James Gray (footballer, born 1992) explained

James Gray
Fullname:James Philip Gray
Birth Date:26 June 1992
Birth Place:Yarm, England
Height:1.8m (05.9feet)[1]
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Frickley Athletic
Youthyears1:2007–2011
Youthclubs1:Middlesbrough
Years1:2011–2012
Clubs1:Darlington
Caps1:11
Goals1:0
Years2:2012
Clubs2:Kettering Town
Caps2:9
Goals2:0
Years3:2012–2015
Clubs3:Accrington Stanley
Caps3:98
Goals3:20
Years4:2012
Clubs4:Vauxhall Motors (loan)
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2015
Clubs5:Northampton Town (loan)
Caps5:15
Goals5:5
Years6:2015–2016
Clubs6:Wrexham
Caps6:47
Goals6:10
Years7:2016
Clubs7:Southport
Caps7:13
Goals7:2
Years8:2017
Clubs8:Glenavon
Caps8:14
Goals8:2
Years9:2017
Clubs9:Torquay United
Caps9:13
Goals9:5
Years10:2017
Clubs10:York City (loan)
Caps10:3
Goals10:0
Years11:2017–2018
Clubs11:York City
Caps11:20
Goals11:4
Years12:2018
Clubs12:Tamworth (loan)
Caps12:5
Goals12:0
Years13:2018–2019
Clubs13:Frickley Athletic
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U16
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalteam2:Northern Ireland U17
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalteam3:Northern Ireland U19
Nationalcaps3:17
Nationalgoals3:8
Nationalyears4:2012–2014
Nationalteam4:Northern Ireland U21
Nationalcaps4:11
Nationalgoals4:6
Club-Update:14:49, 17 May 2018 (UTC)

James Philip Gray (born 26 June 1992) is a semi-professional footballer who last played as a striker for club Frickley Athletic.

A former Middlesbrough youth player, he began his career with Darlington in the 2011–12 season. He moved on to Kettering Town in March 2012, before transferring to Accrington Stanley four months later.

He has represented Northern Ireland at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.

Early and personal life

Gray was born in Yarm, North Yorkshire, and is the son of former footballer Phil.[2] Gray was arrested on 29 October 2018 and charged with drink-driving whilst on the way to training at Wrexham.[3] He was charged at Chester Magistrates Court on 20 November 2018.[3] His story was featured in an episode of Channel 4 series .[3]

Club career

Gray started his career in the youth system at Middlesbrough in 2007,[4] before being released in May 2011 at the end of his three-year apprenticeship.[5] He signed for Conference Premier club Darlington in October 2011 on non-contract terms.[6] He left the club by mutual consent in January 2012.[7] He moved from one crisis club to another, signing for Kettering Town in March 2012 on non-contract terms.[8]

Gray signed a one-year contract with League Two club Accrington Stanley in August 2012, following a successful trial spell.[9] He made a scoring debut at the Crown Ground on 21 August, replacing Pádraig Amond on 82 minutes; he scored a stoppage time goal to secure a 2–0 win over Port Vale.[10]

On 6 March 2015, he joined Accrington's League Two rivals Northampton Town on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season.[11]

On 20 October 2017, Gray joined National League North club York City on a 28-day loan.[12] He signed for York permanently on 7 November 2017 on a contract until the end of 2017–18.[13] Gray joined York's divisional rivals Tamworth on 16 February 2018 on a one-month loan.[14] He made his debut the following day as a 55th-minute substitute in a 2–2 draw at home to A.F.C. Telford United. Gray finished the loan with five appearances. He scored one goal from 20 appearances as York finished 2017–18 in 11th place in the table.[15] He was released at the end of the season.[16]

Gray signed for Northern Premier League Division One East club Frickley Athletic on 17 May 2018.[17]

