Andy Gray
Encyclopedia
Andrew Mullen Gray is a Scottish retired footballer who played for several clubs in Scotland and England. He also represented his country. He was a primary football pundit for Sky Sports
, as well as a presenter on Andy Gray's Last Word, until his dismissal in January 2011 following an inquiry into three occasions when he was recorded making off-camera, sexist comments. On 8 February 2011, Gray, along with fellow former Sky pundit Richard Keys
signed with talkSPORT
.
where he scored 46 goals in 62 appearances.
In October 1975, at the age of 20, he headed south to Aston Villa
(newly promoted to the First Division) and won England's golden boot in 1976/77
with his tally of 25 league goals. His 29 goals in the following season earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year
and PFA Players' Player of the Year
awards (a historic double not repeated until Cristiano Ronaldo
won both awards 30 years later). At the time he was the youngest player to earn the Players' Player of the Year award, and the first player to win more than one of the official three player of the year awards in the same season.
Gray then moved to Villa's local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers
in September 1979 for a then-British record £1.5m. After scoring the winning goal for Wolves in the 1980 League Cup final
, he remained with the club through their relegation in 1982 (despite interest from Manchester United) and promotion a year later.
He moved to Everton
in November 1983 for £250,000. He enjoyed two seasons with the Merseyside club, winning the FA Cup in May 1984 (scoring in the final against Watford
in controversial fashion by heading the ball out of Watford's goalkeeper's hands).
A year later, he won the League Championship and European Cup Winners' Cup
, also scoring in the final of the latter. He also reached another FA Cup final
, but this time he was on the losing side as Everton were defeated by Manchester United
.
Then came the arrival of England
striker Gary Lineker
from Leicester City
in the 1985 close season. Despite angry petitions from Everton fans wanting to keep Gray at Goodison Park
, he left the club on 10 July 1985, returning to Aston Villa in a £150,000 deal.
Despite starting the decade on a high as league champions in 1981 and European Cup winners in 1982, they had now declined to mid table mediocrity and the return of Gray was unable to turn things around as his arrival at Everton had done. He scored five goals from 35 league games in 1985–86
as Villa narrowly avoided relegation to the Second Division, and the following season
he failed to score a single goal from 19 league games as Villa fell into the Second Division. He began the 1987–88 season
still with Villa, but was transferred to their local rivals West Bromwich Albion in September 1987 having not featured in a first team game for Villa that season. His spell at Albion lasted less than a year, and was uneventful as they narrowly avoided relegation from the Second Division.
In mid-1988, he joined Rangers
. He spent one season at Ibrox
, helping them win the Scottish Premier Division
title – the first of nine successive titles they would win.
He dropped into non-league football with Football Conference
club Cheltenham Town
before retiring in 1990.
to select him for the 1978 World Cup
squad.
Gray won 20 caps for Scotland
, scoring 7 goals for his country. He also won four caps at Under-23 level and played at schoolboy level. His full international debut came on 17 December 1975 in a 1–1 draw with Romania
. He was not selected for any of Scotland's World Cup squads during his playing days.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton
Rangers
before focusing full-time on his television work.
, serving as a highly recognisable facet of its Premier League coverage since its inception in 1992, most notably alongside studio anchor Richard Keys
and lead match commentator Martin Tyler
. In addition, he reported for Sky from Euro 2004 in Portugal, although Sky did not have broadcast rights for the games. He commentated for BBC Radio 5 Live
in the 2002 World Cup
and for ESPN
in Euro 2008. Gray also provides betting tips for Betfair
, and also provided commentary for EA Sports
' FIFA series
of video games until being replaced in the 2012 edition of the game series by Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith.
