MEN 1873-1895
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Paul Grimes

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
25-09-1949
N/A
25-10-1982
Whitehaven
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
31-10-1982 v Warrington
Featherstone Rovers
1984- Workington Town
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1982-1984
50 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
8
0
0
28

Biography of Paul Grimes



HERITAGE NO : 958
Paul Grimes by Dave Dooley:

In the manner of Cliff Watson, Paul answered a newspaper advertisement and joined Leigh from Newcastle RUFC in the late 1960s. A real powerhouse second-rower, at well over six foot and 16 stones, he won a Challenge Cup winner`s medal with the Hilton Park club in 1970/71 and was a member of the successful BBC2 Floodlit Trophy winning outfit in 1972/73. Paul moved to Salford in 1973, but returned to Leigh shortly afterwards and was later sold to Whitehaven for £8,000 in 1979.

St.Helens signed `Grizzly` Grimes as a prop forward in November 1982 for £12,000 and the big Geordie became a firm favourite with the Knowsley Road faithful before his transfer to Workington at the start of the 1984/85 campaign.

He made a winning start with the club in the 16 points to 11 victory over Warrington on the 31st of October, 1982. Later on in the same campaign Paul scored his first try for the Saints against the same opposition as Saints completed a double over the `Wires` by 17 points to 13 at Wilderspool. His four try return from 26 matches in his first season was replicated in his second campaign with another four touchdowns from 23 games. Grizzly was a tough and reliable in taking the ball forward, solid in the scrum and strong in defence. Paul played in the first match of the 1984/5 season in the 25 points to 10 victory over Featherstone Rovers before transferring to Workington Town.

Paul Grimes by Alex Service

The Saints have had a tradition for signing front-rowers seemingly at the end of their careers who have enjoyed the proverbial Indian summer at Knowsley Road. Remember Kevin Ward? What about the marvellous Paul Anderson? Without doubt Paul Grimes comes into this category and there are links with another famous Saints 'great' too, because Geordie Paul came down to Leigh for a trial from his native Newcastle after the club advertised in the press for new players.
He soon settled into the First Team at Hilton Park and picked up four major honours, including a memorable Challenge Cup winners medal after Leigh beat Leeds at Wembley in 1971.

Paul moved to Salford in 1972-73, but couldn't settle and returned to Leigh. In 1979 he was transferred to Whitehaven for '8,000 and in October 1982 he became a Saint for a '12,000 fee. At 6 feet 3 inches and over 16 stones he proved a formidable figure in the St.Helens pack as a blind-side prop in what was a time of transition at Knowsley Road. Although he didn't win any major honours with the club, he was extremely popular with the fans, who nicknamed him 'Grizzly' Grimes. Together with Peter Gorley and evergreen front-rower Mel James he was the cornerstone of the pack and helped to bring through youngsters such as Paul Round and Andy Platt who were to blossom within the next few years. Towards the end of the 1983-84 campaign Paul was transfer-listed and was signed by Workington Town for a spell.

The signing of Paul helped to lift the gloom that had descended upon Knowsley Road during the start of the 1982-83 season and he will always be remembered for his great strength and never-say-die approach. A fine player indeed and a pity the club was not able to secure his services some years before!

PLAYER HONOURS

SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1982~834 0 0 26
1983~844 0 0 23
1984~85 0 0 0 1
TOTALS:8 0 0 50
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1984~85 1002
TOTALS:1002

