Roy Gratrix

Roy Gratrix
Personal information
Date of birth	9 February 1932
Place of birth	Salford, England
Date of death	20 April 2002 (aged 70)
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team
–1953	Taylor Bros.
1953–1964	Blackpool
1961	→ Toronto City (loan)
1964–1965	Manchester City
1965	Toronto City
1965–1966	Bangor City
1966–1967	Fleetwood
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Roy Gratrix (9 February 1932 – 2002) was an English professional footballer. He played as a defender.

Gratrix began his professional career with Blackpool as a 20-year-old in September 1952, joining from Manchester side Taylor Bros. He made his debut for Blackpool on 13 March 1954, succeeding Eddie Shimwell in the right-back berth in a goalless draw against Middlesbrough at Bloomfield Road.

The following campaign, 1954–55, he retained his position, teaming-up with Tommy Garrett, although occasionally being asked to play at left-back.

In 1955–56, with Harry Johnston leaving to manage Reading, Gratrix moved to centre-half and remained there for the rest of his career.

Also during the 1955–56 season, Gratrix represented England at "B" level, playing against Switzerland at The Dell. England B won 4–1.^[1]

For the 1956–57 campaign, Gratrix was an ever-present in Blackpool's 46 league and cup fixtures, helping them to their second consecutive top-four finish in Division One. He repeated the feat the following season and also in 1961–62 (52 league and cup games).

On 19 October 1957, Gratrix had the chance to open his scoring account with the club. He took a penalty against Manchester United at Bloomfield Road, but he put it over the bar.^[2] He remained without a goal in his 436 games for Blackpool.^[2]

In 1964, after eleven years and four hundred league appearances for Blackpool, Gratrix was sold to Manchester City. He made fifteen league appearances for City before trying his hand at playing in Canada with Toronto City, where he finally experienced the sweet sensation of scoring a goal (away v Montreal Italica, 4 July 1965).^[3] He returned to the United Kingdom to finish his playing career with Welsh club Bangor City and Lancashire Combination club Fleetwood, who were at that time managed by his old Blackpool teammate Jimmy Kelly.

Gratrix died in 2002.

References

Specific

^ England - International Results B-Team - Details - RSSSF.com
^ ^a ^b Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.
^ Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 206.

General

Gratrix's Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database profile's statistics site
Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.

This biographical article related to association football in England, about a defender born in the 1930s, is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] England - International Results B-Team - Details - RSSSF.com

[Gillatt-2] Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.

[:02-3] Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 206.

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