Jacob Gratton

A look at some of the best players I’ve seen in the past few years at either U18s or U23s level or currently playing in non-league who've either left a really positive impression or whose careers I follow with genuine interest to see how they're doing every week.

Player: Jacob Gratton

Age: 20

Position: Attacker

Club: Free Agent

Jacob Gratton is one of those lads who has more qualities than he'll ever probably realise!

Grounded, level-headed and with a broad Yorkshire accent which can instantly raise a smile, he's been brought up properly. He's got good values. He's polite, respectful and someone who others will enjoy being around every day.

Jacob Gratton (right) after keeping Farsley Celtic in the National League North.

As a player, he's got quick feet, a good touch and enough technical intelligence which makes him exciting to watch. Energetic and attack minded, he's the type who'll also run through brick walls, try his best and do all the non-negotiables which managers adore in a player. With a good attitude, he'll self-analyse his own performances and be consciously aware of what and where he needs to improve his game, and then strive to do just that, in order to be the best version of himself that he possibly can.

A frequent goalscorer in his YT days at Rotherham where he featured predominantly as a No.10 in a team which always competed near the top of the North-East Youth Alliance, Gratts spent a big chunk of last season developing in a different position - being required to 'run the channels' and play in wide areas during separate loans at Guiseley and then Farsley Celtic in the National League North.

The season was something of a ‘mixed bag’ on a personal level.

The undoubted highlight came in the Papa John's Trophy where he made his competitive debut for Rotherham in a blistering 6-0 thrashing of Doncaster Rovers (one which equalled the record for the biggest ever away win at the Keepmoat Stadium) and it was followed by a second first team appearance the following month in another big win - this time over Manchester City’s U21s.

More importantly for his development, he'll have been delighted to have earned frequent game-time and rack up a total of 38 appearances in those two aforementioned loans during which he scored his first senior goal (against Spennymoor), played in the FA Cup 'proper' (in a trip to Wimbledon last November) and collected a few wine bottles by virtue of winning some 'Man Of The Match' awards.

One 'MOTM' accolade came against York at the end of April. Then, two days later, he impressed me with his own individual showing in a draw at Darlington where his desire, effort, energy and willingness to just run his b*llocks off was evident in abundance. At the end of that same week came the champagne moment where he was part of a Farsley team who were mobbed on the pitch as they somehow avoided relegation from the National League North.

Despite the highlights, there were also some frustrations.

Even playing in a style or system which didn't always suit his best strengths, Gratts will be the first to admit that he ought to have bagged more goals than what he posted considering the amount of games he played. And he'll perhaps harbour a few feelings of regret or ponder 'What Might Have Been?' because only a week after completing the 'Great Escape' with Farsley, he was given the news that his contract wasn't going to be renewed at Rotherham.

Gratts playing at Farsley during the Great Escape (Photo: Unknown).

Nevertheless, it's what Gratts went through prior to last season - in the days before he'd even kicked a first team football anywhere, which is why I've got so much admiration for him.

Fresh from bagging two goals against his birthplace club (Mansfield) in the FA Youth Cup and signing a pro contract just after his 18th birthday, everything seemed to be going in his favour at that point, only for things to quickly come crashing down when he suffered a serious ACL injury which ultimately kept him out for over a year.

It must have felt like a crushing blow and, coupled with the pandemic soon afterwards, I'm sure he'll have experienced some anxious, troubling and raw emotions - worrying and wondering whether he'd even have a career by the time he was back fit again?

But it's in those type of adverse situations where people find courage and an inner-strength to get back on their feet and as Gratts trudged through the doors at Roundwood to complete his gym work each day, he knuckled down with the task at hand and found some confidence again.

He built up his shape, increased his strength, worked on his mental resilience and even started lifting heavier weight than many older pros, and when he was finally fit to resume training, he was given a standing ovation by the entire squad who recognised and respected the journey he'd been through just to get back on the training pitch with them.

Gratts' entire drive and purpose in football is to make his family proud of him but it would have been a bittersweet moment when he made his professional debut, the moment he'd strived towards his entire life, on Tuesday 7th September last year.

Just a few weeks earlier, his Granddad Ken (a lifelong Millers fan who adored his football and supported grandson throughout) had sadly passed away. Although he wasn't there in person at the Keepmoat, I've no doubt whatsoever that Ken will have been bursting with immense pride and admiration from the skies above to see his beloved Jacob fulfill his dream and batter the local rivals in the process.

He'd have probably been grinning for days afterwards with admiration, joy, pride and unlimited love - and especially the whopping scoreline! Those moments are special and Ken will have loved every second of that, plus the game against Man City's U21s a few weeks later!

Gratts playing for Rotherham last pre-season (Photo: Alex Dodd).

The door might now have closed on a career at Rotherham for Gratts but with his character (plus that bit of ability and quality on a football pitch) there's absolutely no reason why he can't go elsewhere, forge a reasonable career, continue to make his family forever proud and play the sport he's always loved playing on most Saturdays for the next 10-15 years.

It might not be at the top level but it's the happiness, the smiles, the laughter and creating the memories which are priceless.

He was unlucky with his injury, especially the timing of it considering he'd carved out a reputation for being a prolific scorer at youth level, but he's such a genuine, humble and dedicated lad that he deserves a bit of luck in the future. His family will always be proud of how he conducts himself. His girlfriend, Shannon, also loves him deeply and it's all down to Gratts just being Gratts and a thoroughly genuine lad with some of the best characteristics that anyone could ever have!

He does need to work on his 'keepy uppy' ability though because I've seen plenty of video footage already which suggests Shannon is miles better than him when it comes to that game!

Such is Gratts' demeanour, he's probably not even given a second thought as to what happened on the pitch at the end of Farsley's 'Great Escape'. Mobbed by jubilant fans, he whipped his shirt off (revealing a physique substantially better than my own) and handed his shirt to a young kid so he could have a momento.

I've checked on eBay and the shirt hasn't been listed for sale since so it means that somewhere in West Yorkshire right now, there's a little kid who's still got that shirt. It's probably far too big to wear but that kid will be forever grateful and at some point in the past few weeks, whilst they've been in the school playground kicking a ball against a fence, that kid has probably thought of Jacob Gratton as their idol more than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Gratts still has work to do to get his abs up to Ronnie's standards... but it's not a bad legacy to create for a little kid somewhere who is mad about Farsley Celtic!

So well done on everything you've been through to get to where you are today, Gratts!

You're a credit to your whole family, so keep going next season, keep believing in your own ability, keep enjoying yourself and being one of the best lads on this planet and if/when you ever need a confidence boost or a good chat, drop me a message anytime and we can put the world to rights.

And I'll no doubt see you at a game at some point soon!