Jonathan Grounds

Early life and career

Grounds was born in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire. He was associated with Middlesbrough F.C. from the age of eight, had a season ticket "from a very early age", and also played football for Stockton Schools and Redcar Town. In July 2003, Grounds was a member of the Middlesbrough youth team that played in the inaugural Nike Premier Cup in the United States. He took up a two-year scholarship with Middlesbrough F.C.'s Academy in 2004, and as part of the programme, he continued his education at Middlesbrough College where he achieved a sports science qualification. Grounds has been with long term partner Savannah since 2008 and welcomed a son in March 2012. The couple were married in June 2017.

Middlesbrough and loans

Prior to the 2007–08 season, the club had considered releasing him, but decided to give him his first professional contract, of one year. With regular left backs Andrew Taylor and Emanuel Pogatetz injured, Grounds made his first-team debut on 12 January 2008 in a 1–1 Premier League draw at home to Liverpool. After impressing both as captain of Middlesbrough's reserve team and in further appearances for the first team, he was rewarded with a new two-year contract in March. According to manager Gareth Southgate, "We didn't expect him to progress this quickly but he got into the first team and did very well, showing he has the right character and the mentality to cope with the big occasion." Grounds joined Championship club…

Grounds returned to Birmingham City as an academy coach in 2024. He worked with the under-16s and as assistant to under-21s manager Steve Spooner before being promoted to Chris Davies's staff as first team development coach in October 2024.

Exeter City

League Two runner-up: 2021–22