Grice celebrates number one status

Grice, pictured, bagged a brace in a 3-1 win at Spalding United in EVO-STIK League South on Saturday to take his haul to 153 and overtake previous record holder Dave Sutton on 152 when he left Harrison Park in 2001.

A former Stoke City academy star who was also on the books of Aston Villa before going on to play for Wolstanton United and Alsager Town, Grice first signed for the Blues in October 2011 from North West Counties Football League side Eccleshall.

His record since has been nothing short of phenomenal, wracking up his tally in 299 appearances, 61 as a substitute. Before becoming only the third Blues centurion in the club's history in February 2016 alongside Sutton and Dave Whittaker on 107 goals, he scored his first against Market Drayton Town on October 4 2011 and by the end of the season had netted 20 goals from just 34 appearances.

The striker's best return came in season 2014-15 when he netted 31 times during a run to the play-off final and he's set another club record this season with his sixth hat-trick of the 2017-18 campaign in a 6-1 rout of Corby Town.

Moreover, Grice has consistently amassed goals every season, comfortably passing the 20-goal mark each campaign with 29 in 2015-16, 22 last season and another 24 so far this term. He still has one more record to complete this term - a 300th appearance on Saturday against Stocksbridge to become only the 13th player to reach the milestone.

A Blues spokesman said: "Tim's place as a Leek Town legend is now firmly cemented in the history books. All Blues fans will be hoping he continues to fire in the goals for some time to come and that he could become the first player to score 200 for the club."

Image courtesy of @leektown/Twitter

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