Clay, Alan – Joined Grantham Town after beating Rommel

Alan Clay (1920– 1981)

Born at Sleaford. Alan Clay made his debut for Grantham in January 1947 at home to Barnsley Reserves, scoring his first goal just over two months later at Peterborough United.

Originally playing for Sleaford Town, he joined the Royal Tank Regiment during the Second World War and was with the Eighth Army from Alamein to Italy.

His first season at London Road, Grantham, ended with Alan appearing in both the Lincolnshire Senior Cup Final games against Gainsborough Trinity, although unfortunately The Gingerbreads were defeated 4-1 in the replay. The following season he made only 13 appearances all year and even after his return in 1949 he still found it difficult to establish a permanent place in the side.

By the start of the 1950/51 season though, Alan had become a significant member of the side, despite missing from several of the early matches a year later.

This figure started to slow during the 1958/59 season, when Alan only made 9 appearances and as Grantham moved into the Central Alliance League the appearances were still stacking up, but obviously at a slower rate.

He managed to win a County Cup winner’s medal again in April 1961 after another Final against Gainsborough, only days after what would eventually turn out to be his final goal for the club, at home to Spalding United. In a busy time for Alan, the following week saw his testimonial, when Nottingham Forest sent a side over to London Road.

Amazingly after the Summer break he finally played in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, as Grantham travelled over to Brierley Hill Alliance in November 1961 and at the end of that campaign he won yet another Lincolnshire County Cup winner’s medal, this time with a Grantham victory over Boston United. Finally Alan made his last, and only appearance of the season, in the December 1962 Midland League game at home to Retford Town.

He continued to assist at the club though, generally with the Reserves side, but did make one more appearance in the invitational Bourne Hospital Cup in May 1968, nearly 22 years after that first game, and at the age of 45.

Alan continued to live in Sleaford, working in the surveyor’s department at Kesteven County Council, until his retirement.

Compiled with assistance of Jon Barnes