McCann From Cheltenham Official Site

<h3 class="headline"><h3 class="headline">McCann move completed </h3><div class="articleBody" id="articleBody">

The transfer of Grant McCann from Cheltenham Town to Barnsley has been completed today.</p>

McCann joins the Tykes for a fee of &pound;100,000 with Cheltenham Town also eligible for a percentage of any fee should Barnsley sell him to another club in future.</p>

The transfer fee has broken the Cheltenham Town outbound transfer record which has stood for nearly 12 years.</p>

Striker Christer Warren was sold to Southampton in March 1995 for an initial &pound;45,000 fee that later rose to &pound;60,000 following various contingent payments.</p>

McCann, who had only six months of his Cheltenham Town contract left to run, joined the Robins initially as a loan player from West Ham United in October 2000. He made his first team debut as a substitute in a 2-0 home defeat against Rochdale but went on to become a key player for the remainder of the season, operating mostly in the left-back position.</p>

Prior to joining Cheltenham Town he had enjoyed loan spells with Notts County and with Livingston in Scotland, but it was with the Robins that he began to make a name for himself.</p>

At the end of his loan period McCann returned to West Ham for the start of the 2001-2002 season and he made his debut for the Hammers as a substitute in a Premiership match against Liverpool at Anfield in August 2001. Two months later he made his international debut for Northern Ireland as a substitute in a 1-0 win away to Malta in a World Cup Qualifier.</p>

McCann returned to Cheltenham as a loan player in October 2002 and made the move permanent for a &pound;50,000 fee in January 2003. By then operating as a midfield player, McCann was unable to help the Robins avoid relegation from League One that season although his value to the team as a skilful, ball-playing midfielder and set piece expert was quickly in evidence.</p>

In all the Belfast-born player made 218 starts and four substitute appearances for the Robins, scoring 46 goals and winning six international caps during his time at Whaddon Road.</p>

Many Cheltenham Town supporters will have fond memories of McCann's time with the club including last season's win in the Coca-Cola League Two play-offs. However, the one which probably stands out most is his spectacular long-range drive that put Cheltenham Town 1-0 up against Premiership club Fulham in the FA Cup third round in 2004.</p>

Thank you Grant and best of luck with your new club!</p></div></h3>