Grainger: Dennis

1945-1947 (Player Details) (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Outside Left

Born: Royston, Nr Barnsley: 05-03-1920

Debut: v Middlesbrough (h): 05-01-1946

5’7” 11st (1948)

Grainger was working in the mines in charge of the pit ponies when he began with South Kirby, then he joined his brother Jack at Southport in October 1938, but did not make the first team before World War Two intervened. He did play one League game but it was expunged when the Football League ceased for the duration of the War. He guested for numerous teams during the war. While initially playing for his own club, Southport, he later made Millwall the side he played for, primarily in League South. With Southport he scored twice in twenty-two games in 1939-40 (including the expunged game), scored four in twenty-seven in 1940-41 and five in twenty-nine in 1941-42, while guesting with Millwall he scored eleven goals in twenty-three games in 1942-43, one in twenty-nine in 1943-44 and once in six games in 1944-45. He also guested for Bolton Wanderers, scoring once in two games in 1940-41, Doncaster Rovers, playing once in 1941-42 and three times in 1942-43, without scoring, and also failed o find the net in one game for Walsall in 1942-43. He played once, without scoring, for Rotherham United in 1943-44 and then scored once in four appearances in 1944-45, then scored in his only game for Sheffield United in 1944-45 and with Lincoln City he scored in his only game in 1944-45 but did not score in his two games in 1945-46 and had the odd game for Leeds United. He guested for Leeds United in the final War-time season of 1945-46, making his debut at Outside Left in a 1-2 home defeat by Barnsley on 8th September 1945 in the Football League Northern Section and finished the season with nine goals from twenty-one games at Outside Right and fourteen at Outside Left. He joined Leeds in October 1945 from Southport for £1,000. He figured in both legs of two-legged F.A. Cup tie with Middlesbrough in 1945-46 and made a two goal League debut for United against Preston North End in their opening Division One game after the war. He was a decent winger with pace and power and gave United good service until he moved to Wrexham in December 1947. After scoring twelve goals in ninety-eight games he was transferred to Oldham Athletic in June 1951, but only played three games without scoring. He left for Bangor City one year later. He subsequently joined Flint Town. Grainger arranged for a trial for his cousin Colin, when he was on Wrexham’s books. The Graingers had a great football pedigree. Cousin Colin played for England, and his brother Jack was with Southport and Barnsley, while Horace was on Chesterfield’s books. Another cousin Eddie Holliday played for Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and was capped three times by England and another, Jack Grainger, starred at Outside Right and Centre Forward for Rotherham United and England 'B'. In the latter part of his football career Grainger became involved in the pub business as well as working in the drilling and boring business in Southport. He died at Duckmanton Derbyshire on 6th May 1986.