Phillip McGrath

Phillip McGrath (born 7 April 1992) is a former Northern Irish football player, who is now a Foundation Hub Officer for The Manchester United Foundation, based at Werneth School, Stockport. He began his youth career at Glenavon Academy, making appearances for the Northern Ireland U-17 in 2008. He was signed by Oldham in 2008, but spent much of his time there side-lined by injuries. He subsequently joined FC United of Manchester and Salford City.

Phillip McGrath
Personal information
Full name Phillip McGrath
Date of birth (1992-04-07) 7 April 1992
Place of birth Banbridge, Northern Ireland[1]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
0000–2008 Glenavon Academy
2008–2010 Oldham Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Oldham Athletic 1 (0)
2012 FC United of Manchester 1 (0)
2012 Salford City 3 (0)
Total 5 (0)
National team
2008 Northern Ireland U-17 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Early years

As a child he played for his home town side Banbridge Football Club as a youth and progressed to play for Glenavon Academy in the Lisburn Junior League[2] and was awarded the Player's player of the year award in 2008.

Oldham Athletic

He moved to Oldham Athletic in the summer of 2008, joining the youth team on a two-year scholarship.[3] His early career at the club was troubled by a succession of injuries. He was injured on international duty in his first year at the club, with damaged ankle ligaments keeping him out for three months. In 2009–10, he sustained medial ligament damage in a knee which kept him on the sidelines for a similar length of time, before then being out after a hernia operation.[4]

In April 2010, he was awarded a one-year professional contract by the club after his injury-ravaged season.[5] In September 2010 he was injured again, and had an operation to repair an anterior cruciate knee ligament.[6] It was expected that this injury would keep him out for the rest of the season but in early April 2011 he made his comeback for Oldham's reserve team.[7] He finally made his senior debut for the club on 30 April 2011, as an 89th-minute substitute in the League One match against Swindon Town.[8]

At the end of the 2010–11 season, he was offered a new contract by Oldham which was signed on 12 May 2011.[9][10] However, in July he was injured again, with a second cruciate ligament injury to his right knee in twelve months.[11]

He was released by Oldham at the end of the 2011–12 season, along with eight other players.[12]

FC United of Manchester

In September 2012, McGrath signed for FC United of Manchester.[13] He made his debut in an FA Trophy match against Mossley on 29 September as a second-half substitute.[14]

Salford City

In late 2012 he signed for Salford City.[15]

Post professional career

He is now a coach at Oldham Athletic coaching at Under 12 level, having passed his UEFA B in March 2014.[16]

International career

In September 2008 he was called up for the Under 17 Northern Ireland team.[17] In September 2009 he was selected as a Northern Ireland standby player for the UEFA Under-19 Championship Qualifying Round Mini-Tournament in Bosnia & Herzegovina[18]

Career statistics

correct as of 13 October 2012

Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other[19] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Oldham Athletic 2010–11 100000–0010
FC United of Manchester 2012–13 101000–2040
Career total 201000002050
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References
  1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 509. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  2. "Rising Stars". Glenavon FC. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  3. "Latics Welcome New Intake". Oldham Athletic AFC. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  4. "New injury blow rocks McGrath". Oldham Chronicle. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  5. "Oldham give four youngsters their first pro contracts". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  6. "Oldham duo Djeny Bembo & Philip McGrath undergo surgery". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  7. "McGrath delighted after return". Sky Sports. News International. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  8. "Swindon 0–2 Oldham". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  9. "Lactics offer new contracts". Sky Sports. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  10. "McGrath Signs New Deal". Oldham Athletic AFC. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  11. "McGrath Injury Horror". Oldham Athletic AFC. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  12. "Latics Release Nine Players". Oldham Athletic AFC. 7 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  13. "FC United of Manchester – FC United strengthen squad ahead of Mossley Trophy clash". Fc-utd.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  14. "FC United of Manchester 3 – 3 Mossley AFC". FC United of Manchester. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  15. "Three new signings for Salford City FC". Salford Online. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  16. http://wall.oldhamathletic.co.uk/Event/Latics_Wall_2?Page=20
  17. "McGrath Wins International Call". Oldham Athletic AFC. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  18. "McGrath on Standby". League Football Education. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  19. Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Football League Trophy
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