Lewis James Grabban (born 12 January 1988) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. Since retiring from football Lewis has returned to Nottingham Forest as an academy coach.
He was called up to the Jamaica squad in 2015 but remained uncapped.
Early and personal life Grabban's maternal grandparents were Windrush migrants from Jamaica. He converted to Islam at the age of 18.
Club career Crystal Palace After joining Crystal Palace at the age of 13, he was handed his debut in a 3–0 home win against Walsall in the League Cup on 23 August 2005."Academy Roll Of Honour" Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 11 October 2013. He made his second appearance in the following round, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–0 win against Coventry City on 20 September."Crystal Palace 1–0 Coventry" BBC 20 September 2005. Retrieved 11 October 2013. In May 2006, he was named 'Academy Player of the Year'."Inside the Palace" Croydon Guardian. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
On 16 August 2006, he joined Oldham Athletic on an initial one-month loan deal."GRABS GOES ON LOAN" Crystal Palace F.C. 16 August 2006. Retrieved 11 October 2013. He made his debut on 19 August in a 1–0 loss against future club Millwall."Millwall 1–0 Oldham" Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 19 August 2006. Retrieved 11 October 2013. The loan deal was extended a day before it was due to expire on 15 September, keeping Grabban at Oldham for another month."Loan Extended For Grabban" Vital Football 15 September 2006. Retrieved 11 October 2013. After making 10 appearances for the club, he was recalled by Crystal Palace on 10 October 2006."Grabban loan ends" Vital Football 10 October 2006. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
He returned to Crystal Palace and made his league debut on 20 February 2007, in a 1–0 away win against Southend United."Southend 0–1 Crystal Palace" BBC 20 February 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2013. On 14 March 2007, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–2 win against West Brom."West Brom 2–3 Crystal Palace" Crystal Palace F.C. 14 March 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
On 31 August 2007, he joined Scottish side Motherwell on loan until January 2008."Grabban Heads North Of The Border" Crystal Palace F.C. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2013. He made his debut on 3 September in a 2–0 defeat to Hearts."Hearts 2–0 Motherwell" Heart of Midlothian F.C. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2012. His loan ended on 2 January and he returned to Crystal Palace, playing in a 3–0 win against Wolves 10 days later."Wolves 0–3 Crystal Palace" Crystal Palace F.C. 12 January 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013. A week later he played in his final game before joining Millwall, a 2–0 win against Bristol City at Selhurst Park."Crystal Palace 2–0 Bristol City" Crystal Palace F.C. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
Millwall On 21 January 2008, Grabban signed for Palace's London rivals Millwall for £150,000 on a three-and-a-half-year contract, and he was assigned the shirt number 10."Millwall sign Grabban from Palace" BBC Sport. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2012. He made his debut on 23 January in a 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest at The Den."Millwall 2–2 Nottm Forest" BBC 23 January 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013. He scored his first goal for Millwall on 23 February in a 3–0 home win against Port Vale."Millwall 3–0 Port Vale" Millwall F.C. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013. He then scored in the following two games, scoring an equaliser to earn Millwall a 1–1 draw away to Luton Town, and opening the scoring in the first minute of a 2–1 win against Swansea City."Luton 1–1 Millwall" Millwall F.C. 26 February 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013."Swansea 1–2 Millwall" Millwall F.C. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
On the opening day of the 2008–09 season, Grabban scored in a 4–3 defeat to Oldham Athletic. His goal at the time had given Millwall a 3–1 lead, however Oldham sensationally managed to come back and win the game 4–3."Oldham 4–3 Millwall" Millwall F.C. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013. On 30 August, he scored in a 2–1 win against Huddersfield Town, and scored again the following game which was a 2–0 win against Hartlepool United."Millwall 2–1 Huddersfield" Millwall F.C. 30 August 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013."Millwall 2–0 Hartlepool" Millwall F.C. 6 September 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
He began to find form as he scored four goals in nine matches, all of which were wins, against Swindon Town, Colchester United, Hereford United and Chester."Swindon 1–2 Millwall" Millwall F.C. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013."Colchester 1–2 Millwall" Millwall F.C. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013."Millwall 1–0 Hereford" Millwall F.C. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013."Chester 0–3 Millwall" Millwall F.C. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013. Millwall finished fifth in the table, and after defeating Leeds United in the play-off semi-finals,"Leeds 1–1 Millwall" Millwall F.C. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2013. they lost 3–2 to Scunthorpe United in the final at Wembley."Millwall 2–3 Scunthorpe" Millwall F.C. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2013. Millwall and Grabban did gain promotion via the playoffs during the 2009–10 season after winning the 2010 Football League One play-off final against Swindon Town.
