News - March 2008

It is coming to that time of year when you need to start considering who is your Player Of The Year, if you could email your selection to press@graysathletic.co.uk with Player Of the Year in the subject line, closing date will be Saturday evening on the 12th April

There will be voting slips inside the match day programmes at the Halifax game on Saturday April 12th, these will need to be returned to the main office that evening.

Presentations will be made following the Rushden & Diamonds fixture on Thursday 24th April

::Link::

Grays Athletic will be holding an open viewing on Saturday 12th April 2008 in the Clubhouse after the Halifax fixture, the general viewing will be between 17:00 & 20:00, this will give everyone the chance to come and view the proposals for the relocation of Grays Athletic Football Club, the plans and models will be available for viewing, you will also be able to pose any questions that you may have on the day.

::Link::

Chairman / Manager Mick Woodward, has a complete squad to chose from for tomorrow‘s game against Stafford Rangers with the exception of Andy Sambrook who is unavailable due to a groin injury, Andy should be available for selection next Saturday

::Link::

Children in Thurrock will have the opportunity to watch a match at Grays Athletic Football Club for just £1.

The Blues‘ home game against Halifax Town on April 12 will be a “Kids for a Quid” fixture for both the home and away supporters.

Grays Athletic Chairman, Mike Woodward said: “This season has been a testing time for our supporters and the community with the delay of the proposed move and we hope that this inducement shows how grateful we are for their continued support.”

On the day of the match there will be a raffle for the children with several prizes including the chance to be a match day mascot for a future game and a signed football donated by JJB Sports.

Any child under 16 years old when accompanied by a full paying adult will get into the game for just £1. This offer is limited to one child per adult.

::Link::

Grays Athletic have signed Fisher Athletic striker, Jeff Goulding, on loan until the end of the season with an option to sign a full contract, Jeff is a current England C squad member who made his debut in the recent England vs Wales fixture, he has recently been linked with several League 1 clubs.

Jeff has had spells at Hayes, Egham Town, Crystal Palace, Reading, Clapton, Croydon, Molesey, Aldershot Town

Jeff is Fishers top scorer with 11 this season and is a playmaker as well as a striker

Also joining The Blues on Work Experience is 19 year old 6ft 3in Centre-Half Mark Haines from Northampton Town

::Link::

After a personal request Jack Obersteller has been allowed to return to Wycombe Wanderers. We would like to thank Jack for his contributions this season and wish him well

::Link::

Grays Athletic midfielder, Jamie Day, has joined Blue Square South‘s Havant & Waterlooville until the end of the season

Marlon Patterson and Jamie Taylor have both extended their loan deals until the end of the season

::Link::

Grays Athletic Goalkeeper, Danny Knowles, has been released on loan to Fisher Athletic until the end of the season.

Joining Grays Athletic on non contract is ex Arlesey Town goalkeeper Jake Whincup

::Link::

Team news ahead of tomorrow‘s fixture against Droylsden:

Andy Sambrook is unavailable due to a groin strain

Cam Mawer is also unavailable due to a slight ankle injury

Ross Flitney is out until the end of the season with a broken arm

::Link::

Chairman Mick Woodward has confirmed that we will be staying at The Recreation Ground next season and that planning permission for the new ground will be being submitted soon, an open meeting will be scheduled so all plans can be seen, the date of this meeting will be publicised on the website once it has been finalised

::Link::

Following the meeting with Grays Athletic and The F.A. at Soho Square today Grays Athletic will be lodging an appeal before the Wednesday deadline of 17:00 this will see the action previously given from the FA suspended until such time an appeal is heard and a ruling is made, all future fixtures will now be played as normal.

::Link::

Grays Athletic Chairman, Mick Woodward, will be in the studio tonight on the BBC Non League Football Show from 9pm-10pm. If people want to tune in they can via the website www.bbc.co.uk/nonleague or in the Greater London area via BBC London 94.9 FM or Sky channel 0152

::Link::

Grays Athletic defender, Santos Gaia has been released on loan until the end of the season to Halifax Town.

Coming into The Recreation Ground is Gillingham Midfielder Barry Cogan on a months loan, Barry will be available for selection for tomorrows fixture against Altrincham

::Link::

Grays Athletic have signed Gillingham Midfielder, Stuart Thurgood, on loan for one month, Stu will be available for Saturday‘s fixture against Altrincham.

::Link::

The Reserves fixture against Peterborough United at London Road on Monday March 17th 2008 has been moved from 19:00 to 14:00

::Link::

Grays Athletic Midfielder, Charley Hearn, has been loaned out to Ebbesfleet until the end of the season

::Link::

Grays Athletic Striker, Ben Watson, is due to complete a loan agreement with Exeter City this morning, failing any problems Ben will be loaned to The Grecians until the end of the season

::Link::

Following the injury to Ross Flitney during last night‘s game against Burton Albion, Ross attended hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured Ulna and will now be unavailable for the remainder of the season, Grays Athletic wish Ross a speedy recovery

::Link::

The Football Association have requested a meeting with Grays Athletic on Monday 17th March 2008 to try and resolve the current situation.

