Grays complete a string of games in quick succession with a home fixture on Saturday afternoon against our friends from Stowmarket Town.

It has been an incredibly difficult season for the Old Gold & Blacks. Having faced severe financial pressure since virtually day one of the season, the Stowmarket faithful have had to endure a long and arduous journey.

Defeat at home to Maldon & Tiptree on Tuesday evening finally confirmed the mathematical relegation for Stowmarket which, sadly, has seemed inevitable for sometime now. The only recent breathing spaces, breaking a long run of defeats, were 1-1 draws against Witham Town and Ipswich Wanderers.

The hope must be that Stowmarket can take the positives next season from playing at a lower level and re-gaining some confidence on the pitch, winning some games and chalking points on the board.

Whatever the future holds, we wish all those associated with the club the very best. Amongst the non-league fraternity, it is never pleasant to see any side struggle week-in, week-out. We all know it could be any one of us next time. At Grays, we have always received the warmest of welcomes on our visits to that part of Suffolk and we look forward to meeting again before too long.

Grays themselves take to the pitch for the second time in just three days, having had a run out at Redbridge on Thursday evening when the performance had a real “end of term” look about it and Blues will need to be on their mettle against these opponents.