Brentford On 25 March 2010, Grabban signed for Brentford on loan until the end of the season."Brentford sign Lewis Grabban and Pim Balkenstein" BBC Sport. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012. On 27 March he made his debut and scored as Brentford beat Leyton Orient 1–0 at Griffin Park."Brentford 1–0 Leyton Orient" BBC Sport. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012. His next and final goal of the loan spell came in a 3–0 home victory against Huddersfield Town on 10 April."Brentford 3–0 Huddersfield" BBC Sport. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012. He scored twice in 7 appearances before being recalled by parent club Millwall on 21 April. Brentford manager Andy Scott said: "He's done really well for us and we are very disappointed to lose him"."Millwall recalle striker Lewis Grabban from Brentford" BBC Sport. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012. The following season, he re-joined Brentford on loan for one month on 8 October 2010."Brentford snap up Millwall striker Lewis Grabban" BBC Sport. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012. He made his second debut the following day, in a 3–1 home defeat to Oldham Athletic."Brentford 1–3 Oldham" BBC Sport. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012. He scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw against AFC Bournemouth on 2 November, scoring a penalty just eight minutes after coming on as a substitute."Brentford 1–1 Bournemouth" BBC Sport. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012. The following day his loan spell was extended for another two months, keeping him at the club until 4 January."Millwall striker Lewis Grabban extends Brentford loan" BBC Sport. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012. On 24 January 2011, Grabban signed permanently for Brentford on a free transfer, with his contract lasting until the end of the season."Brentford sign Lewis Grabban as Carl Cort departs" BBC Sport. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2012. After scoring in games against MK Dons and Walsall, he scored twice in a 4–4 draw with Huddersfield Town on 7 May 2011, which was also his last appearances for the club."MK Dons 1–1 Brentford" BBC Sport. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2012."Walsall 3–2 Brentford" BBC Sport. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2012."Huddersfield 4–4 Brentford" BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2012. Grabban made 32 appearances and scored 7 goals across his three spells with the Bees.Lewis Grabban | Football Stats | Norwich City | Age 27 | Soccer Base
Rotherham United On 4 July 2011, Grabban signed for League Two side Rotherham United, on a two-year deal."Rotherham United sign Brentford striker Lewis Grabban" BBC Sport. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012. He had previously worked with manager Andy Scott during his time at Brentford."1st Team Profiles Lewis Grabban" Rotherham United F.C. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
He made his debut on 6 August, and scored a stunning volley with the outside of his foot from the edge of the box, as Rotherham beat Oxford United 1–0 at Don Valley Stadium."Rotherham 1–0 Oxford" BBC Sport. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012. He scored his second goal for the club on 27 August in a 3–0 home win against Gillingham, taking Rotherham to the top of the league in the process."Rotherham 3–0 Gillingham" BBC Sport. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012. On 10 September he scored twice as Rotherham beat Dagenham & Redbridge 3–1."Rotherham 3–1 Dag and Red" BBC Sport. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012. A week later he scored twice in one game again, in a 3–3 draw with Torquay United."Torquay 3–3 Rotherham" BBC Sport. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012. In October he scored in back to back games in the space of three days, in draws to Shrewsbury and Morecambe."Rotherham 1–1 Shrewsbury" BBC Sport. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012."Morecambe 3–3 Rotherham" BBC Sport. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012. In November, he scored in three consecutive wins, including two league wins against Aldershot and Bradford City, and twice in an FA Cup win against Barrow."Rotherham 2–0 Aldershot" BBC Sport. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012."Bradford 2–3 Rotherham" BBC Sport. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012."Barrow 1–2 Rotherham" BBC Sport. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012. He scored his third FA Cup goal of the season on 3 December, however Rotherham were eliminated as they lost 2–1 to Shrewsbury."Shrewsbury 2–1 Rotherham" BBC Sport. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
He scored his first goals of 2012 on 2 January, as Rotherham beat Bradford 3–0 at home."Rotherham 3–0 Bradford" BBC Sport. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012. On 5 January Crawley Town bid £100,000 for Grabban, who had scored 12 goals in 24 appearances so far for Rotherham."Crawley hope to Grab striker" Sky Sports. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012. The bid was rejected, and Rotherham manager Andy Scott labelled the bid as "embarrassing", saying it would take big money for them to accept any offers."Millers reject Grabban bid" Sky Sports. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012."Scott slams Crawley's Grabban offer" Sky Sports. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
On 6 March he scored in a 1–1 draw with Crewe, and scored again the following game as Rotherham beat Plymouth Argyle 1–0."Rotherham 1–1 Crewe" BBC Sport. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012."Rotherham 1–0 Plymouth" BBC Sport. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012. He followed this up with a goal in a 2–1 loss to Oxford on 17 March, and scoring the winner on 31 March against Hereford United."Oxford 2–1 Rotherham" BBC Sport. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012."Rotherham 1–0 Hereford" BBC Sport. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012. On 21 April he scored his 20th & 21st goals of the season in a 3–2 home win against Morecambe."Rotherham 3–2 Morecambe" BBC Sport. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012. On 21 May 2012 reports came in that Crawley Town had agreed a deal with the striker, it was later confirmed that Grabban had agreed a deal after announced by Sky Sports News and BBC Sport but Rotherham boss Steve Evans denied the deal being agreed.Retrieved 21 May 2012.
AFC Bournemouth