In January 2011, Gray was forced to apologise for comments he made about a female assistant referee, Sian Massey
, in an Premier League match. Believing their microphones were switched off, Gray and his fellow commentator Richard Keys
stated that females "didn't know the offside rule". The comments were criticised by Sky Sports and the Football Association. On 24 January it was announced that both Gray and Keys would be banned for one game – missing a game for the first time in Sky Sports history. On 25 January 2011, it was announced his contract was being terminated for unacceptable behaviour. Barney Francis, Sky Sports' managing director, said Gray was dismissed "in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour in an off-air incident that took place in December 2010". The Daily Telegraph suggested that the Sky statement refers directly to a clip of Gray and Charlotte Jackson
in rehearsals for the Sky Sports Christmas Special. While Jackson is attaching a microphone pack, Gray lifts his belt and says: "Charlotte, can you tuck this down here for me?"
Gray's former team mate at Everton
, Peter Reid
, has suggested that Gray's dismissal may be connected to a legal battle between Gray and News of the World
(both it and Sky are owned by News Corporation) over phone-tapping
.
when she landed a job alongside him on Sky Sports
in 1999. Gray told tabloid reporters that his womanising days were over: "With age, I hope, comes maturity, I certainly do not see myself with anyone else"
Until recently he was engaged to Rachel Lewis, an ex-model and the former wife of his long-time friend and agent and he wants to return to live in Back, Outer Hebrides
on the Isle of Lewis in the near future.
Gray has married twice, to Vanessa Taylor and Jacqueline Cherry. He has fathered five children, by four different women – his two ex-wives and former girlfriends Sara Matthews and Janet Trigg.
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
, as well as a presenter on Andy Gray's Last Word, until his dismissal in January 2011 following an inquiry into three occasions when he was recorded making off-camera, sexist comments. On 8 February 2011, Gray, along with fellow former Sky pundit Richard Keys
Richard Keys
Richard Keys is an English radio presenter best known for his time with British sports channel Sky Sports from 1991 until 2011. In February 2011, Keys along with fellow Sky presenter, Andy Gray signed with talkSPORT....
signed with talkSPORT
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
.
Early life
Andy Gray was born in Glasgow to two Scottish parents.Club career
Gray started his professional career as a player with Dundee UnitedDundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
where he scored 46 goals in 62 appearances.
In October 1975, at the age of 20, he headed south to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
(newly promoted to the First Division) and won England's golden boot in 1976/77
1976-77 in English football
The 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level of points, replacing the traditional goal average tie-breaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring...
with his tally of 25 league goals. His 29 goals in the following season earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year
PFA Young Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football...
and PFA Players' Player of the Year
PFA Players' Player of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the year in English football...
awards (a historic double not repeated until Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
won both awards 30 years later). At the time he was the youngest player to earn the Players' Player of the Year award, and the first player to win more than one of the official three player of the year awards in the same season.
Gray then moved to Villa's local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in September 1979 for a then-British record £1.5m. After scoring the winning goal for Wolves in the 1980 League Cup final
1980 Football League Cup Final
The 1980 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 1979–80 Football League Cup, the 20th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in The Football League...
, he remained with the club through their relegation in 1982 (despite interest from Manchester United) and promotion a year later.
He moved to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in November 1983 for £250,000. He enjoyed two seasons with the Merseyside club, winning the FA Cup in May 1984 (scoring in the final against Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in controversial fashion by heading the ball out of Watford's goalkeeper's hands).
A year later, he won the League Championship and European Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1984-85
The season 1984-85 of the European Cup Winners' Cup was won by Everton in the final against SK Rapid Wien. However, they were unable to re-enter Europe the next season despite winning both it and the English top division due to the Heysel stadium disaster the same year. It was therefore the last...
, also scoring in the final of the latter. He also reached another FA Cup final
1985 FA Cup Final
The 1985 FA Cup Final was contested by Manchester United and holders Everton at Wembley Stadium. United won by a single goal, scored in extra time by Norman Whiteside....
, but this time he was on the losing side as Everton were defeated by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
Then came the arrival of England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
striker Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE , is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live...
from Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in the 1985 close season. Despite angry petitions from Everton fans wanting to keep Gray at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, he left the club on 10 July 1985, returning to Aston Villa in a £150,000 deal.
