News - January 2008

Grays Athletic Supporters will be arranging a coach for the Setanta Shield 5th Round fixture against Crawley Town on Tuesday 5th February.

Prices:
Adult: £12
Under 16: £6
Coach will be leaving The New Recreation Ground at 17:30, if you are interested in using this service please call Martin on 07989602329

A Coach for the Blue Square Premier fixture against Stevenage Borough on Saturday 23rd February is also available, the prices are the same as the Crawley Town coach, this will be leaving The New Recreation Ground at 12:15, please call Martin for booking details

::Link::

A Scott Taylor hat-trick ensured Grays Athletic‘s progress to the next round of the Setanta Shield with a 3-1 victory over Welling United.

Grays now face Crawley Town at Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday 5th February @ 19:45

::Link::

Grays Athletic Football Club have announced that John Yems has left the club by mutual consent, Chairman, Mick Woodward, would like to thank John for stepping into the Head Coach position and for all the time and effort he has given during his time with the club, he also wishes him all the best for the future

::Link::

Unless we have any unexpected heavy rainfall, tonight‘s F.A. Trophy replay against York City will definitely go ahead as planned, kick off is scheduled for 19:45.

Local Weather forecast for today is Sunny with light winds; there is no rain expected

::Link::

Despite our best efforts and following meetings with the local authority things are not progressing as fast as we would have wished with the new ground, we are continuing to push ahead with our plans and will strive to overcome the obstacles set in front of us.

We have reviewed the costs of a ground share and this would incur a large amount of finance to ensure that the ground we shared with met the Conference League standards; therefore the likelihood is that we will remain at The New Recreation Ground for another season, we are negotiating the lease at present and there is an increase of rent to be taken into consideration.

I am confident that things will start going according to plan and I hope that you, the fans, will support the club with these decisions and continue to follow Grays Athletic both now and the future.

Mick Woodward

::Link::

Today‘s Game against Cambridge United is definitely going ahead as scheduled, kick-off is at 15:00

::Link::

Grays Athletic have signed MK Dons striker, Scott Taylor until the end of the 2007/08 season, Scott has a wealth of experience, he has been at several clubs since starting his career at Staines Town, along his journey he has played for Plymouth, Blackpool, Tranmere, Bolton, Millwall, Stockport and Brentford.

Gavin Grant has returned to his parent Club, Millwall

Jack Obersetller has extended his loan until the end of the season

Danny Knowles loan spell has ended and he is back with Grays Athletic

::Link::

Due to previous postponements and Cup Matches the following games have been rescheduled:

Grays Athletic vs Burton Albion, Tuesday 26 February 2008 @ 19:45

Grays Athletic vs Stafford Rangers, Tuesday 1 April 2008 @ 19:45

Crawley Town vs Grays Athletic, Tuesday 15 April 2008 @ 19:45

Several of the Pontin‘s Combination League fixtures have also been rescheduled, for further details please check the Reserves page on this site

::Link::

Due to the waterlogged pitch the Pontin‘s Combination Reserve League fixture with Norwich City, scheduled for Wednesday 16th January 2008, has been postponed, once a new date is scheduled it will be posted on this site

::Link::

Following a pitch inspection this morning, unfortunately tonight‘s FA Trophy Replay against York City has had to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, the game will now be played on Tuesday 22nd January 2008 @ 19:45, the Burton Albion game that was due on that day will now be rescheduled

::Link::

The Setanta Shield 4th round fixture against Welling United that has been postponed on a couple of occasions is now scheduled to be played at Park View Road, Welling on Tuesday 29th January 2008 @ 19:45.

The Blue Square Fixture against Crawley which was due to be played on the 29th will now be rescheduled, once a new date is agreed it will be posted on the site.

::Link::

Whoever is victorious in Tuesday‘s FA Trophy 2nd Round replay will be travelling to either Farsley Celtic or Alfreton Town in the 3rd Round on Saturday 2nd February 2008

Full Draw:
Ebbsfleet United v Weymouth /Kidderminster Harriers
Burton Albion v Histon /Cambridge United
Aldershot Town v Braintree Town /Workington
Farsley Celtic /Alfreton Town v York City /Grays Athletic
Stafford Rangers v Tamworth
Crawley Town v Droylsden
AFC Wimbledon v Torquay United
Bishop's Stortford /Halifax Town v Rushden & Diamonds

All ties to be played 02 Feb @ 15:00

::Link::

Following the 1-1 draw at York City, Grays Athletic will host The Minstermen in the FA Trophy 2nd Round Replay on Tuesday 15th January 2008 @ 19:45.

The Setanta Shield fixture which was rescheduled for the 15th January has had to be postponed once again, when a new date for this fixture is known it will be published on the site.

::Link::

Grays Athletic travel to York on Saturday without Goalkeeper Ross Flitney and Defender Simon Downer who are both suspended for this fixture.

