Bill Gray (footballer) explained

Bill Gray
Fullname:William John Gray
Birth Date:5 March 1882[1]
Birth Place:Inverness, Scotland
Death Place:Somme, France
Position:Left half
Years1:1900–1906
Caps1:39
Goals1:3
Years2:1906–1907
Clubs2:Southampton
Caps2:28
Goals2:0
Years3:1907–1909
Caps3:47
Goals3:4

William John Gray (5 March 1882 – 18 November 1916) was a Scottish professional footballer who played at left half for Partick Thistle and Southampton.

Football career

Gray was born in Inverness and began his youth career with local club Inverness Thistle.[2] He started his professional career with Partick Thistle.[3] After five years, he moved to southern England to join Southampton of the Southern League to replace Kelly Houlker who had returned to Blackburn Rovers.

Gray made his "Saints" debut in the opening match of the 1906–07 season and his form meant that he rarely missed a match until an injury sustained in a 5–1 defeat at Reading in March brought his season to a premature end, with James Bowden eventually replacing him.[4]

Apparently unhappy in the south of England, Gray returned to Scotland in the summer of 1907 to resume his career with Partick Thistle.[3]

Personal life

Gray served as a corporal in the Seaforth Highlanders during the First World War and died in France on 18 November 1916.[5] He is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Chalk. Gary. Holley. Duncan. Bull . David. All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. 2013. Southampton. Hagiology Publishing. 978-0-9926-8640-6. 77.
  2. Web site: They Died in the Conflict in Season 1916–1917 . Edinburgh's War . 8 January 2016 . dmy-all . 15 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180515183714/http://www.scotlandswar.co.uk/pdf_Season_1916-1917_(Fell).pdf . dead .
  3. Book: Holley, Duncan . The Alphabet of the Saints. Chalk, Gary. ACL & Polar Publishing . 1992. 0-9514862-3-3. 147.
  4. Book: Chalk, Gary. Saints – A complete record. Holley, Duncan . Breedon Books. 1987. 0-907969-22-4. 40–41.
  5. Web site: William John Gray Service Record Football and the First World War. Football and the First World War. 8 January 2016.
  6. Web site: GRAY, WILLIAM JOHN. CWGC. 8 January 2016.