User:Sophiemc2736262

Fullname: Charles Joseph Grant

aka: Charlie Grant

Born: 27 January 1987

Birthplace: Bellshill

Signed:14 January 2003

Left: 14 Aug 2010

Position: Defensive Midfielder

Internationals: Scotland

International Caps: 0

International Goals: 0

Biog

A combative midfield anchorman who has been bedevilled by back, pelvis and groin injuries ever since coming to prominence in Scotland U19's famous run to the 2006 European Championship Final.

Alongside Simon Ferry in the engine room, Grant skippered the side who were only edged out 2-1 by a Gerard Pique inspired Spain in the Final televised live from Poland. He had earlier been named player of the tournament as the unfancied Scots dumped out holders France in the qualification round.

This mirrored his impressive progress at Celtic, where the youth teams with the Ferry/Grant axis swept all before them and inevitable if facile comparisons with Neil Lennon came the way of Grant. He even appeared set for a first team breakthrough towards the end of 2005/06. Sadly though he sat out Scotland's 2007 U20 World Cup campaign and a brief comeback in Autumn 2007 was the last time he was seen in action after injury so cruelly struck.

It was a testament to Charlie's outstanding potential that the club kept faith with him throughout his protracted injury spell. By the summer of 2010 it was evident that Grant would never fulfill his potential in a Celtic shirt, and joined First Division promotion hopefuls Dundee.

Post Celtic

Suffered a bizarre injury setback from his own bed, picking up a skelf in his toe which then became inflamed and caused him to pass out. Also picked up a separate ankle injury and made just three appearances for Dundee before being binned on 14 October 2010 when the club entered one of its regular periods of administration.

Picked up by East Stirlingshire as a trialist, Grant played the three allotted games then inked a short-term deal until the January 2011 transfer window. However Grant found his enjoyment of football had waned and in April 2011 Grant announced his retirement from the game aged just 24.