IT’S IN THE FAMILY, THAT’S GRANT-ED!
Brothers have football for breakfast
THERE’S a Saturday morning ritual that sets the Grant brothers up for a day of Non-League football – scrambled egg on bagels!
While Freddie is at National League South Wealdstone, oldest brother Harry and youngest Alfie have just signed for Step 4 side North Leigh – starring on their debuts in a 4-1 win against Aylesbury United – and Joe is at Hellenic League outfit Wantage Town.
Football, of course, is the main topic at the breakfast table as the Grants look to make their respective ways in the game.
“We always have the same breakfast together, wish each other luck and go off to play our games before we talk about it all on Saturday evening – it’s football nonstop,” Harry told The NLP. “We have scrambled eggs on a bagel – it seems to work!”
At 24, midfielder Harry has the most experience in professional football having played in the Football League with Gillingham before dropping into Non-League.
“I was a pro at Sheffield Wednesday and Gillingham, then I went into the Conference National and South with Bromley, Maidenhead, Farnborough,” said Harry, who began the season with Alfie at Step 5 Reading City.
“Then I found myself almost falling out of love with it, I had my own struggles, I dropped down some divisions to get my love back for it and now I feel like my appetites back so I want to kick on and see where it gets me.
Rave reviews
“My enjoyment is back and playing with my brothers has definitely done that along with winning games and scoring goals.”
Football runs in the family. Their uncle is Chesterfield boss Martin Allen, while grandad Ron Grant was kitman at Reading when they won promotion to the Premier League.
And it was some motivational words from Allen that got Alfie back playing after he had some time out of the game.
“I was an apprentice at Oxford United but at 18 I out of the game for near on a year before I started playing again,” Alfie, who was at Oxford with Freddie, said. “At the start of this season I didn’t know if I was going to play. It was actually my Uncle Martin who called me and said, ‘You’re stupid, why aren’t you playing!?’
“He always texts me and calls me to say, ‘You’ve got to keep going’. He’s a big fan of mine, which is good to have!
“I’m really focused on football again and on becoming physically fitter with the aim of playing as high as I can. I believe I can.”
Freddie, who joined Wealdstone from Oxford City in the summer, now has more than 100 first-team appearances despite being just 21.
Although he’s suffered a knee injury recently, he’s earning rave reviews for his performances at left back.
“Fred’s a real inspiration of mine,” Alfie, who is studying music business at ACM in Guildford, said.
“He’s a real grafter. He’s got a good mindset and I think he’ll keep climbing the leagues.
Ambitions
“On a personal note, I’ve been chuffed to bits with my start to the season. I did really well at Reading City, scored a few goals and defended well.
“North Leigh came at a really good time because I really want to test myself at Step 4 level. I think I’m good enough and I want to progress as high as I can.”
There’s a fifth budding player – step-brother Archie who is 15 – including 23year-old Joe who has never been quite as football seridropped ous as his other siblings.
“We’re ambitious as brothers, we want to test ourselves as high as we possibly can,” Harry said. “I’ve obviously been there before, Alfie hasn’t but he has massive ambitions to kick on and see where he can get. And I’d obviously like to return to the higher levels of NonLeague football.
“North Leigh came in and presented us with that opportunity to test ourselves at a level above so why not.
“I love playing with my brothers. I did it with Fred at Farnborough and now with Alfie. You want them to do well so you look out for them on the pitch – you’re concentrating on your own game but also looking at theirs, which is quite a strange feeling. We all support each other.”