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Grantham Town sign three experienced players with combined 1,300+ EFL appearances

Grantham Town sign three very experienced players with a combined 1,300+ EFL appearances and it’s fair to say they want promotion.

Nathan Tyson is their latest, being released by Chesterfield at the end of last season after two years at the National League club, and also had a loan spell with Alfreton Town in 2022.

He leaves the Spireites having put his name into the history books, becoming the first Chesterfield substitute to score a hat-trick.

“The gaffer wants me to go out there and enjoy myself and pass on the experience that I have learnt over the last few years,” he said as per Derbyshire Times.

His last appearance for Chesterfield was a second-half substitute in the playoff victory against FC Halifax Town in May.

A pacey, left-footed forward, he began his career at Reading, where he made his first-team debut in April 2000. He had loan spells at Maidenhead United, Swansea City, Cheltenham Town, and Wycombe Wanderers, before he joined the Chairboys on a permanent transfer in March 2004.

He averaged a goal every two games for Wycombe and was sold on to Nottingham Forest for a Β£675,000 fee in January 2006.

He spent five and a half seasons with Forest, and helped the club to win promotion out of League One in 2007–08. He moved on to Derby County in June 2011, and was loaned out to Millwall in January 2013.

He signed with Blackpool in September 2013, and was loaned out to Fleetwood Town and Notts County after failing to win a first team place at Blackpool.

He joined Doncaster Rovers in July 2014, and spent two seasons with the club before moving to Kilmarnock in 2016 for a year. In July 2017, Wycombe Wanderers announced that Tyson had returned to the club on trial.

After playing in some of Wycombe’s pre-season friendlies, it was announced on the 25th of July 2017 that Tyson had signed a one-year deal to return to Wycombe, then on the 23rd of April 2018, Tyson signed a one-year extension keeping him at Wycombe Wanderers until the summer of 2019, before being released at the end of the 2018–19 season and went on to sign on for Chesterfield following the 2020-21 season.

On the 22nd of January 2022, Tyson signed for Alfreton Town on a one-month loan from Chesterfield and as mentioned was released at the end of the season.

Grantham have also confirmed the signing of Matt Tootle, who plays as a defender and was most recently part of the National League North side Boston United.

Tootle joined Crewe as an eight-year old, then signed his first professional contract after making an impression on Crewe manager Gudjon Thordarsson in July 2009.

He made his full debut on the 21st of November for Crewe Alexandra in a 2–2 draw, away at Northampton Town in League Two, playing the full 90 minutes. Tootle became a regular in the first team after Dario Gradi took over for his third spell as Crewe manager. His first goal in senior football came in Crewe’s 2–2 draw with Rochdale on Boxing Day 2009.

Tootle appeared in the 2012 League Two play-off Final at Wembley, as Crewe beat Cheltenham Town 2–0 to win promotion to League One after three seasons in League Two.[7] Less than a year later, Tootle became a winner at Wembley for the second time, playing the whole match as Crewe defeated Southend 2–0 in the 2013 Football League Trophy Final.[8]

As Crewe battled against relegation in the 2013–14 season, Tootle replaced teammate Abdul Osman as captain of the side in March 2014. Crewe stayed up following a final-day win over Preston North End, and following Osman’s departure it was decided he would continue in this role for the 2014–15 season.

Despite not featuring since October 2014 due to injury and illness, Crewe offered Tootle a contract extension at the end of the season.

Tootle moved to Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract on 16 June 2015. He made his debut on the opening day of the 2015–16 season against Millwall, and scored his first goal for the club in a League Cup second-round tie against Crystal Palace, but he failed to feature again at first-team level following a defeat at Port Vale on the 31st of October. He was released from his contract one year early by mutual consent in June 2016.

On the same day that he left Shrewsbury Town, Tootle joined League Two side Notts County on a two-year contract. He signed a new contract with the Magpies at the end of the 2017–18 season.

At the end of the 2019–20 season, Tootle was released by the club and on the 25th of August 2020, Tootle signed for National League North side Boston United.

Lastly, Grantham also announced the signing of Jake Wright, who started his career with Bradford City, but played only one senior game for them, before he joined Halifax Town where he had previously spent a loan spell. He spent two years at Halifax, but after they were demoted from the Conference Premier, he moved to Crawley Town in June 2008 before transferring to Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2009. After that he spent seven years at Oxford United where he made 278 total appearances, captained the club and won two promotions.

