Colin Grainger was an English footballer, as well as being a former singer and recording artist.
37 Facts About Colin Grainger
1.
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Colin Grainger came from a footballing family: brother Jack Grainger, brother-in-law Jim Iley, and first cousins Dennis Grainger, Jack Grainger and Edwin Holliday all played professionally.
3.
Colin Grainger got married in 1956 and had two children.
4.
Colin Grainger turned professional the following year and made his first-team debut in February 1951.
5.
Colin Grainger was twice selected for The Football League XI.
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Colin Grainger then had a brief spell with Macclesfield Town in the Cheshire County League, before retiring to focus on his singing career.
7.
Colin Grainger later spent 1969 to 1972 as player-manager of non-League village team Newmillerdam, before playing for Woolley Miners Welfare in the Yorkshire League from 1972 to 1978.
8.
Colin Grainger appeared on television and radio and had a ghostwritten column in the Sport Express.
9.
Colin Grainger ended his singing career in August 1970 to focus on his new career in sales.
10.
Colin Grainger supplemented his income scouting for a succession of clubs: Barnsley, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Bury and Sheffield United.
11.
Colin Grainger attended Ryhill Junior, Ryhill Middle School, and then Felkirk Secondary School.
12.
Colin Grainger came from a footballing family, and his younger brother, Jack, spent ten years at Rotherham United just after World War II.
13.
Colin Grainger's cousin, named Jack Grainger, played in the Football League for Barnsley and Southport in the 1930s.
14.
Colin Grainger wrote his autobiography, The Singing Winger, which was published by deCoubertin Books on 17 October 2019.
15.
Colin Grainger spent his youth with South Elmsall Boys before being invited for a trial at Wrexham in July 1949.
16.
McDowall moved on to manage Manchester City in June 1950 and invited Colin Grainger to take a tour of Maine Road in an attempt to poach him away from Wrexham, an attempt that was thwarted when the Wrexham board heard of the news and reassured Colin Grainger that he would be sold on to a bigger club if he first proved himself at Wrexham.
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Colin Grainger played with his wrist in plaster as he suffered a fracture just before his demobilisation.
18.
Colin Grainger was being considered again for the England squad.
19.
Colin Grainger became further disillusioned and handed in a transfer request after the board of directors rejected his request for a loan to invest in a newsagent's shop in South Shields.
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However, Colin Grainger was not able to take full advantage of this tactic as his right ankle had deteriorated to the point that it needed heavy strapping.
21.
Colin Grainger suffered a lack of speed and confidence as a result.
22.
Colin Grainger was however, in conflict with new manager Freddie Steele, who told him the pain in his groin was just psychological.
23.
Colin Grainger was not offered a new contract in the summer.
24.
Whilst training with Barnsley over the summer, chairman Joe Richards had offered to match Doncaster's contract offer, but Colin Grainger declined as he already had a verbal agreement with Doncaster.
25.
Colin Grainger was able to manage his groin injury well enough to make 41 appearances throughout the campaign.
26.
Colin Grainger was offered a contract by Yorkshire League club Bridlington Town, Wellington Town of the Cheshire County League, and Southern League side Poole Town.
27.
In 1978, Colin Grainger accepted an offer from Billy Bingham to scout for Mansfield Town in the North East and recommended Chris Waddle to the club, though they did not act on his recommendation.
28.
Colin Grainger later scouted for Allan Clarke at Barnsley and Leeds United, for Mick Buxton at Huddersfield Town and for Neil Warnock at Oldham Athletic, Bury and Sheffield United.
29.
Colin Grainger earned his first England cap on 9 May 1956 in a friendly with Brazil at Wembley Stadium.
30.
Colin Grainger scored within the opening minutes with his first touch of the ball and in the 83rd-minute headed in England's fourth.
31.
Colin Grainger provided the cross for Derek Kevan to score England's first goal of the game but otherwise felt he performed poorly and was never selected again.
32.
Colin Grainger signed a contract with talent agent Len Young in 1956.
33.
Colin Grainger's performance earned him a television appearance on ITV and a regular column in the Sport Express that was written by Brian Glanville.
34.
Colin Grainger then performed with Jack Hylton and his orchestra on ITV's After Hours show, presented by Hughie Green, and did a television show for the BBC with Winifred Atwell, Eric Robinson and Matt Monro.
35.
Colin Grainger was offered the opportunity of touring Australia with comedian Nat Jackley in the summer of 1960 but turned it down as it would interfere with his pre-season football training.
36.
Colin Grainger gave his final performance in Leeds in August 1970 when he retired from performing to focus on his career in sales.
37.
Colin Grainger became a widower and moved into a care home in Kirklees in March 2020, which led to the local council leader stating that "I was amazed when I heard that we have such a footballing legend who is in our care".