Defender Simon Grand leaves Lancaster City to join Bamber Bridge

Experienced defender Simon Grand has left Lancaster City to sign for rivals Bamber Bridge.

Grand - who was recently part of the club's caretaker management team - has joined City's fellow NPL Premier Division side just six months after joining the Dolly Blues.

The centre-back and, for most of that time, ex-captain Andrew Teague - who is now at Clitheroe FC - oversaw eight games, winning four, drew two and lost two. 

Grand, who was at Charnock Richard before moving in the summer and has Morecambe and Barrow as some of his former clubs, is Lancaster’s joint top scorer this season - three of his six goals coming in an FA Cup qualifying round tie against Marske United. 

He isn’t the only player to have departed City in recent weeks. As well as his and Teague’s exits, Trey Turner and Jacob Holland-Wilkinson have also moved on from the Giant Axe.

They signed for Avro and Bury respectively last week.

City take on Bradford (Park Avenue) away from home this weekend. 

Lancaster’s last two scheduled games - in the LFA Challenge Trophy against Bamber Bridge (January 16) and in the league away to Whitby Town (January 20) - were postponed due to frozen pitches.

The owner of Bradford (PA) has this week said the club are looking for further investment.

They were relegated from the Vanarama National North last season and are once again struggling this campaign.

‘The Green Army’ have only picked up 14 points from 26 games this season and, excluding Marske United who resigned from the league two weeks ago, are the lowest ranked side in the division.

They lost 5-0 to Hyde United last Saturday (January 20).

Coincidentally, Hyde were the last team Lancaster City played.

‘The Tigers’ also won by a big margin on that day, beating the Dolly Blues 4-0 in Chris Willcock’s first game as Lancaster boss. 

City are currently 11th in the league, in the position they’ve finished in the last two seasons. 

They are eight points outside the playoff spots. 

Midfielder Ed Ikpakwu, who returned to Lancaster last week for a third spell at the club, could be in line for a first appearance for the Dolly Blues since February 2023.

Bradford (Park Avenue) v Lancaster City kicks off at 3pm on Saturday (January 27) at the Horsfall Community Stadium.

*Lancaster City’s The Giant Axe ground will be hosting a prostate cancer checking day for the second year running, in partnership with the Barry Kilby Appeal Foundation.

The checking day is Saturday, May 18. 

Ninety tests have been allocated to The Giant Axe.

Those tested will be asked for a £20 donation towards the cost of the test, which is a simple blood test.

To register for a test, visit HERE.