Grant Leadbitter
Encyclopedia
Grant Leadbitter is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder
for the Football League Championship
club Ipswich Town
. He played for Sunderland
from 2003 until 2009 after rising as a product from the team's Youth Academy
. In 2007 Leadbitter received a call-up for England U21, and featured for them three times.
in September 2005, where he scored once against Celtic in five league games. After his loan stay in Hibernian, he began to be selected regularly by then manager Mick McCarthy
, and started in several Premier League games for the Black Cats in February 2006.
After Sunderland's relegation in 2006, Leadbitter stalled on contract talks, with many predicting he was aiming to attract the attention of a Premier League club after his impressive displays during the previous season. However, a contract was subsequently agreed with the player claiming he only ever wanted to stay with Sunderland and, henceforth, Leadbitter played an important role in the Black Cats' revival under the management of Roy Keane
. Leadbitter took part in every one of Sunderland's games in the 2006–07 season and contributed seven goals, ranking as the clubs 3rd top scorer of that season. On Sunderland's return to the Premier League, Leadbitter continued to feature regularly with Roy Keane, even making comparisons with Paul Scholes (he allegedly wears the no. 18 shirt in honour of his hero Scholes). In June 2008 Leadbitter signed a new contract with Sunderland, keeping him at the club until 2011.
On 4 October 2008, Leadbitter scored a memorable goal against Arsenal after just coming off the bench. The 25 yard goal was celebrated in emotional style, as he ran over to his manager and had his head on the floor, nearly in tears. This emotional celebration was because his father, Brian Leadbitter, had died just weeks beforehand and his ashes had been buried right on that spot under the grass on Stadium of Light. "People close to me know why I went down on the floor like I did, I just want to leave it at that. The people who know me know why I kissed that area of the ground. My dad's ashes were buried there. I don't want to go on about it. It just means a lot to me and my family. It's exactly that spot and it was always my intention to do something like that when I scored my first goal here." Leadbitter said to the press after the match.
side Ipswich Town
for a fee of £2.6 million, along with team-mate Carlos Edwards
. He scored his first goal against Nottingham Forest
, in a 2–0 win in England Under 21's 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
group, against Bulgaria national under-21 football team
. He featured again for England U21 on 25 March 2008 and made his final appearance in a 0–0 draw against Poland U21, not being picked after that and turning 23 soon after.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
. He played for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
from 2003 until 2009 after rising as a product from the team's Youth Academy
Academy of Light
The Academy of Light is the name of the UEFA five star certified training facilities and youth academy for English football club Sunderland A.F.C....
. In 2007 Leadbitter received a call-up for England U21, and featured for them three times.
Youth career
Leadbitter grew up in Fence Houses as a Sunderland fan, and joined the Sunderland youth academy at the age of 16. He progressed through the ranks and represented England at the U19 level in 2002, scoring against Brazil to help England finish in the top four in the league tournamentSunderland
Leadbitter's first professional appearance for Sunderland came as a substitute in a League Cup defeat against Huddersfield Town in September 2003. Before obtaining a regular first-team place at the club, he was loaned to HibernianHibernian
- Football clubs :* Cork Hibernians F.C., a former football club in Ireland* Hibernian F.C., a Scottish football club* Hibernians F.C., a Maltese football club- Finance :* Hibernian Bank Ltd, absorbed by the Bank of Ireland, in its role as government banker...
in September 2005, where he scored once against Celtic in five league games. After his loan stay in Hibernian, he began to be selected regularly by then manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
, and started in several Premier League games for the Black Cats in February 2006.
After Sunderland's relegation in 2006, Leadbitter stalled on contract talks, with many predicting he was aiming to attract the attention of a Premier League club after his impressive displays during the previous season. However, a contract was subsequently agreed with the player claiming he only ever wanted to stay with Sunderland and, henceforth, Leadbitter played an important role in the Black Cats' revival under the management of Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
. Leadbitter took part in every one of Sunderland's games in the 2006–07 season and contributed seven goals, ranking as the clubs 3rd top scorer of that season. On Sunderland's return to the Premier League, Leadbitter continued to feature regularly with Roy Keane, even making comparisons with Paul Scholes (he allegedly wears the no. 18 shirt in honour of his hero Scholes). In June 2008 Leadbitter signed a new contract with Sunderland, keeping him at the club until 2011.
On 4 October 2008, Leadbitter scored a memorable goal against Arsenal after just coming off the bench. The 25 yard goal was celebrated in emotional style, as he ran over to his manager and had his head on the floor, nearly in tears. This emotional celebration was because his father, Brian Leadbitter, had died just weeks beforehand and his ashes had been buried right on that spot under the grass on Stadium of Light. "People close to me know why I went down on the floor like I did, I just want to leave it at that. The people who know me know why I kissed that area of the ground. My dad's ashes were buried there. I don't want to go on about it. It just means a lot to me and my family. It's exactly that spot and it was always my intention to do something like that when I scored my first goal here." Leadbitter said to the press after the match.
Ipswich Town
On 1 September 2009, Leadbitter transferred to Football League ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
for a fee of £2.6 million, along with team-mate Carlos Edwards
Carlos Edwards
Akenhaton Carlos Edwards , more commonly known as Carlos Edwards, is a Trinidadian footballer who plays for Ipswich Town as a midfielder.-Club career:...
. He scored his first goal against Nottingham Forest
International career
Leadbitter came on as a late substitute replacing Gabriel AgbonlahorGabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa's Academy and has earned three caps for the English national team. He is currently the longest-serving player at Villa Park, joining as a youth player in...
, in a 2–0 win in England Under 21's 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started on 31 May 2007 with a qualifying competition and finishes on 15 October 2008, before the final tournament on 15–23 June 2009....
group, against Bulgaria national under-21 football team
Bulgaria national under-21 football team
The Bulgaria national under-21 football team represents the under-21 football team of Bulgaria and is controlled by the Bulgarian Football Union. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years....
. He featured again for England U21 on 25 March 2008 and made his final appearance in a 0–0 draw against Poland U21, not being picked after that and turning 23 soon after.