Introduction
Joel Valentino Grant (born 26 August 1987) is a professional footballer who plays for Exeter City and the Jamaica national football team. He can either play as a winger, midfielder or striker.
Club career
Watford
Born in Acton, London, Grant started his career at Watford. He made his first team debut whilst still a member of Watford's Academy, coming on as a substitute in a League Cup match against Notts County on 23 August 2005. Whilst still an Academy scholar, he made 9 more appearances for the club, including 3 starts.
Grant was rewarded with a professional contract by Watford prior to the 2006–07 season. On 31 August 2006 he joined Aldershot Town on a four-month loan, to gain experience. During his time with the Shots, he made 19 league and cup appearances, scoring 4 goals.
Grant was unable to break into the Watford side during their 2006–07 Premiership campaign and he was released at the end of the season.
Aldershot Town
In September 2007 he rejoined Aldershot Town on non-contract terms. In December 2007 he signed a contract until the end of the season. He made 30 league appearances, scoring four times, as Aldershot Town were promoted from the Conference.
Crewe Alexandra
On 25 June 2008 Grant joined Crewe Alexandra for £130,000, signing a three-year contract. The fee represented a club record sale for Aldershot Town. Grant scored his first goal for Crewe with a marvellous run and step over in the 2–1 win over Walsall at Gresty Road. The goal was shown as the Big Skill on Big League Weekend 2 on Sky Sports due to the fantastic Step over. In 2009–10, Grant had a productive second season at Crewe while contributing 9 goals and several assists marshalling the left wing.
He was released from the club in May 2011, having been limited to 28 appearances in the 2010–11 campaign.
Wycombe Wanderers
Grant signed for Wycombe Wanderers on 27 May 2011 on a free transfer.
Yeovil Town
Grant signed a two-year deal with Championship side Yeovil Town on 26 June 2013. Grant made his debut for Yeovil in their Football League Cup first round victory over Southend United, on 6 August 2013.
Grant was released at the end of the 2014–15 season following Yeovil's relegation to League Two.
Exeter City
On 21 August 2015, Grant joined Exeter City as the 1931 fan-funded player.
International career
In June 2006 Grant earned a call-up to the Jamaica under-23 squad to play in the Central American and Caribbean Games taking place in Colombia between 15 and 29 July. He spent much of February 2007 with the squad for the CONCACAF under-20 World Cup qualifiers.
In May 2014 Grant was called up to the Jamaica senior squad, and made his full international début playing for 78 minutes against Serbia on 26 May. He scored his first goal at the senior level in a 2–2 draw with Egypt on 4 June 2014 at Leyton, England.
On 2 June 2016, Grant was called up to the Jamaica squad for the Copa América Centenario as a replacement for the injured Simon Dawkins.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Watford | 2005–06 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| Aldershot Town (loan) | 2006–07 | Conference Premier | 14 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | 19 | 4 | |
| Aldershot Town | 2007–08 | Conference Premier | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 10 | 2 | 42 | 6 | |
| Total | 44 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | 11 | 2 | 61 | 10 | |||
| Crewe Alexandra | 2008–09 | League One | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| 2009–10 | League Two | 43 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 10 | |
| 2010–11 | League Two | 25 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 6 | |
| Total | 96 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 106 | 18 | ||
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2011–12 | League One | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 5 |
| 2012–13 | League Two | 41 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 11 | |
| Total | 71 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 77 | 16 | ||
| Yeovil Town | 2013–14 | Championship | 34 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 38 | 4 | |
| 2014–15 | League One | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| Total | 54 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 7 | ||
| Exeter City | 2015–16 | League Two | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| Career total | 298 | 44 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 343 | 55 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 2014 | 8 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 14 | 2 | |
International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 June 2014 | Brisbane Road, London, England | 3 |  Egypt |
2–1 | 2–2 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 27 May 2016 | Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile | 14 |  Chile |
2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
Honours
- Conference Premier: 2008
- Conference League Cup: 2008
- Caribbean Cup winner: 2014