Grace Gillard

**Last statistical update: 21:53, 23 January 2024 (UTC)**

**Grace Gillard** is a footballer who plays for **Hashtag United** (women).

Gillard started playing football with her older (by two years) brother, initially joining in with his training sessions before playing with him and their father in the local parks. She soon joined an age group team at under-6/under-7 level. Around 2012, she was into the Colchester United academy.

Watford
In 2015, Gillard debuted with WSL 2 side Watford. In that season, the defender made 4 appearances in the WSL Cup group stage in losses against Arsenal, Millwall, Chelsea and Reading as *The Golden Girls* finished 5th in Group 1; as Gillard missed their sole win over London Bees. At the conclusion of 2015, Gillard was voted as the Players’ Player of the Season.

University of Birmingham
Between 2016 and 2018, whilst attending the University of Birmingham, Gillard featured for their football team.

AFC Basildon
On 23 July 2018, Gillard completed a move to C&K Basildon - who would later be renamed as AFC Basildon. She made her competitive debut on the second matchday of the National League - Premier Division, Southern Division on 26 August as they shipped five unanswered goals at home to Cardiff City. In total, Gillard featured 19 times in 2018–19 as they suffered relegation to the National League - Division One South East. In the subsequent campaign in that league, the defender would again appear in 19 matches - whilst also scoring goals, firstly in the FA Cup versus Phoenix Sports on 6 October and secondly against Milton Keynes Dons on 24 November in the National League Cup. 2019–20 was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### HTU

2020–21
In mid-2020, AFC Basildon merged with HTU to form a women's squad under the latter's banner, with Gillard, alongside many others, making the move across to the new team; becoming captain in the process. Her first appearance for *The Tags* arrived on 9 August 2020 as they lost to Crawley Wasps in a pre-season friendly. After appearing in further friendlies with Sporting Khalsa, Haringey Borough, Dulwich Hamlet, Ashford Town and West Bromwich Albion, Gillard made her competitive bow for HTU on 20 September as they fell to a defeat in their opening National League - Division One South East fixture away to Ipswich Town. After six official appearances to start 2020–21, the campaign was again curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021–22
Having featured in competitive action in 2021–22 for the first time against Cambridge City on 15 August 2021, Gillard scored her first goal for *The Tags* on 5 September as they won 4–0 at home to Enfield Town. Her next goal came in November as HTU won 17–0 in an FA Cup first round tie over Southend United. On 12 December, Gillard scored a penalty and assisted Sasha Adamson in a 7–0 victory over Stevenage in the National League - Division One South East. After a second HTU assist versus Billericay Town in January, the defender once again notched a goal and an assist in a match with Cambridge United. She notched her final goal of the season on 20 February 2022 as HTU won away to Harlow Town. Further assists over Norwich City and Enfield Town would occur across March and April.

2022–23
In her second competitive appearance of 2022–23, on 28 August 2022 in the National League - Division One South East, Gillard scored a brace at Woodlands School in a 10-0 home win over Wymondham Town. She scored again next time out in a road win at London Seaward on 1 September in the league. Further goals followed versus Ashford Town, Cambridge City and Chesham United, which preceded the defender netting twice in a victory in the FA Cup third qualifying round against Bedford on 30 October. She scored additional cup goals versus Ipswich Town and Dartford in November.

After opening the next month with a league hat-trick away to Hounslow as HTU won 13-0 on 4 December, Gillard netted her first goal of 2023 on 15 January in a Essex Senior Cup quarter-final over Bowers & Pitsea; which was her 20th goal for the club. In her 70th appearance, on 12 February, the defender scored twice in a 7–1 league victory at Norwich City. Gillard made it 23 goals in a HTU shirt with one in an Essex Senior Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out loss to Billericay Town on 19 February. She converted twice in a 6–0 away triumph at Chesham United on 16 March.

Gillard netted her 26th goal for *The Tags* in a 19 March 2023 win in the National League - Division One South East over Cambridge City. She made it 27 goals for the club on 23 April away at Queens Park Rangers, as they won 4–1 to secure promotion as champions. Against the same opposition on the final day, as HTU lifted the trophy, Gillard scored again.

2023–24
Gillard's opening 2 goals of the 2023–24 campaign came via the penalty spot in pre-season successes over Stoke City on 16 July 2023 and Margate on 23 July. Competitively, the defender marked the start of her campaign with goals versus Chatham Town and Rugby Borough. Gillard scored a penalty in a defeat to Milton Keynes Dons (league) on 8 October, having missed a spot-kick a week prior against Oxford United (cup).

## Personal Life

Gillard has worked as a physiotherapist since 2018, having studied the field at the University of Birmingham from 2014 to 2018.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearances (102)
* List of appearances of Grace Gillard

Goals (33)
* List of goals of Grace Gillard

## HTU Honours

* Essex Senior Cup (1): 2021-22
* National League - Division One South East (1): 2022–23

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Grace Gillard" .
2. ↑ "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKIPPER @GraceGillard1" , 30 January 2022.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Hashtag United captain Grace Gillard interview: 'Normalising girls playing football is important'" , 11 April 2022.
4. ↑ "GOAL! 5-1 Slick move down the left from Colchester ends with Evie Clark converting Grace Gillard's cross" , 6 October 2012.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Golden Girls crown star performers at annual awards bash" , 11 November 2015.
6. ↑ "Starting line up: Myers, Buckle, Gillard, Sorenson, Llyod, Cooper, Bracelli, Boxall, Bodily, Steele, Hall" , 17 February 2016.
7. ↑ "1’s❤️ 10-0!!" , 16 June 2018.
8. ↑ "NEW SIGNING" , 23 July 2018.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Grace Gillard player stats" .
10. ↑ "Grace Gillard" .