William Grimes

William Grimes

Born in Ickleford in 1886, William played for Hitchin Town where he was spotted by Watford in 1906.

A right winger of skill and speed, he was soon on the radar of Football League clubs, signing for Glossop in 1907, Bradford City in 1908 and Derby a year later.

At the Baseball Ground he played alongside the legendary Steve Bloomer and helped the Rams to two promotions to the top flight in a yo-yo period for the club leading up to the Great War.

Wanting a move back south, William exploited a loophole in the rules and signed for Luton in 1919 but his age and lack of fitness caused by the War caught up with him and he made only 11 appearances before being released at the season’s end.

William saw out his playing days at Biggleswade whilst going back to his old trade as a bricklayer and passed away in the town in 1936.