Loanee keeper David Button is available and should make his debut, all other squad members are available for selection.

This is the first time we have met York City in the FA Trophy but the last time we met in a cup competition was the FA Cup 1st Round on 5th November 2005 when Grays Athletic won 3-0

::Link::

The Pontins Holiday Combination away fixture between MK Dons and Grays Athletic, scheduled for Monday 14th January 2008, has been postponed due to Grays Athletic playing Welling in the rescheduled Setanta Shield fixture on Tuesday 15th January 2008

::Link::

Grays Athletic have signed Goalkeeper, David Button, on a months loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

David was the regular goalkeeper for England's Under-17s including appearances in the 2005 European Championship qualifying matches

He made two appearances for Spurs Under-18s and a regular unused substitute as understudy to Tommy Forecast in the 2005-06 run to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup.

Born in Stevenage, joined Tottenham Academy full-time for season 2005-06, making 24 appearances for the Under-18s, as well as taking his place on the bench for the Reserves.

::Link::

The Pontins Holiday Combination League fixture between Grays Athletic and Norwich City which was postponed from 9th January 2008 will now be played on Wednesday 16th January 2008 at The New Recreation Ground; kick-off will be 19:00.

Entrance Prices:

Adult: £4

Cons/U16: £2

Season Ticket holders: Free entrance on production of Season Ticket

::Link::

Exeter City striker Jamie Mackie has topped the fans poll to be the Blue Square Premier “Player of the Month” for December. Mackie polled a record number of votes from fans visiting the Blue Square football website. The former MK Dons forward was in sensational form during the month, scoring four goals in three Blue Square Premier games. The highlight of his month was the brace against local rivals Torquay United on Boxing Day, a game which City won 4-3. The Grecians benefited from Mackie‘s goals and assists as they climbed the Blue Square Premier table to enhance their play-off hopes.

::Link::

Luis Cumbers has returned to the KRBS Priesfield following his loan with Grays Athletic

::Link::

Grays Athletic have signed Midfielder, Colin Daniel on 1 months loan from Crewe Alexandra, 19 year old Colin joined Crewe from Northern Premier League side Eastwood Town

::Link::

Admission prices for the ESC Quarter Final fixture between Grays Athletic and Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday 8th December @ 19:30 will be:

Adult: £5
Child/Cons: £3

::Link::

Dennis Oli and Stuart Thurgood‘s loan deal with Gillingham FC have been made permanent, Craig McAllister has joined Oxford United on a permanent deal.

::Link::

Grays Athletic are pleased to announce that Val Pepperell has agreed to take up the vacant position of Fixture Secretary, we would all like to wish Val every success in this role.

::Link::

Unfortunately Neil McCafferty is still unavailable to play for Grays Athletic as the club are still awaiting the International Clearance required by the Football Association

::Link::

Grays Athletic Defender, Adam Gross, has joined Weymouth FC on one months loan

::Link::

Both Santos Gaia and Ian Selley have signed for Grays Athletic until the end of the season.

James Lawson has joined Chelmsford on a permanent basis
Jack Haverson has extended his loan with Sutton for a further month

The Following players have been placed on the transfer list by Grays Athletic:
Karl Murray
Mark Marshall
Charley Hearn
Adam Gross

::Link::

Following the incident which resulted in Andy Sambrook being stretchered off during the Ebbsfleet game, the injury was not as bad as first thought, Andy suffered a slight ligament sprain to his ankle, and he will be unavailable for between 7-14 days

::Link::

Newly appointed York City boss Colin Walker has won the Blue Square Premier “Manager of the Month” award for December. Walker was appointed caretaker-manager during November, and duly accepted a permanent role after an impressive start, which has seen his side remain unbeaten. During the month The Minstermen gained ten points from four league games, registering three victories and a draw. City also progressed to the next round of both non-league cup competitions and find themselves within touching distance of the play-off positions in the Blue Square Premier table. Rotherham born Walker made 34 appearances for his adopted country New Zealand during a playing career which also saw him play for Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday amongst others.

::Link::

The following players have been shortlisted for the Blue Square Premier December “Player of the Month” award:

John Grant - Aldershot Town
Wayne Hatswell - Rushden & Diamonds
Jamie Mackie - Exeter City
Mark Peters - Cambridge United
Martyn Woolford - York City

To vote for any of the above please click here

The winning player, along with the Blue Square South and North awards will be announced during the build up to Torquay United v Burton Albion - live on Setanta - January 7th.

::Link::

Grays Athletic have signed, until the end of the season, Neil McCafferty from Derry City, Neil is a Midfielder who can play central or right sided midfield.

Neil started out with Charlton where he played against Manchester United in 2001 whilst only 16 years old, he has also had loan spells with Cambridge United and Rushden & Diamonds.

He has played regularly with the Republic Of Ireland U16 to U19‘s, he signed for his home club, Derry City, in 2006

::Link::