Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Grays Athletic F.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Grays | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Grays Athletic Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Gravelmen, The Blues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1890 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | New Recreation Ground Grays Thurrock (Capacity 4,500 (1,000 seated)) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Micky Woodward |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Justin Edinburgh |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Conference National | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–07 | Conference National, 19th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grays Athletic Football Club are a football team from the south east of England, representing the town of Grays, Thurrock, Essex. They currently play in the National division of the Football Conference.
Contents |
Grays United was the predecessor of the modern Grays and was considered one of the oldest clubs in the world.[citation needed] Grays Athletic were established in 1890 and became founder members of the Athenian League, in which they briefly played before World War I (1912–1914, and again since 1958). In 1945 they were one of the nine founder members of the Corinthian League, which they won that first season. After playing in the Isthmian League between 1983 and 2004, they were founder members of the new Conference South. They were divisional champions at the first attempt, and also won the FA Trophy. In the 2005-06 season, they took an early lead in the Conference National division, remaining unbeaten for a record equalling 15 games, but eventually finished in third place and were beaten in the semi-finals of the promotion play-offs by Halifax Town. They did, however, successfully retain the FA Trophy with a 2-0 win over Woking
After the 2005-06 season Mark Stimson left the club (joined Stevenage Borough) and Frank Gray was appointed as the new manager. However after just 14 games, his last being a disappointing 0-1 home defeat to Bromley, he was sacked (over the phone as Woodward was on holiday at the time). Micky Woodward appointed himself as manager for a short while and Player/Coach Jamie Stuart took charge of an Essex Senior Cup match with Woodward assisting but then appointed Andy King as manager. On 5 January 2007, Andy King handed in his resignation to the surprise of chairman Micky Woodward. He was replaced by Justin Edinburgh, his assistant at the time, who became the fourth manager of Grays during the season. Grays eventually finished 19th in the league, just avoiding relegation. In total Grays fielded over 50 players in all competitions.
- FA Trophy winners: 2004/05, 2005/06
- Football Conference South champions: 2004/05
- Isthmian League Division One runners-up: 1987/88 & 1999/00
- Isthmian League Division Two South champions: 1984/85
- London League champions: 1921/22, 1926/27 & 1929/30
- Corinthian League champions: 1945/46; runners-up 1951/52, 1955/56 & 1956/57
- Isthmian League Cup winners: 1991/92
- Essex Senior Cup winners: 1914/15, 1920/21, 1922/23, 1944/45, 1956/57, 1987/88, 1993/94 & 1994/95
- Essex Senior Trophy winners: 1998/99
- Essex Thameside Trophy winners: 1947/48, 1987/88, 1988/89
The furthest the club has reached in the FA Cup was the 2nd Round Proper in 2005/06. They lost 2-0 away at Mansfield Town on December 2, 2005.[1]
- Victory: 12-0 at home to Tooting Town, London League, February 24, 1923
- Defeat: 0-12 away to Enfield, Athenian League, April 20, 1963
- Attendance: 9,500 v Chelmsford City, FA Cup 4th Qualfying Round, 1959
- League Appearances: Phil Sammons, 472, 1982-1997
- Transfer Record (Paid): £12,000 to Welling United for Danny Kedwell
- Transfer Record (Received): £150,000 from Peterborough United for Aaron McLean
- As of 10 December 2007.[2]
|
|
|
|
For a complete list of former Grays Athletic players with Wikipedia articles, see Category:Grays Athletic F.C. players.
Danny Cadamarteri- David Crown
Freddy Eastwood- Leroy Griffiths
- Michael Kightly
- Matt Lawrence
- Carl Leaburn
Dwight Marshall- Aaron McLean
Wole Odegbami- Dennis Oli
- Glenn Poole
- Barry Silkman
- Sam Sodje
- Stuart Thurgood
Mickey Welch- Eddie Youds
Grays Athletic have a number of rivals mainly steming back to their days in the lower divisions of non-league such as Isthmian League Premier Division and Conference South.
In recent years Grays have seen their derby days severely reduced due to relegations and promotions of their rivals. Essex rivals, Dagenham & Redbridge were promoted into League Two for the first time in their history whilst Canvey Island dropped down to avoid financial problems.
The derby match between Grays Athletic and Canvey Island held on boxing day, 2005 attracted the highest attendance of 2,910 spectators since then renovation of The New Rec.
There are a number of sides around the borough of Thurrock, including Tilbury, Aveley, East Thurrock United and Thurrock formerly known as Purfleet until 2003. Grays' main rival within the borough is Thurrock due to the Isthmian League days when Grays and Purfleet were battling to become the highest placed side within Thurrock.
During the Blues short stint in the Conference South, the club struck up a rivalry with Upminster based side Hornchurch F.C., who were fighting for the top spot. The Urchins main investor pulled out and Hornchurch were forced to sell key players to Grays. The players were Ashley Bayes, Jamie Stuart, Johnny Martin, Lee Matthews and Steve West. Hornchurch was reformed into A.F.C. Hornchurch and the rivalry still remains.
Southend United are also seen as a rival, this maybe due to it being the closet Football League club to Grays in Essex. It may have also stemmed from many players moving up the leagues from Grays to the Shrimpers, in recent years these transfers include Freddy Eastwood, Gary Hooper and Mitchell Cole. However Southend United do not see Grays as a rival.
Geographically, Ebbsfleet United is the closest Conference side to Grays, however they are separated by the River Thames and therefore the journey from ground to ground is considerably longer. The rivalry between the two clubs is more of a friendly atmosphere rather than a fierce rivalry.
In recent years, Stevenage Borough have been viewed as a rival to Grays, mainly due to former manager Mark Stimson departing Grays and eventually joining the Hertfordshire outfit. In his first season, Stimson took left-back John Nutter with him and the following season midfielder Johnny Martin also followed. Grays Athletic's chairman Micky Woodward has also been criticised by Stevenage fans due to the poor handling of travelling fans at a game at The New Recreation Ground in 2007.
- ^ Mansfield Town vs. Grays Athletic, 2nd December 2005 - Match Details
- ^ Player profiles. Grays Athletic FC. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
- Grays Athletic Football Club Official Website
- graysath-online.com Unofficial Website
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||