Despite starting the decade on a high as league champions in 1981 and European Cup winners in 1982, they had now declined to mid table mediocrity and the return of Gray was unable to turn things around as his arrival at Everton had done. He scored five goals from 35 league games in 1985–86
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
as Villa narrowly avoided relegation to the Second Division, and the following season
1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
he failed to score a single goal from 19 league games as Villa fell into the Second Division. He began the 1987–88 season
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
still with Villa, but was transferred to their local rivals West Bromwich Albion in September 1987 having not featured in a first team game for Villa that season. His spell at Albion lasted less than a year, and was uneventful as they narrowly avoided relegation from the Second Division.
In mid-1988, he joined Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. He spent one season at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
, helping them win the Scottish Premier Division
Scottish Football League Premier Division
The Scottish Football League Premier Division was, from 1975 until 1998, the top division of the Scottish Football League and the entire Scottish football league system...
title – the first of nine successive titles they would win.
He dropped into non-league football with Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
club Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
before retiring in 1990.
International career
Gray's Player of the Year accolades in England were not enough to convince Scotland manager Ally MacLeodAlly MacLeod
Alistair Reid MacLeod was a Scottish professional football player. He is perhaps better known for his time as a football manager, which included being in charge of Scotland at the 1978 FIFA World Cup....
to select him for the 1978 World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
squad.
Gray won 20 caps for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, scoring 7 goals for his country. He also won four caps at Under-23 level and played at schoolboy level. His full international debut came on 17 December 1975 in a 1–1 draw with Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
. He was not selected for any of Scotland's World Cup squads during his playing days.
International goals
(NB scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first)| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 1976 | Hampden Park Hampden Park Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland... , Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
4–0 | 6–0 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 8 September 1976 | Hampden Park Hampden Park Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland... , Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
6–0 | 6–0 | Friendly | |
| 3 | 20 September 1978 | Praterstadion, Vienna Vienna Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre... |
2–3 | 2–3 | ECQG2 | |
| 4 | 26 March 1980 | Hampden Park Hampden Park Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland... , Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
2–0 | 4–1 | ECQG2 | |
| 5 | 28 May 1983 | Ninian Park Ninian Park Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship... , Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
1–0 | 2–0 | BHC 1983 British Home Championship The 1983 British Home Championship was the penultimate in the series of football tournaments between the British Home Nations which stretched back 99 years to 1884... |
|
| 6 | 19 June 1983 | Varsity Stadium Varsity Stadium Varsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site... , Toronto Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | |
| 7 | 19 June 1983 | Varsity Stadium Varsity Stadium Varsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site... , Toronto Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Aston Villa- League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 19771977 Football League Cup FinalThe 1977 Football League Cup Final was played between Aston Villa and Everton and required three games to decide the winner, the only time this has happened in the League Cup. The first match took place at Wembley Stadium on 12 March and the game ended in a dull goalless draw...
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 19801980 Football League Cup FinalThe 1980 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 1979–80 Football League Cup, the 20th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in The Football League...
Everton
- Football League Division One: 1985
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 19841984 FA Cup FinalThe 1984 FA Cup Final was contested by Everton and Watford at Wembley. Everton won 2–0, with one goal by Graeme Sharp and a particularly memorable goal from Andy Gray. He was adjudged by many to have fouled the Watford goalkeeper Steve Sherwood by heading the ball from Sherwood's hands.... - European Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1985
Rangers
- Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
: 1989
Coaching
After hanging up his boots, Gray entered coaching as an assistant at Aston Villa, and spent six months at Sheffield Wednesday as reserve team coach under David PleatDavid Pleat
David John Pleat is an English football player turned manager and sports commentator.He is remembered by his contemporaries primarily for his career as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town football clubs, and for an oft-televised clip of him running onto the pitch in 1983 to celebrate after...
before focusing full-time on his television work.
