Grimes targeting historic end to memorable campaign

15th April

Matt Grimes started his season hoping to guide Exeter City into League One - he approaches the end of the campaign looking to make history in the Barclays Premier League.
The 19-year-old made 25 appearances this campaign for his hometown club, who are within touching distance of the League Two play-off spots with three games remaining.
But it is in South West Wales where Grimes is now focussing his attention, with the midfielder having whet his appetite for the top flight after making his Swans debut in the recent 3-1 win over Hull City.
That win, along with the point picked up against Everton last weekend, means Garry Monk's side are now level with the club's record points total of 47 in the Premier League.
With six games to go, the Swans look likely to set new standards at the Liberty.
And Grimes, who has also been an unused sub in Monk's recent squads, believes making history will be just reward for the fantastic support the team has received from the Jack Army.



"The manager has spoken to us about making history - you can have a football career, you can buy flash cars and flash houses, but there's nothing compared to making history on the pitch," said Grimes, who recently captained England Under-20s.
"For the fans it would be unbelievable, and it would be just reward for them too.
"Swansea's fans are different class. One of the massive things for me is the huge support we get for away games.
"A lot of the time that I've been part of the matchday squad for away games our fans are louder than the home fans. That is a massive tribute to any club.
"Like Exeter, Swansea is a very family-based club and all the fans want the club to do well, so breaking the points record is something for them to really enjoy."
Having arrived from Exeter in January, Grimes has found his feet after integrating and adjusting to life at his new club.
And he's already feeling the benefits of working daily alongside the likes of midfielders Ki Sung-Yueng, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jack Cork and Jonjo Shelvey.



Grimes added: "I've settled into the club and city, so now it's all about keeping my head down and finishing off this season strongly and starting next season afresh.
"It has been different in terms of training between the club. Exeter are in League Two while here I am up against high quality Premier League players, so it took time to get used to that.
"There's obviously a lot of extra gym work to get my body physically in tune with the rest of the squad, but I've got used to that.
"I couldn't do all that straight away as it was a big jump, and that meant I couldn't put myself in contention for team selection.
"It's all about learning as much as I can, and I've done a lot of that already.
"I've not played a lot with the likes of Gylfi, Jack, Ki and Jonjo week in week out, but I've learned a lot from them in training. When you have that quality around you, then you have to take as much advice as you can from them."