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Dennis Grainger

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Sorry - no images available

Position Left winger
Born 05 Mar 1920, Royston (England)
Height unknown
Weight unknown
International Caps none

Club From To Apps Goals Sold for
Southport 01 Oct 1938 01 Oct 1945 0 0 £1000
Leeds United 01 Oct 1945 01 Dec 1947 40 6  
Wrexham 01 Dec 1947 01 Jun 1951 98 12  
Oldham Athletic 01 Jun 1951 01 Jun 1952 3 0  

Leeds Career League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other
Season Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1945 - 1946 35 9 2 1 0   0   0  
1946 - 1947 32 5 1   0   0   0  
1947 - 1948 5   0   0   0   0  
Total 37 5 3 1 0   0   0  
Total (inc war years) 72 14 3 1 0   0   0  

Jabba's Comments

Dennis Grainger joined Leeds just after World War 2, and was a regular in the side that had such a traumatic time heading for relegation in the 1946-47 season. He moved on halfway through the following season to Wrexham, then Oldham before dropping down to non-league football with Bangor in 1952.

His cousin Colin also played for Leeds in the early 1960s, his brother Jack appeared for Barnsley and Southport and another cousin - Eddie Holliday - was an England international.

Robin Grainger says: Dennis was my dad - died 1986.

He was a wonderful man who was an inspiration to me both as a Father and a sport.

He left football and started at the bottom rung of the ladder in the drilling industry and ended up running his own company before emplyment at Cementation.

He took a Public House in 1970 at Inkersall, Staveley, Chesterfield in 1970 (the Double Top Inn) when I was 10 and left in 1982 after a couple of bad strokes.

His anecdotes of the game were varied and remarkable (some are not for publication!)but never boastful.

He guested for numerous teams during the war and Millwall was a side he played for most in League South (he also guested for Sheffield United, Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United, Lincoln City, Walsall and the odd game for Southport).

Jack - his brother - took him to Southport at 15 and he made his debut in 39/40 just before the outbreak of war (which was expunged unfortunately). He represented the RAF and the FA and included amondst his assosiates the likes of Raich Carter, Bill Shankley and Stanley Mathews - his major friend being George Hardwick whom he later played for at Oldham Athletic.

It's lovely to see his name here and I hope it assists your page.

He took his cousin Colin to Wrexham as a lad (he boarded with Dennis and his first wife) and Colin went on to earn 7 England caps which included a 2 goal debut for England against Brazil at Wembley in 1956. Jack - dads brother - played all his career at Southport even though he was offered the opportunity to sign for Preston and Arsenal amongst others (apparently my Grandad told him 'you've made your bed so you must lie in it ' when his first wife refused to move from Southport and so he left the marital home!). Colins brother, Jack (Johnny), also played football (Rotherham his major club and Lincoln for 1 season) and gained an England 'B' cap against Scotland (I think 1954).

Edwin Holliday (another first cousin) also played - for Middlesborough and Sheffield Wednesday) and won 3 England caps.

Colin and Jack's brother - Horace - was on the books of Burnley and Chesterfield in the 50's but never made a first team appearance and ended up turning his attention to Rugby League with one of the Hull teams I believe.

I hope this has helped fill in the life of one of Leeds United's players - all of whom deserve a place in the clubs history.

luke grainger says: dennis was my idol as well as my great uncle he played football like thierry henry back in is days

Jean Kitchin says: Dennis Grainger was my uncle. His brother, Jack, who Robin (my cousin who I have not seen for many years)mentions above was my Dad who sadly died in 1976. Have to say that some of the comments on the site re. my Dad are a bit confused but as this is Leeds site basically it does not matter. I was not fortunate enough to see either Dennis or my Dad play. I do remember Dad's cousin Colin (again mentioned by Robin) play and also remember him performing at the Liverpool Empire when he decided to give up football for a singing career.


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Did you see Dennis Grainger play? Did you meet him in a pub, go to school with him, decorate his house or buy a motor from him? If you've got any comments or stories about Dennis Grainger on or off the pitch, just fill in the form below and (provided they're not blatantly libellous) I'll add them to this page. And just a quick note to the spammers who try to add their links to this page by attempting to get round the client-side validation: don't bother - the server side does similar checks and throws your garbage straight into the bit bucket.

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