Martin Gray (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Martin Gray is an English former footballer, on two occasions caretaker manager
at Darlington
and once at Oldham Athletic
. He currently runs his own football academy.
, County Durham
, His main position was in midfield, but has played in all outfield positions during his career. He signed as a trainee to Sunderland
in 1990 and stayed with them until 1996 when he made a £100,000 transfer to Oxford United. In 2001 Darlington agreed to end his playing contract so he could concentrate on being reserve and youth team coach on a full time basis.
On Saturday 30 September 2006, David Hodgson
was suspended by the club following a run of poor results and a possible approach from Bournemouth
, leaving Gray and Neil Maddison
in joint caretaker
charge for up to two weeks while an internal investigation was carried out. Hodgson was subsequently dismissed shortly after. Former Doncaster Rovers
manager Dave Penney took over the manager's job with Gray as his assistant. Neil Maddison took over his job as youth team coach but he continued his role as reserve team coach along with his assistant managerial role. He took over as caretaker manager again on 1 May 2009 after Penney took the managerial role at Oldham Athletic
, before joining up with Penney again as his assistant at Oldham. Gray took over as caretaker manager for the final game of season 2009-10 after Penney left the club. Gray left Oldham on 2 June 2010 after being unsuccessful in his application for the full-time manager's position.
On 17 June 2010, he registered a new business Martin Gray Football Academy Ltd based from his Skeringham Manor address in Darlington.
On 12 June 2011, he represented Sunderland in the Northern Masters along with other ex-professionals.
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
and once at Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
. He currently runs his own football academy.
Career
Born in Stockton-on-TeesStockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, His main position was in midfield, but has played in all outfield positions during his career. He signed as a trainee to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in 1990 and stayed with them until 1996 when he made a £100,000 transfer to Oxford United. In 2001 Darlington agreed to end his playing contract so he could concentrate on being reserve and youth team coach on a full time basis.
On Saturday 30 September 2006, David Hodgson
David Hodgson (footballer)
David James Hodgson , is an English former footballer who played for Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Norwich City, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as lower division clubs and teams in France, Japan, and Spain....
was suspended by the club following a run of poor results and a possible approach from Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, leaving Gray and Neil Maddison
Neil Maddison
Neil Maddison is an English former footballer and is currently youth coach at Darlington. His main position was in midfield, but has played in all outfield positions during his career.-Playing career:...
in joint caretaker
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
charge for up to two weeks while an internal investigation was carried out. Hodgson was subsequently dismissed shortly after. Former Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
manager Dave Penney took over the manager's job with Gray as his assistant. Neil Maddison took over his job as youth team coach but he continued his role as reserve team coach along with his assistant managerial role. He took over as caretaker manager again on 1 May 2009 after Penney took the managerial role at Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, before joining up with Penney again as his assistant at Oldham. Gray took over as caretaker manager for the final game of season 2009-10 after Penney left the club. Gray left Oldham on 2 June 2010 after being unsuccessful in his application for the full-time manager's position.
On 17 June 2010, he registered a new business Martin Gray Football Academy Ltd based from his Skeringham Manor address in Darlington.
On 12 June 2011, he represented Sunderland in the Northern Masters along with other ex-professionals.
Honours
SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
- 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...
runner-up: 19921992 FA Cup FinalThe 1992 FA Cup Final was contested by Liverpool and Sunderland at Wembley. Liverpool won 2–0, with goals from Michael Thomas and Ian Rush.... - Division One winner: 1995–961995-96 in English football- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nation | From | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... (joint caretaker) | 1 October 2006 | 30 October 2006 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 25.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... (caretaker) |
1 May 2009 | 7 May 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 |