International career

Gray has been capped by Northern Ireland at under-16, under-17 and under-19 levels.[18] He scored on his debut for the under-21 team, in a 3–2 defeat to Hungary on 15 August 2012.[19] Gray made 11 appearances for the under-21s from 2012 to 2014, scoring twice.[20]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Darlington2011–12Conference Premier1101010130
Kettering Town2011–12Conference Premier9090
Accrington Stanley2012–13League Two162100010182
2013–14League Two357101010387
2014–15League Two174201100205
Total68134021207614
Vauxhall Motors (loan)2012–13Conference North1010
Northampton Town (loan)2014–15League Two8383
Wrexham2015–16National League2771020307
Southport2016–17National League1321010152
Glenavon2016–17NIFL Premiership16331194
Torquay United2017–18National League13200132
York City2017–18[21] [22] National League North18120201
Tamworth (loan)2017–18National League North5050
Frickley Athletic2018–19[23] Northern Premier League Division One East00000000
Career total18931101218020933

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: James Gray . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 12 December 2017.
  2. News: I want to be better than dad, says Accrington Stanley striker . Chris . Flanagan . Lancashire Telegraph . Blackburn . 24 August 2012 . 20 October 2017.
  3. News: Moment Wrexham FC's James Gray caught drink driving to be shown on TV tonight . Mari . Jones . Daily Post . Colwyn Bay . 25 August 2016 . 23 June 2018.
  4. Web site: James Gray . Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats . Jonny Dewart . 15 August 2012 . 23 June 2018.
  5. News: Seven Boro superkids sign first pro contracts . Evening Gazette . Middlesbrough . 17 May 2011 . 23 June 2018.
  6. News: Darlington snap up strikers James Gray and Niall Rodney . BBC Sport . 21 October 2011 . 20 October 2017.
  7. News: Darlington sign Liam Bagnall and Clark Keltie . BBC Sport . 31 January 2012 . 20 October 2017.
  8. News: Kettering boss Ashley Westwood rues 'awkward' decisions . BBC Sport . 21 March 2012 . 20 October 2017.
  9. News: Accrington sign Northern Ireland striker James Gray . BBC Sport . 2 August 2012 . 20 October 2017.
  10. News: Accrington 2–0 Port Vale . BBC Sport . 21 August 2012 . 20 October 2017.
  11. News: Accrington's James Gray joins Northampton Town on loan . BBC Sport . 6 March 2015 . 20 October 2017.
  12. News: York City sign striker on loan . Peter . Martini . The Press . York . 20 October 2017 . 20 October 2017.
  13. News: Gray and Bartlett sign up as York City seal double swoop . The Press . York . 7 November 2017 . 7 November 2017.
  14. Web site: Striker Gray on loan to Tamworth . Ian . Appleyard . York City F.C. . 16 February 2018 . 16 February 2018.
  15. Web site: Conference North: 2017/18: Latest table . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 2 May 2018.
  16. News: Louis Almond and Alex Kempster offered new deals at York City, but Aidan Connolly one of nine released . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 30 April 2018 . 2 May 2018.
  17. Web site: Incoming player alert!!!! . Michael . Johnson . Frickley Athletic F.C. . Pitchero . 17 May 2018 . 17 May 2018.
  18. Web site: Profile of James Gray . Irish Football Association . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306140710/http://www.irishfa.com/international/squad-profiles/profile/2281/james-gray/ . 6 March 2016 . dead.
  19. News: Friendly international: Hungary U21 3–2 N Ireland U21 . BBC Sport . 15 August 2012 . 22 October 2017.
  20. Web site: Northern Ireland under-21 line-ups . Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats . Jonny Dewart . 23 February 2013 . 23 June 2018.
  21. Web site: J. Gray: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 2 May 2018.
  22. News: York City have last laugh following Coalville taunts in 3–1 Trophy triumph . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 26 November 2017 . 2 May 2018.
  23. Web site: The team: James Gray: 2018/19 season . Frickley Athletic F.C. . Pitchero . 23 June 2018.