Commentary career
After retiring as a player, Gray became a football commentator, pundit and analyst on Sky SportsSky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
, serving as a highly recognisable facet of its Premier League coverage since its inception in 1992, most notably alongside studio anchor Richard Keys
Richard Keys
Richard Keys is an English radio presenter best known for his time with British sports channel Sky Sports from 1991 until 2011. In February 2011, Keys along with fellow Sky presenter, Andy Gray signed with talkSPORT....
and lead match commentator Martin Tyler
Martin Tyler
Martin Tyler is an English football commentator who was voted as the FA Premier League Commentator of The Decade...
. In addition, he reported for Sky from Euro 2004 in Portugal, although Sky did not have broadcast rights for the games. He commentated for BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
in the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
and for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
in Euro 2008. Gray also provides betting tips for Betfair
Betfair
Betfair is the world's largest Internet betting exchange. The company is based in Hammersmith in West London, England. Since Betfair was launched in June 2000 it has become the largest online betting company in the UK and the largest betting exchange in the world. Betfair claim to have over 3...
, and also provided commentary for EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
' FIFA series
FIFA (series)
FIFA, also known as FIFA Football or FIFA Soccer, is a series of association football video games, released annually by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label...
of video games until being replaced in the 2012 edition of the game series by Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith.
In January 2011, Gray was forced to apologise for comments he made about a female assistant referee, Sian Massey
Sian Massey
Sian Louise Massey is an English football and women's football referee who officiates generally in the role of assistant referee – primarily in the Football League – but she has also had appointments to Premier League, Football League Trophy, UEFA Women's Champions League and FIFA Women's World...
, in an Premier League match. Believing their microphones were switched off, Gray and his fellow commentator Richard Keys
Richard Keys
Richard Keys is an English radio presenter best known for his time with British sports channel Sky Sports from 1991 until 2011. In February 2011, Keys along with fellow Sky presenter, Andy Gray signed with talkSPORT....
stated that females "didn't know the offside rule". The comments were criticised by Sky Sports and the Football Association. On 24 January it was announced that both Gray and Keys would be banned for one game – missing a game for the first time in Sky Sports history. On 25 January 2011, it was announced his contract was being terminated for unacceptable behaviour. Barney Francis, Sky Sports' managing director, said Gray was dismissed "in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour in an off-air incident that took place in December 2010". The Daily Telegraph suggested that the Sky statement refers directly to a clip of Gray and Charlotte Jackson
Charlotte Jackson
Charlotte Louise Jackson , is a British journalist and television presenter, currently a presenter on Sky Sports News...
in rehearsals for the Sky Sports Christmas Special. While Jackson is attaching a microphone pack, Gray lifts his belt and says: "Charlotte, can you tuck this down here for me?"
Gray's former team mate at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
, has suggested that Gray's dismissal may be connected to a legal battle between Gray and News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
(both it and Sky are owned by News Corporation) over phone-tapping
News of the World phone hacking affair
The News International phone-hacking scandal is an ongoing controversy involving mainly the News of the World but also other British tabloid newspapers published by News International, a subsidiary of News Corporation. Employees of the newspaper were accused of engaging in phone hacking, police...
.
Personal life
Gray fell for the former Olympic gymnast Suzanne DandoSuzanne Dando
Suzanne Dando is a former British Olympic gymnast, who competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. She works as a television presenter mainly with Sky Sports.-British and Olympic gymnast:...
when she landed a job alongside him on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
in 1999. Gray told tabloid reporters that his womanising days were over: "With age, I hope, comes maturity, I certainly do not see myself with anyone else"
Until recently he was engaged to Rachel Lewis, an ex-model and the former wife of his long-time friend and agent and he wants to return to live in Back, Outer Hebrides
Back, Outer Hebrides
Back is a district and a village on the Isle of Lewis on the coast of Broadbay, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The road through Back commences at a road junction in Newmarket, north of Stornoway. It is a little touristed part of the Hebrides despite having some of the best beaches in Lewis, but...
on the Isle of Lewis in the near future.
Gray has married twice, to Vanessa Taylor and Jacqueline Cherry. He has fathered five children, by four different women – his two ex-wives and former girlfriends Sara Matthews and Janet Trigg.
External links
- International stats at Londonhearts.com