Chairman Mick Woodward has said that he hope that common sense will prevail with this meeting and assures fans that Grays Athletic Football Club will never die

::Link::

Despite the weather that has battered our country over the past 24hrs tonight‘s game against Burton Albion is still scheduled to kick-off at 19:45 this evening

::Link::

Due to the recent Football Association ruling that could see the end of football at The New Recreation Ground from the 19th March, the Commercial Sub Committee have decided to postpone the Kidz 4 A Quid incentive that was due to be available at the Crawley Town fixture on 29th March as we would have very little time to re-advertise the incentive if we get a last minute reprieve.

Once the future of Grays Athletic is assured we will look at reintroducing the incentive at a later date, possibly the Halifax fixture on 12th April 2008

::Link::

Following the FA ruling against Grays Athletic in the Sestanovich case, the club would like to petition The FA to change the existing player contract to include a disclosure section to ensure that no other club falls foul of a player signing a contract whilst being investigated for any crime.

Please follow the link and sign the petition:

Petition

::Link::

Ian Selley has departed Grays Atletic and has signed for Rymans Premier League side Maidstone United

::Link::

I am bitterly disappointed in The FA's judgment today; all they seem to want to do is take money from football clubs.

We are being forced to pay approx £14k to a player who only had 3 training sessions and 20 minutes in a pre-season friendly due to his involvement in a heinous crime which saw a young father shot in cold blood, unfortunately my principles will not allow me to pay this money from either my own pocket or from the clubs and the directors are of the same opinion, I feel sorry for the supporters of this club but I hope that you will back me on this decision.

The club currently has a counter claim going through the County Courts and an offer was made to The FA that they hold the money owed until such time that the case is bought to conclusion; however, they refused to even consider this and demanded that the money is paid directly to Mr Sestanovich.

If there is any person, player or team that may have benefited from Grays Athletic maybe they would be willing to offer to pay this money on behalf of the club, then they can do this anonymously or make contact with the club.

If any person has any opinions on this matter then please let the club know.

Mike Woodward

::Link::

Following a hearing between Grays Athletic and The Football Association today regarding the outstanding payment to jailed footballer, Ashley Sestanovich, The F.A. have given Grays Athletic 14 days (19/03/08) to pay approximately £14,000 plus £500 fine and hearing costs or they will be suspended from all football.

Grays Athletic have strongly contested the payments to Mr Sestanovich following his involvement in the robbery and death of Thomas Fahey of Fahey Roofing in the summer of 2006, Mr Sestanovich was found guilty of conspiracy to rob and sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Grays Athletic have been involved in a counter claim against Mr Sestanovich and were instructed that this would be successful; however, The FA have not been sympathetic to the case even though The Football Conference were fully behind Grays Athletics‘ decision to terminate Mr Sestanovich‘s contract with the club once the gravity of the offence was know to them.

::Link::

Ex Grays Athletic Goalkeeper, Nicky Eyre, has returned to The New Recreation Ground on loan until the end of the season, following his departure from Grays in August 2006 he has been with Rushden & Diamonds, Dagenham & Redbridge and more recently St Albans

::Link::

Aldershot Town forward Kirk Hudson has been voted by fans as the Blue Square Premier “Player of the Month” for February. The former Celtic youth player scored five goals during the month as The Shots continued their assault on the three major non-league prizes. Hudson found the net in the Setanta Shield and FA Trophy as well as two goals in the 3-1 win over Farsley Celtic that saw his team hold their position at the top of the Blue Square Premier table.

::Link::

Grays Athletic have taken West Ham Scholar, Robbie Blackwell, on work experience.

Robbie is a promising Left Back who has been with The Hammers Academy since 2005, he has recently been on work experience with Colchester United and played in their reserve game against Northampton Town alongside fellow ex-Hammer, Teddy Sheringham

::Link::

Milton Keynes Dons Reserves will be visiting The New Recreation Ground on Tuesday 4th March 2008 for the Pontin‘s Holiday Combination League fixture against Grays Athletic Reserves.

MK Dons are currently bottom of the league having won only 1 of their 8 previous games, Grays Athletic will be putting out a stong side for this encounter, Kick-off is at 19:00.

Prices:
Adult: £4
Under 16 & over 65: £2
Season Ticket Holders: Free

::Link::

Grays Athletic Goalkeeper, Danny Knowles, has gone on emergency loan to Crawley Town FC following former Blue‘s Keeper, Ashley Bayes‘, dismissal and subsequent suspension during Saturday‘s fixture against Stevenage.

The loan is for 28 days but Danny can be recalled at anytime during that period, Danny will most probably debut tomorrow when Crawley play Exeter

::Link::