Jack Grimmer

Jack Richard Grimmer (born 25 January 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Championship club Wycombe Wanderers.

Jack Grimmer
Personal information
Full name Jack Richard Grimmer[1]
Date of birth (1994-01-25) 25 January 1994
Place of birth Aberdeen, Scotland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Wycombe Wanderers
Number 19
Youth career
Aberdeen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Aberdeen 4 (0)
2012–2017 Fulham 13 (0)
2014 → Port Vale (loan) 13 (1)
2014 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 6 (0)
2016 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 21 (1)
2016–2017 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 24 (0)
2017–2019 Coventry City 53 (1)
2019– Wycombe Wanderers 18 (0)
National team
2009 Scotland U15 2 (0)
2008–2009 Scotland U16 8 (2)
2009–2010 Scotland U17 10 (0)
2012 Scotland U18 2 (0)
2011–2013 Scotland U19 15 (0)
2014 Scotland U21 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:00, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

A Scotland under-21 international, he began his career at Aberdeen, becoming the club's youngest ever player at the age of 16. He was sold to Fulham in January 2012 and has since been loaned out to Port Vale and Shrewsbury Town (in three separate spells). He signed with Coventry City in July 2017, and went on to be named in the EFL League Two PFA Team of the Year for the 2017–18 season as Coventry won promotion via the play-offs. He signed with Wycombe Wanderers in July 2019 and 12 months later helped the club to win promotion out of League One via the play-offs.

Club career

Aberdeen

Grimmer made his debut for Aberdeen under Mark McGhee on 7 April 2010, becoming the youngest ever Aberdeen player when he came on as a substitute for Steven MacLean in a 3–1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox at the age of 16 years, 2 months and 13 days.[3][4] Four days later he made his Pittodrie debut in a 3–1 defeat to St Johnstone.[5]

His next taste of first team football came in the last two SPL games of the 2010–11 season, which included his first start in professional football in a 1–0 home defeat to St Mirren on 10 May.[6]

In January 2012, Aberdeen manager Craig Brown confirmed that English Premier League club Fulham had expressed interest in signing Grimmer.[7] Brown also stated his belief that Grimmer would best develop his career by staying with the "Dons".[7] Despite this, Grimmer agreed to join Fulham on 18 January, with Aberdeen receiving a £200,000 fee plus incentives.[8] Following his move to Fulham, Aberdeen chief executive Duncan Fraser claimed Grimmer's decision to quit Pittodrie for Fulham showed how young Scottish talent was being lured south of the border by wealthy English clubs and was therefore a bad indication for the future of Scottish football.[9]

"It did get quite personal. When people say certain things you have to try and take it in your stride. But because it was my home-town team, it was harder to take. I'd been one of them when I was younger sitting in the stands with my season-ticket. But I just had to get on with it. There were fans who agreed with my decision and others who didn't but supported me anyway, knowing I was just a young player making a tough choice. Like everyone who is criticised, I want to go out and try to prove the doubters wrong."

— Grimmer speaking in May 2013 about the abuse and criticism he received on Twitter following his move to Fulham.[10]

Fulham

Grimmer signed a three-year contract with Fulham and initially joined the club's Academy team.[8][11] On 7 January 2014, he joined League One side Port Vale on a one-month loan.[12] Manager Micky Adams stated that: "We have a lot of experienced defenders making mistakes and we have been looking to strengthen in that area for a while."[13] Four days later and an injury crisis meant that he started in an inexperienced centre-back partnership with 20-year-old Joe Davis as Vale lost 2–0 to league leaders Brentford at Griffin Park.[14] He was publicly praised by Adams for his performance in the match.[15] He scored his first professional goal with a header in a 1–0 win over Oldham Athletic at Vale Park on 18 January and was named on the Football League team of the week.[16][17] He impressed in his first four appearances for the "Valiants", and his loan deal was extended until the end of the season.[18] Fulham recalled Grimmer on 27 March 2014 by exercising a clause in the loan agreement, as manager Felix Magath wanted cover for some defensive injuries.[19][20]

He joined League Two club Shrewsbury Town on a one-month loan on 18 October 2014.[21] He was persuaded to join the "Shrews" after hearing good things about the club from his friend Fraser Fyvie and being told by manager Micky Mellon that he would fit in with the style of football at New Meadow.[22] Grimmer played seven matches for Shrewsbury, including five consecutive league victories and their 2–1 defeat to Chelsea in the League Cup. Although the loan had been extended to 3 January 2015, he was recalled to Fulham on 24 November[23] and made his Fulham league debut on 29 November against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Falmer Stadium.[24] He made a total of 17 appearances for Kit Symons's "Cottagers" during the 2014–15 campaign, and signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract in March.[25]

