/player/season_136/john_mcgrath_4231/index.shtml . dead . 20 April 2013 . Grimsby Town Mad . 12 February 2013.
  37. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  38. Book: Mike . Williams . Tony . Williams . Non-League Club Directory 2009 . 2008 . Tony Williams Publications . 978-1-869833-59-6 . 42–43 .
  39. Six appearances and two goals in FA Trophy, two appearances and one goal in Conference League Cup, two appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
  40. Web site: John McGrath season details 2008/2009 . https://archive.today/20130420080941/http://www.grimsbytown-mad.co.uk/burton_albion/player/season_138/john_mcgrath_4231/index.shtml . dead . 20 April 2013 . Grimsby Town Mad . 12 February 2013.
  41. Appearances in League Two play-offs
  42. Web site: J. McGrath. Soccerway. 21 February 2018.