Landmark achievement for Grice in Leek victory

LEEK Town striker Tim Grice scored his 200th goal for the club at the weekend - but he’s not ready to stick at that landmark.

The 31-year-old, who is Blues’ alltime record scorer, netted in the 5-0 victory over Wisbech Town at Harrison Park as Neil Baker’s side kicked off their Northern Premier League South East Division campaign in style.

Grice converted a cross from midfielder Matt Bell to reach the landmark... and it brought an end to his long wait to hit the magic 200 figure.

He had been stranded on 199 after football was suspended in March and Leek’s season was then declared null and void.

Blues chairman Jon Eeles had already stated that Grice’s 2019/20 goals would stay in the record books, leaving the frontman needing just one more when this season started.

“It’s a relief to finally get there after a few months of waiting,” said Grice. “I’d actually got it out of my head when last season was scrapped.

“If I’d have thought about it too much it might have affected me, but when I signed for this season I knew that I’d get a chance.

“It would have been different if I was finishing my career, but at 31 I’m hoping there’s a few more years left.

“I was actually more frustrated at missing out on promotion last year, rather than not reaching the goal landmark.

“It’s good to get it out of the way now, though, rather than having to wait five or six games into the season.”

Grice became the club’s all-time record scorer since records began, beating the previous record of 152 goals set by former Stoke City youngster Dave Sutton, who joined Leek in the late 1980s and was part of the club’s historic run to the FA Trophy final in 1990. He left the club in the 2000/2001 season.

Grice took over top spot in the scoring charts when he netted twice in a 3-1 win at Spalding United in April 2018.

That was a proud moment, but his 200th goal also had extra significance for the striker.

“During lockdown one of our supporters, Peter Tylman, passed away,” explained Grice. “Saturday’s match was sponsored by his parents and there was a flag at the ground paying tribute.

“When the ball came in, I was thinking ‘don’t miss’ and