BOBBY Grant may have departed for Scunthorpe United, but he will always be grateful to Accrington Stanley for helping him through the heart problem that threatened to end his career before it had even begun.

Grant officially became a Scunthorpe player on Thursday after opting to step up two divisions and join the Championship club rather than sign a new deal with Stanley.

The striker - born on the day of England’s World Cup victory over Cameroon in 1990 - was out of contract at the Crown Ground but Stanley were still entitled to compensation because he is under the age of 23.

It was announced recently that a six-figure fee had been agreed with Scunthorpe, said to be £130,000 with add-ons rising to £260,000.

For Grant only the chance to further his career tempted him to leave Stanley, where he came through the youth system and impressed with 18 goals during the 2009/10 campaign.

It was a career that may not have even got started after both he and Peter Murphy - now in Stanley’s first-team squad - were diagnosed with heart problems during their days in the youth team, with the club paying for operations to ensure they could play without hindrance.

“When I signed my second year in the youth team, Phil Hackney took all the youth team to get checked up and see if there was any problems,” said the 20-year-old.

“Myself and Peter Murphy had a couple of holes in the heart. It was very scary when they mentioned having an operation on my heart. It’s not the best of things.

“At first I thought they were going to cut my chest open but then I realise that’s long gone now. They went through my groin with keyhole surgery.

“The gaffer said to me that you’re best to get it done, it will help you with your career and prevent you getting tired towards the end of games. I think I’ve seen a big difference with that.

“You do fear for your career but you’ve just got to get on with it.

“If they’d said I wouldn’t have been able to play, I’d have just had to have taken it on the chin.

“But luckily enough for myself and the club I managed to get through it and pay them back on the field.

“It’s every boy’s dream to do what we’re doing. After a heart operation some people might lose interest in the game but I love playing.

“I’ve played since I was a little kid and it has gone well for me.

“Hopefully it’s all behind me now.”