Lee Grace is playing some of the best football of his career of late, but few would have given a second thought about the time it takes to settle at a new club. A regular starter under manager Shane Keegan - whom he followed West from their days at
Lee Grace is playing some of the best football of his career of late, but few would have given a second thought about the time it takes to settle at a new club.
A regular starter under manager Shane Keegan - whom he followed West from their days at Wexford Youths - Grace has forged a formidable partnership with Steven Folan at the heart of the Tribesmen’s defence.
Although it took a little time for him to find his feet, which was only natural considering he was entering into a dressing room as the new boy. But it's been a case of so far, so good.
“I only joined this year and the boys welcomed me with open arms. I can’t say a bad word about anybody on the team. So I’m happy, I’m enjoying my football and so are all the boys thank God," said Grace.
“We do a good bit of team-bonding. We go for coffee, we go for food – all that kind of craic. I mean, we’re in every day anyway so there’s no dodging each other so there has to be a good vibe in the camp.
“Obviously, coming in you’re going to be nervous. When I joined Wexford two years ago I was just as nervous joining them but in fairness the lads have welcomed me with open arms and as I said there’s not a bad boy in the camp. Usually in a team you’ll have one or two that you don’t get on with but everyone on this team gets on, so it works well."
One of the positive notes of the season so far for Grace has been his partnership with Folan. The pair work well together and bring the best out of each other.
“I said it a couple of weeks ago – he has a couple of traits that I don’t have, and I’ve a couple of traits the he doesn’t have, and I think it works well. I do like playing myself, I’m not saying I can’t play, but I know when to play, and so does Stevie so yeah I think we work well together.”
Meanwhile, Galway boss Keegan feels the partnership of Grace and Folan is a solid one, and has no doubt that both centre-halves can get the ball down and play – what’s more he reckons that the sky’s the limit for the 24-year-old Grace.
“The full-time set-up has absolutely crowned Lee, there’s no doubt about it. I mean, he’s a guy who only a couple of seasons ago was playing junior football. The interesting thing with Lee is that he’s taken every step up in his stride so well.
“He was a brilliant junior player who took the step up to the First Division. A brilliant First Division player who took the step up to Premier Division. At what stage does Lee reach a level that’s beyond the grasp of him?
“While he’s an athlete and he’s got ability, it all comes back to attitude. He’s got one of the best attitudes I’ve encountered in my time in football and that puts him in good stead.
“He ticks an awful lot of boxes and if he keeps his feet on the ground you would wonder to what level he can reach,” Keegan added.