Wright – the club’s longest-serving player – left Oxford by mutual consent on the 9th of July 2016 and later that day, he signed for League One club Sheffield United on a two-year contract. Wright made 30 appearances in his first season as a Blade and remained unbeaten throughout the whole campaign, entering the record books in the process. On the 2nd of September 2019, Wright joined League One side Bolton Wanderers on loan until January and was one of nine players Bolton signed on deadline day. He made his debut on the 14th of September, starting against Rotherham United in a 6–1 defeat.

His contract with Sheffield United was terminated by mutual consent at the end of January 2020. He signed for Hereford in mid-September 2020. On the 14th of November 2020, Wright was released by Hereford.

On the 26th of February 2021, Wright joined League Two side Mansfield Town on a contract until the end of May 2021.

On the 22nd of July 2021, Wright signed for Boston United, then was released at the end of the 2021–22 season.

Fans reacted as Grantham Town sign three experienced players with a combined 1,300+ EFL appearances…

ON TYSON:

@Nathan_j25: Great player, never stops running

@jabzcfc: Great signing for that level. Works his socks off and is still lightening quick at 40 years old. Last few games for town he came off the bench and caused defences problems with his pace

@Tom_Atkins107: You won’t get a more hard working, fitter player than Tyson even at his age. A true pro, best of luck to him πŸ‘

@sonnycrock731: You’ve got a cracking signing there.. Still plenty to offer at 40, just wished Chesterfield had given him another deal.. He’ll tear that league up…

@LSpireites: Great to see Nathan signing for you. Top player for us #Spireites

@CfcRutger: What a player! Fan favourite at CFC.

@jordandavies09: Fucking hell Tyson, Durrell & Miller you guys are in the business

@Rhys16561349: will tear the league up at that level

@JamiePayne07: top player tbf, top bloke n all. good luck to him #spireites

@dfido1: Beautiful signing. If he doesn’t live local he can even use his bus pass to get to the ground.

@markt1977squash: Wow, never thought I’d see this ! #nffc

@PaulJacklin: Come on Grantham – let’s rip this league up!

@sports_badger: I nearly fell off my chair with this one. Bloody hell! Welcome to G-Town Nathan

ON WRIGHT:

@BostonUnitedMem: Great signing, was solid for Boston last season 🟠⚫️

@ButlerAndy: Terrific at both @bostonunited and @SheffieldUnited

@TomGraves: Very good signing. Was good for Boston at our level

@Alankelly06: What a great signing that lad can play

@_callumlilley: Good signing but only plays when he wants

@AndrewKenyon6: Absolutely class and a rock for dem Blades πŸ‘ hope he does a job for you

@BenTalbot1994: That headed block at Hillsborough 😍😍

@HalTheBlade: You’ll never lose a game

@food219: Jake’s a top pro and great leader, all the best for the forthcoming season πŸŸ‘πŸ”΅

@TashTheBlade: Absolute rock.for the Blades one of the unsung heroes of our climb up the league’s ,have to check my facts but it seemed like we never lost a game when he played .Once a Blade always a Blade .Look after him he’s one off the games good guys .

@mrmrskitchen: Great signing. Never reached expectations at Boston but always added a good experience of a steady player. Think dropping down a division will bring him back to his best and he will be a real asset. Same goes for Matt tootle. My only fear would be the amount GTFC are Spending

ON TOOTLE:

@kajeinn: Grantham doing more business than Man Utd

@gingerbreadandy: Great great signing

@LauraJ86: Millie will be glad you’ve put Toot Toot πŸ˜‚ still how she refers to this fabulous guy. You’ve always looked better in a black and white stripe too πŸ˜‰ Good luck Matt, hopefully we can come and see you this season x

@nottsnutter1862: Best wishes for the coming season Toots

@NottsCounty1991: I will attend games next season in Notts shirt if thats ok

@Turkey_Twizzler: Let’s go toots!

@PaulJacklin: Some great signings to add to a very good squad – so buzzing for this season. #StraightBackUp #thegingerbreads #COYG

@scottbrian1974: Fantastic signing and good luck @MattTootle gutted your still not at Boston

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