CLUB GUIDE

GRAYS ATHLETIC

 
 

Grays' rise from a pub team in the minor leagues has been spectacular. The club are not set to embark on their first ever season at the top level of non-league football, but with attendances of barely more than 3 men and a whippet, still have a lot to do to throw off their pub team tag.

Despite many neutrals hoping to see Grays come unstuck, they come into the new season as 'double winners', after capturing both the Nationwide South title and the FA Trophy. Although the club deservedly won both trophies through their efforts on the pitch, many people seem upset by their performance off it. The club has been bankrolled in the background and would appear to be operating outside of their means. The demise of clubs such as Hornchurch and Telford United have shown that overnight success can also lead to overnight collapse, and no doubt the supporters of the less financially able clubs would shed no tears if Grays went the same way.

 

CTMD Prediction: Grays showed last season that they could more than hold their own against Conference opposition by defeating both Exeter City and Burton in the FA Trophy. Whilst automatic promotion is perhaps an unrealistic hope, to miss out on a place in the play-offs would be a big shock.

 

Fans View: Since our double winning season came to an end, we have lost one of our brightest young talents. Mitchell Cole who came to us after being released by West Ham was sold to Southend for an undisclosed fee. Southend were also swarming around Denis Oli, our pacey striker, but no bid was made, and Reading made a bid for seventeen year old gary Hooper, but the club rejected their offer.

A number of supporters were initially concerned that the squad was in danger of breaking up, especially as prior to the trophy final we parted company with crowd favourite Leroy Griffiths .

However, we have strengthened our squad in most positions since Cole departed, with the most notable recruits being Michael Kightly, a young winger, and Jamie Slabber, a former Spurs trainee. (Dan Sheridan)

 

Squad List: (as at 13/08/05)

1. Ashley Bayes 2. Andy Sambrook 3. John Nutter 4. Jamie Stuart
5. Lee Matthews 6. Stuart Thurgood 7. Dennis Oli 8. Gary Hooper
9. Tony Battersby 10. John Martin 11. Aaron Mclean 12. Tom Williamson
14. Michael Kightly 15. Dean Brennan 16. Nicky Eyre 17. Steve West
18. Joe Bruce 19. Ade Olayinka 20. Cameron Mawer 23. Glenn Poole
25. Jamie Slabber      
 

Ground & directions:'The Rec' - about sums it up then!

Address: The Recreation Ground, Bridge Road, Essex, RM17 6BZ

Getting There: By Car - Exit M25 at J30 and take A13 towards Southend. At the Grays exit follow the signs to the town centre. Upon entering the one-way system, keep left then continue up the hill for about 1/2 mile. Turn right into Bridge Road. The ground is on your right.

Parking around the ground is very limited, but there is a small, free public car park opposite the main entrance. Grays train station is a seven minute walk away and there is a large multi-storey car park just six minutes away, near the station.

By Train: Grays is on the London to Southend line which departs from Fenchurch Street.  The ground is approx. 7 minutes walk from the station.

Ticket Prices: Adults £10, Senior Citizens £6, Youths 11-16 £6, U11 £2, Seat £2 extra

The 'Rec' is a good ground to visit once you actually get there. The social club welcomes away fans and is very spacious. There are a good selection of beers and a selection of sandwiches. There was a beer tent inside the away end during Burton's last visit, but redevelopments to that end of the ground will most likely see a move back to a greasy spoon tea bar.

Websites: The club has an official site at www.graysathletic.co.uk which is functional but contains very little information. There is a message board (registration only) where you can talk to the locals about the latest in bling and adding a body kit to a Vauxhall Nova.

An un-official site can be found at http://pages.zdnet.com/nonleague/graysath/ which the 10 year old that created it in his bedroom must surely be proud of. Sadly the link to the "Massive Games" section does not work.