36 Facts About Jonathan Grounds

Jonathan Martin Grounds was born on 2 February 1988 and is an English football coach and former professional player who played as a left back or centre back.

Jonathan Grounds spent time on loan to Norwich City of the Championship, twice, Scottish Premier League club Hibernian, and Chesterfield and Yeovil Town, both of League One.

Jonathan Grounds left Middlesbrough in 2012 and signed for Oldham Athletic, of League One, on a free transfer.

Jonathan Grounds was associated with Middlesbrough FC from the age of eight, had a season ticket "from a very early age", and played football for Stockton Schools and Redcar Town.

In July 2003, Jonathan Grounds was a member of the Middlesbrough youth team that played in the inaugural Nike Premier Cup in the United States.

Jonathan Grounds took up a two-year scholarship with Middlesbrough FC's Academy in 2004, and as part of the programme, he continued his education at Middlesbrough College where he achieved a sports science qualification.

Jonathan Grounds has been with long term partner Savannah since 2009 and welcomed a son in March 2012.

Jonathan Grounds joined Championship club Norwich City on 1 September 2008 on loan for three months.

Jonathan Grounds was recalled by Middlesbrough after just 31 days and five appearances because of a player shortage at his parent club.

Jonathan Grounds helped them keep a clean sheet in his first match back, away to Wigan Athletic in the Premier League, and hoped that would boost his chances of retaining a place.

On 7 January 2009, Jonathan Grounds rejoined Norwich, this time for two months.

Jonathan Grounds spent much of this stint at Norwich playing in central defence while Jason Shackell was unavailable, and he made a further eleven appearances for them, scoring three goals, before returning to his parent club.

Jonathan Grounds made no appearances in what remained of Middlesbrough's season, but was an unused substitute as their relegation to the Championship was confirmed.

Southgate selected Jonathan Grounds to start the opening match of the new season.

In June 2010, Jonathan Grounds extended his Middlesbrough contract for a further two years.

Jonathan Grounds was dropped by the caretaker managers, and omitted for the first match under Colin Calderwood, but returned to the team thereafter and played regularly until the turn of the year.

Jonathan Grounds made 16 appearances in all competitions before returning to Middlesbrough.

Jonathan Grounds recognised that in order to play regularly he needed to leave Middlesbrough.

Jonathan Grounds's contract expired at the end of the season, and he turned down an offer of a permanent move to Yeovil, before signing a two-year deal with League One club Oldham Athletic.

Jonathan Grounds made a mixed start to his Oldham career: he scored the winner against Manchester City in a pre-season friendly, but in the opening league fixture, Milton Keynes Dons' Daniel Powell "terrorised" him.

Jonathan Grounds made his 100th appearance for the club on 14 March 2014, and in the 106th and last appearance of his Oldham career, he conceded a penalty that gave opponents Notts County the draw they needed to avoid relegation.

Lee Clark was assistant manager of Norwich City when Jonathan Grounds played there on loan, and was reported as interested in signing him for Huddersfield Town the following season.

Five years later, Jonathan Grounds became Clark's first purchase of the 2014 summer transfer window for Championship club Birmingham City.

Jonathan Grounds continued as a regular in the starting eleven, missing only one league match because of a minor injury, as the team again finished tenth.

Jonathan Grounds started the local derby against Aston Villa, produced what Rowett dubbed an "absolutely brilliant" performance until in stoppage time, he suffered a knee injury that ended his season.

Jonathan Grounds returned in the next match and performed "commendably well" both in defence and in attack.

Jonathan Grounds kept his place as the team's form and results improved, and his contribution was recognised with a contract extension until 2020.

Jonathan Grounds had no pre-season training with the first team and was not given a squad number, and the only summer recruit for whom a fee was paid was another left back, Kristian Pedersen.

Jonathan Grounds came into the first team rather sooner than anticipated after Andy Taylor suffered a calf injury, and had six weeks in the starting eleven despite what manager Phil Parkinson and his staff admitted was insufficient preparation and lack of match fitness.

Jonathan Grounds was released when his contract expired at the end of June 2020, after six years and 170 appearances.

Jonathan Grounds signed a one-year contract with League One club Swindon Town on 17 September 2020.

On 23 July 2021 Jonathan Grounds' contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

On 26 July 2021 Jonathan Grounds signed for League Two club Exeter City.

Jonathan Grounds finished the season with 15 league appearances as Exeter gained promotion as runners-up, and was the only out-of-contract player to be offered a new deal at the higher level; he accepted another one-year contract, but turned down the offer of a player-coach role in 2023.

Jonathan Grounds returned to Birmingham City as an academy coach in 2024.

Jonathan Grounds worked with the under-16s and as assistant to under-21s manager Steve Spooner before being promoted to Chris Davies's staff as first team development coach in October 2024.