On 5 January 2016, Grimmer returned to Shrewsbury on loan until the end of the season.[26] He made his second debut for the club five days later, as he helped Shrewsbury to keep a clean sheet as they beat Cardiff City 1–0 in the FA Cup third round.[27] On 30 January, in the next round at home to Sheffield Wednesday, he headed an added-time winner in a 3–2 victory, after Shrewsbury had trailed 2–1 with five minutes remaining.[28] He was ever-present for the duration of his second loan spell at the club, helping them avoid relegation with a 20th-placed finish in their first season back in League One.[29] On 31 August 2016, he returned to Shrewsbury Town on a loan deal to run until the end of the 2016–17 season.[30] He was in and out of the first eleven under new manager Paul Hurst, and ended the campaign with 27 appearances to his name.[31] He was released by Fulham in July 2017.[32]

Coventry City

Grimmer signed a two-year contract with newly-relegated League Two side Coventry City in July 2017.[33] He was named as the division's Player of the Month for September.[34] On 6 January 2018, he scored the winning goal from long-range in Coventry's 2–1 victory over Premier League side Stoke City in the Third Round of the FA Cup.[35] He went on to be named on the PFA Team of the Year for the 2017–18 campaign as he helped Mark Robins's "Sky Blues" qualify for the play-offs.[36] Coventry then eliminated Notts County in the play-off semi-finals, before Grimmer scored the third goal in a 3–1 victory over Exeter City in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.[37] However he was limited to just 13 appearances in the 2018–19 season and admitted that "Last season was a dream, but the difference between that and this season has been like night and day."[38] He was released from the Ricoh Arena on 9 May.[39]

Wycombe Wanderers

On 22 July 2019, Grimmer signed a two-year contract with League One club Wycombe Wanderers after impressing manager Gareth Ainsworth on trial.[40][41] He later said it was an unpleasant experience to spent over two months as a free agent, but that "holding off for the right club was absolutely the right decision for my happiness and my enjoyment of the game" and he was "very, very thankful that I am where I am now".[42] He was limited to 18 league appearances during the 2019–20 season, which was settled on points per game (PPG) due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England; Wycombe finished third on PPG. He went on to start all three play-off games, as Wycombe secured a place in the Championship after beating Oxford United in the behind closed doors Wembley final.[41]

International career

Grimmer was a key player for Scotland youth teams as a teenager, winning caps for the under-15, under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-19s. He was called up to the Scotland under-21 side for the first time in August 2013 for a qualifier for the 2013 UEFA U-21 Championship.[43] He did not play a game before he withdrew from the squad due to injury.[44] His first cap for the under-21s came in a 2–2 draw with Hungary at Tannadice Park on 5 March 2014.[45]

Style of play

Grimmer was described as "tenacious, aggressive, intelligent, accomplished on the ball and rarely makes a mistake" by the Staffordshire Sentinel in February 2014.[46] Due to his strengths going forward he plays as an attacking full-back, though remains a "solid and dependable" defender and can also play as a wing-back.[47]

Personal life

Grimmer is a Manchester United supporter.[48]

Career statistics
As of match played 13 July 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aberdeen2009–10[49] SPL 2000000020
2010–11[50] SPL 2000000020
2011–12[51] SPL 0000000000
Total 4000000040
Fulham 2012–13[52] Premier League 0000000000
2013–14[53] Premier League 0000000000
2014–15[54] Championship 130400000170
2015–16[55] Championship 0000100010
2016–17[56] Championship 0000100010
Total 130402000190
Port Vale (loan) 2013–14[53] League One 131100000141
Shrewsbury Town (loans) 2014–15[54] League Two 6000100070
2015–16[55] League One 21131−00242
2016–17[56] League One 24011−2[lower-alpha 1]0271
Total 511421020583
Coventry City 2017–18[57] League Two 42151105[lower-alpha 2]1533
2018–19[58] League One 11000101[lower-alpha 1]0130
Total 531512061663
Wycombe Wanderers 2019–20[59] League One 18010104[lower-alpha 3]0240
Career total 1523153601211857
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  2. Two appearances in the EFL Trophy and three appearances and one goal in the play-offs
  3. 1 appearance in the EFL Trophy and 3 appearances in the EFL League One play-offs.

