Bristol Manor Farm Football Club can announce that Evander Grubb has departed to pursue a new challenge away from The NL Services Stadium.
In a bittersweet announcement for Manor Farm, the club bids farewell to one of its own, as former Under-18 graduate and established first-team forward, Evander Grubb, departs to join Mousehole AFC in a full-time capacity. The young talent, who etched his name into FA Cup history in September 2021, leaves behind a legacy at the club.
Grubb’s journey with Bristol Manor Farm has been nothing short of remarkable. After his release from Bristol Rovers in 2019, Grubb quickly impressed Manager Lee Lashenko saw him rapidly advance up to the first-team. In a historic moment during the 2021 FA Cup, the then-teenager made headlines by becoming the competition’s youngest scorer. Grubb scored a stunning brace in the 5-1 victory over Cadbury Heath, a feat that not only turned heads but also earned him a coveted move to the Huddersfield Town Academy.
After his stint with Huddersfield, Grubb returned to the familiar sights of the Portway, where he really had become a key part of the Farmers’ forward line. Commenting on Evander Grubb’s departure, Manager Lee Lashenko expressed a range of emotions with pride being the standout.
“Evander is a product of our fantastic youth setup, and witnessing his growth into a formidable senior player has been nothing short of amazing for the entire football club. With him, it has been a real three-year project, and since he first came to Bristol Manor Farm in 2019, we have definitely restored his enjoyment of football. You could just see how much he buzzed from being around the place in trainings and on matchdays.”
Grubb’s move to Mousehole AFC marks a significant chapter in his career, as he takes on a full-time role to pursue his coaching badges, acquire a driver’s license, and reside alongside eight other full-time players at the Cornwall-based club. This was an opportunity that Manager Lashenko simply couldn’t stand in the way of, and encouraged Evander to grasp the opportunity with both hands.
“While we are sad to see him go, I can speak on behalf of the football club that we all believe this can help him achieve his goal of living and breathing professional football. As his manager I would have felt immense guilt in trying to convince him to stay. I told Evander that I want him to go and to not let this opportunity pass him by. Mousehole and Jake Ash (Mousehole AFC Manager) both have high ambitions, and our relationship with them is truly intact. He’ll be moving down there full-time, whilst developing himself personally, and I back his ability beyond any shadow of doubt.”
With all of his players returning to full-fitness during the enforced break, the Gaffer believes that his side is in a very strong position heading into the West Country clash with Melksham on December 16.
“As I and Bristol Manor Farm have always done, we will regroup and take stock of our own situation. The Farmy Army supporters can take great pride in knowing that the squad is in a very healthy place at the moment. George Kellow, Daniel Dodimead, and Rhys Thomas have really established themselves within the team, and we will also be boosted by players returning to fitness such as Ben Bament, Jamie Bird, and Mason Winter. The players have shown great attitude during the break and we can’t wait to get back to action over the busy festive period.”
While we are sad to see Evander leave us, this is undoubtedly a fantastic opportunity for him to revitalise his pathway into the professional game, and we urge the Farmy Army to join us in wishing him the best at his new club.