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
31st Oct 1982 1
W
 10 Warrington L H 16 11 VIEW
6th Nov 1982 2
L
 10 Leeds L A 10 13 VIEW
14th Nov 1982 3
W
 10 Workington Town L A 20 15 VIEW
21st Nov 1982 4
L
 10 Castleford L H 23 24 VIEW
27th Nov 1982 5
W
 10 Fulham JP1 H 17 5 VIEW
12th Dec 1982 6
L
 10 Wigan JP2 A 5 9 VIEW
19th Dec 1982 7
W
 10 Featherstone Rovers L H 13 10 VIEW
26th Dec 1982 8
W
 10 Wigan L H 11 8 VIEW
2nd Jan 1983 9
W
 10 Widnes L A 18 11 VIEW
9th Jan 1983 10
W
 10 Hull L H 19 18 VIEW
16th Jan 1983 11
L
 10 Castleford L A 10 31 VIEW
23rd Jan 1983 12
W
 10 Barrow L H 20 5 VIEW
30th Jan 1983 13
W
 10 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 13 7 VIEW
15th Feb 1983 14
W
 10 Carlisle CC1 H 52 0 VIEW
27th Feb 1983 15
W
 10 Leeds CC2 A 23 13 VIEW
6th Mar 1983 16
W
 10 Leeds L H 19 7 VIEW
12th Mar 1983 17
L
 10 Featherstone Rovers CC3 H 10 11 VIEW
16th Mar 1983 18
W
 10 Warrington L A 17 13 1 VIEW
20th Mar 1983 19
L
 10 Hull L A 13 24 VIEW
27th Mar 1983 20
W
 10 Carlisle L A 40 16 VIEW
29th Mar 1983 21
W
 10 Halifax L H 22 0 1 VIEW
1st Apr 1983 22
L
 10 Wigan L A 6 13 VIEW
10th Apr 1983 23
W
 10 Halifax L A 23 5 1 VIEW
12th Apr 1983 24
L
 10 Bradford Northern L A 6 13 VIEW
17th Apr 1983 25
W
 8 Carlisle L H 39 7 1 VIEW
24th Apr 1983 26
L
 10 Widnes PT1 H 7 11 VIEW
21st Aug 1983 27
W
 10 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 30 11 1 VIEW
28th Aug 1983 28
W
 10 Warrington L A 12 8 VIEW
3rd Sep 1983 29
W
 10 Rochdale Hornets LC1 A 28 4 VIEW
11th Sep 1983 30
L
 10 Castleford L H 10 22 VIEW
14th Sep 1983 31
L
 10 Warrington LC2 H 26 30 1 VIEW
18th Sep 1983 32
L
 10 Bradford Northern L A 10 14 VIEW
25th Sep 1983 33
W
 10 Wakefield Trinity L H 50 12 VIEW
2nd Oct 1983 34
L
 10 Oldham L A 6 32 VIEW
9th Oct 1983 35
W
 8 Fulham L H 18 14 VIEW
23rd Oct 1983 36
W
 8 Bradford Northern L H 29 14 1 VIEW
30th Oct 1983 37
W
 8 Featherstone Rovers L H 19 13 VIEW
6th Nov 1983 38
W
 8 Kent Invicta JP1 A 40 7 1 VIEW
13th Nov 1983 39
L
 8 Leigh L A 12 20 VIEW
19th Nov 1983 40
W
 8 Warrington JP2 A 18 10 VIEW
27th Nov 1983 41
W
 8 Featherstone Rovers JP3 H 16 12 VIEW
4th Dec 1983 42
L
 8 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 7 32 VIEW
17th Dec 1983 43
L
 8 Widnes JPSF N 4 18 VIEW
26th Dec 1983 44
L
 8 Wigan L A 8 12 VIEW
1st Jan 1984 45
L
 8 Widnes L H 12 20 VIEW
8th Jan 1984 46
L
 8 Wakefield Trinity L A 22 31 VIEW
11th Jan 1984 47
L
 8 Hull L A 24 30 VIEW
15th Jan 1984 48
W
 8 Whitehaven L H 40 10 VIEW
22nd Jan 1984 49
W
 8 Fulham L A 30 0 VIEW
19th Aug 1984 --
W
 8 Mansfield Marksmen * Fr Testimonial H 84 12 VIEW
26th Aug 1984 --
W
 8 Oldham* Fr Ward Cup H 38 4 1 VIEW
2nd Sep 1984 50
W
 8 Featherstone Rovers L H 25 10 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 32 | LOSSES : 20 | DRAWS :

GALLERY





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