Honours

Coventry City

Wycombe Wanderers

Individual

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Wycombe Wanderers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 77. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 470. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. "Grimmer becomes an Aberdeen FC record breaker". Evening Express. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  4. Bailey, Graeme (6 January 2012). "Dons starlet set for England". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  5. Miller, Stevie (11 April 2010). "Aberdeen 1 – 3 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  6. "Aberdeen 0 – 1 St Mirren". BBC Sport. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  7. "Fulham keep eye on Aberdeen teenager Jack Grimmer". BBC Sport. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  8. "Fulham sign Jack Grimmer from Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  9. "Aberdeen starlet Jack Grimmer quitting for Fulham is bad news for Scottish football, says club chief exec". Daily Record. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  10. McDermott, Scott (26 May 2013). "It was Grimmer up north; Jack:twitter pests wrote me off when I quit Dons... now I'm training with Berbatov every day I'm out to prove the snipers wrong". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  11. "Fulham sign Jack Grimmer from Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  12. "Grimmer Joins Vale". Fulham FC. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  13. "Jack Grimmer: Port Vale sign Fulham defender on loan". BBC Sport. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  14. Baggaley, Mike (11 January 2014). "Micky Adams targets loan signings after Gavin Tomlin joins Vale injury list". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  15. "Micky Adams praises Joe Davis and Jack Grimmer". The Sentinel. 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  16. "Port Vale 1 – 0 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  17. "Sky Bet Football League Team of the Week 13/01/14 - 19/01/14". www.efl.com. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  18. Baggaley, Mike (8 February 2014). "Port Vale extend Fulham defender Jack Grimmer's loan until end of season". The Sentinel. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  19. "Jack Back In SW6". Fulham F.C. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  20. Murtagh, Jacob (29 March 2014). "Fulham boss explains why he recalled Grimmer from Port Vale loan". Get West London. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  21. "Fulham defender joins Shrewsbury on loan". BBC Sport. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  22. "Shrewsbury sneak in Jack Grimmer signing". Shropshire Star. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  23. "Grimmer Recalled". Fulham F.C. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  24. "Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham". BBC Sport. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  25. "Fulham full-back Jack Grimmer signs new contract with club". BBC Sport. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  26. "Fulham pair Jack Grimmer & Larnell Cole in Shrewsbury deals". BBC Sport. 6 January 2016.
  27. "Cardiff City 0–1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  28. "FA Cup: Shrewsbury 3–2 Sheffield Wednesday highlights". BBC Sport. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  29. "Jack Grimmer a treat for Shrewsbury Town". Shropshire Star. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  30. "DEAL: Shrewsbury sign loan duo Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Jack Grimmer « Shropshire Star". Shropshire Star. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  31. Cox, Lewis (5 May 2017). "Outgoing Jack Grimmer says thanks to the Shrewsbury faithful". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  32. "Player Departures | Fulham Football Club". fulhamfc.com. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  33. "Jack Grimmer: Coventry City bring in former Fulham and Aberdeen right-back". BBC Sport. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  34. Rodger, James (7 October 2017). "Coventry City defender Jack Grimmer WINS PFA Player of the Month". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  35. "Coventry City 2-1 Stoke City". BBC Sport. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  36. "PFA League Two Team of the Year: Five Luton Town players named in 2017–18 side". BBC Sport. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  37. Law, James (28 May 2018). "Coventry City 3–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  38. Hamilton, Sean (24 March 2019). "Former Aberdeen youngster Jack Grimmer eyes a possible return home". Sunday Post. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  39. "NEWS: Coventry City announce retained list following end of 2018/19 season". www.ccfc.co.uk. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  40. "Jack Grimmer, Jacob Gardiner-Smith and Giles Phillips: Wycombe Wanderers sign trio". BBC Sport. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  41. Williams, Adam (13 July 2020). "Oxford United 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  42. Curtis, Leigh (12 July 2020). "Wembley hero Jack Grimmer opens up on Coventry City exit". coventrytelegraph. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  43. "Scotland Under-21s call for Danny Handling and Jack Grimmer". BBC Sport. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  44. "Scotland Under-21: Billy Stark backs players to bounce back". BBC Sport. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  45. Baggaley, Mike (5 March 2014). "Port Vale defender Jack Grimmer makes Scotland U-21 debut". The Sentinel. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  46. "Port Vale pen pics". The Sentinel. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  47. Turner, Andy (5 July 2017). "Coventry City signing Jack Gimmer: 'Good acceleration and flies down the wing'". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  48. Law, Dan (22 February 2016). "Former Aberdeen youngster Jack Grimmer gearing up to face Manchester United". Press & Journal. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  49. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  50. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  51. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  55. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  56. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  57. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  58. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  59. "Games played by Jack Grimmer in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
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