Grays Athletic F.C.
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| Full name | Grays Athletic Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Gravelmen, G-Men, The Boys from Rathbone Street |
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| Founded | 1890 | ||
| Ground | Rookery Hill, Corringham (Capacity: 4,100 (160 seated)) |
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| Chairman | Keith Burns | ||
| Manager | Hakan Hayrettin | ||
| League | Isthmian League Division One North | ||
| 2010–11 | Isthmian League Division One North, 10th | ||
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Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season. The club is currently a member of the Isthmian League Division One North,[1] and plays at Rookery Hill.
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[edit] History
Grays Juniors were founded in 1890 as an amateur club, rising through the ranks to senior status, before merging with former Southern League club Grays United to form Grays Athletic.[2] The newly formed outfit joined the Grays & District League Division. Other teams competing in Grays at the time were Grays Amateurs, Grays Avenue Swifts, Grays Hotspurs and Grays Wednesday – with whom they shared the Recreation Ground pitch.[2]
Grays Athletic 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.
On 20 February 2008, it was announced that Justin Edinburgh had departed the club, terminating his contract by mutual consent, leaving the club 14th in the Conference National. Chairman, Micky Woodward, took the helm for a second time until the end of the 2007–08 season.[3] Woodward promoted goalkeeping coach Gary Phillips to assistant manager, whilst also appointing Neil Smith and Tim O'Shea as coaches to help with training and tactics.
After resigning from the Football Conference in 2010, Grays attempted to gain entry to the Isthmian League Premier Division. This was at first accepted,[4] but on 8 July 2010, the League reversed the decision, and Grays were likely to play in the Essex Senior League.[5][6] However, on 15 July, it was announced that Grays Athletic would play in the Isthmian League Division One North.[1]
[edit] Stadia
The club currently play at East Thurrock United's Rookery Hill ground in Corringham.[4] Between 1906 and 2010 they played at the New Recreation Ground.
[edit] Players
[edit] Current squad
- As of 12 February 2011
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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[edit] Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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[edit] Former players
- For a complete list of former Grays Athletic players with Wikipedia articles, see Category:Grays Athletic F.C. players.
[edit] Staff
- Chairman: Keith Burns
- Chief Executive Officer: Andy Swallow
- Manager: Hakan Hayrettin
- Assistant manager: Hassan Oktay
- Physio: Nick Irwin
[edit] League history
| Season | Division | Position | Top league goalscorer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 6 | Freddy Eastwood 28 | – |
| 2004–05 | Conference South | 1 | Leroy Griffiths 19 | Champions |
| 2005–06 | Conference National | 3 | Michael Kightly 15 | – |
| 2006–07 | Conference National | 19 | Aaron McLean 13 | – |
| 2007–08 | Conference National | 10 | Danny Kedwell 13 | – |
| 2008–09 | Conference National | 19 | Andy Pugh 7 | – |
| 2009–10 | Conference National | 23 | Jamie Slabber 4 | Relegated |
| 2010–11 | Isthmian League Division One North | 10 | Alex Osborn 17 | – |
[edit] Honours
- FA Trophy
- Winners: 2004–05, 2005–06
- Football Conference
- Conference South
- Champions: 2004–05
- Conference South
- Isthmian League
- Division Two South
- Champions: 1984–85
- League Cup
- Winners: 1991–92
- Division Two South
- London League
- Champions: 1921–22, 1926–27, 1929–30
- Corinthian League
- Champions: 1945–46
- 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
- Stan Veness Memorial Trophy
- Winners: 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2010–11
- Shared: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1997–98
[edit] Club records
- Biggest victory: 12–0 at home to Tooting Town, London League, 24 February 1923
- Biggest defeat: 0–12 away to Enfield, Athenian League, 20 April 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
- The furthest the club has reached in the FA Cup was the Second Round Proper in 2005–06. They lost 3–0 away at Mansfield Town on 2 December 2005.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Grays admitted to Division One North". 15 July 2010. http://www.isthmian.co.uk/leagues?league_news_item&id=2754766&lid=256&did=2102. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ a b Watts, George H. (August 2006). The Place I Love Best. pp. 14.
- ^ Justin Leaves Grays Athletic, graysathletic.co.uk
- ^ a b "Grays Athletic win Ryman League appeal". BBC Sport. 2010-06-18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/8747465.stm. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
- ^ "Grays Athletic refused Ryman League entry". BBC Sport. 2010-07-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8803380.stm. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- ^ "Grays Athletic - official statement". Ryman Football League Official Website. 08 July 10. http://www.isthmian.co.uk/leagues?league_news_item&id=2754754&lid=256&did=2102. Retrieved 08 July 10.
- ^ Mansfield Town vs. Grays Athletic, 2 December 2005 - Match Details, graysath-online.com
[edit] External links
- Club website
- GAFC 1890 Trust
- Grays Athletic F.C. on BBC Sport: Club News – Recent results – Upcoming fixtures – Club stats
