CLUB
Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic were a familiar opponent in both our Isthmian and Conference National days, as well as being an epic FA Trophy foe. It was against the Gravelmen that Boro’ needed to get past to make it through to the 2007 FA Trophy Final. After getting to the Conference in 2005, the Essex side had an eye on going straight through and out the other side; finishing third under Mark Stimson and falling short in the playoffs.
Stimmo came to us and then the Gravelmen started to struggle. The 2009-10 season ended in relegation; things getting worse when they quit the Conference completely. Instead of taking a spot in Conference South, they applied to join the Ryman League. Their bid was batted back at first, however; only allowed in after an FA appeal. In 2016, Grays Athletic became a community-owned club.
Head-to-Head
| Played | 24 |
|---|---|
| Won | 11 |
| Drawn | 7 |
| Lost | 6 |
| Goals For | 32 |
| Goals Against | 25 |
| Win % | 46% |
Club History
Who are Grays Athletic?
Grays. The only place in the land to take its name from the hues, colours and shades of its landscape; wedged on the Essex bank of the Thames between Tilbury and the side we looked at last time, Thurrock. Or Purfleet. The history of Grays Athletic starts in 1890, formed as Grays Juniors before merging with United to make the side we came to know. First joining the Athenian League (1912), the Blues had spells in the London, Kent and Corinthian Leagues between 1914 and 1958 before returning to the Athenian set-up in 1958.
It was, however, their move to the Isthmian League in 1983 that laid foundations for the story of us and them.
Why do we know the Blues?
After joining the Isthmian League, Grays Athletic spent a season in Division Two before it split out into North and South in ’84 (to cater for an influx of new teams, including Boro’). The Blues won the new Div Two South at the first crack, resulting in promotion to Division One. A year later, us Div Two Northerners joined them. Due to a quirk in scheduling during the 1986-7 Vauxhall Opel League Division One season, our first two meetings were just two weeks apart. The first on 30 March finished 2-2; the second in mid-April ending up 1-1 at their gaff.
How to get to Grays Athletic
By Car
By Road
Go around the M25 to Junction 30/31, which is in the clockwise direction and is for the A13. Take the second exit at the roundabout for the Thurrock-bound A13. At the next roundabout, go right round and take what we hope is the fourth exit – this is Ship Lane.
Keep going down Ship Lane for 1.2 miles into Aveley, before you need to turn left onto High Street and then right again onto Mill Road. You’ll come across the ground on the right-hand side, just before you reach St Paul’s Close.
By Rail
By Rail
The nearest station isn’t all that near – so the train is unlikely to be an option unless you’re willing to catch a bus or something.
Parking
Parking
The ground has a car park that can accommodate 200 vehicles.
Previous Meetings
Matches before 1980-81 pre-date Stevenage's senior status and are excluded from the head-to-head totals.
| Date | Competition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Mar 2010 | Blue Square Premier Conf | A | 2-1 |
| 22 Sep 2009 | Blue Square Premier Conf | H | 1-1 |
| 9 Dec 2008 | Blue Square Premier Conf | H | 0-0 |
| 25 Sep 2008 | Blue Square Premier Conf | A | 2-1 |
| 23 Feb 2008 | Blue Square Premier Conf | H | 0-0 |
| 29 Sep 2007 | Blue Square Premier Conf | A | 2-0 |
| 17 Mar 2007 | FA Trophy SF FATSF | H | 2-1 |
| 10 Mar 2007 | FA Trophy SF FATSF | A | 1-0 |
| 17 Feb 2007 | Conference National Conf | A | 2-0 |
| 18 Nov 2006 | Conference National Conf | H | 1-0 |
| 31 Dec 2005 | Nationwide Conference Conf | A | 2-2 |
| 26 Nov 2005 | Nationwide Conference Conf | H | 0-1 |
| 8 Feb 2005 | Conference Cup R4 GLS4 | H | 1-1 |
| 26 Oct 2002 | FA Cup R4Q FAC4Q | A | 2-1 |
| 29 Mar 1994 | Diadora League Premier Division DLP | A | 2-1 |
| 27 Sep 1993 | Diadora League Premier Division DLP | H | 1-0 |
| 20 Apr 1993 | Diadora League Premier Division DLP | A | 1-2 |
| 30 Jan 1993 | FA Trophy R2 FAT2 | H | 0-1 |
| 28 Dec 1992 | Diadora League Premier Division DLP | H | 6-1 |
| 11 Sep 1990 | A.C. Delco Cup ACD | H | 1-2 |
| 27 Oct 1987 | Vauxhall Opel League Division 1 VO1 | A | 0-4 |
| 29 Aug 1987 | Vauxhall Opel League Division 1 VO1 | H | 0-2 |
| 14 Apr 1987 | Vauxhall Opel League Division 1 VO1 | A | 1-1 |
| 30 Mar 1987 | Vauxhall Opel League Division 1 VO1 | H | 2-2 |
Shared Players
| Player | Profile |
|---|---|
| Steve Arnold | View Profile |
| Jon Ashton | View Profile |
| Damien Batt | View Profile |
| Tony Battersby | View Profile |
| Ashley Bayes | View Profile |
| Tyrone Berry | View Profile |
| Tommy Black | View Profile |
| Lee Boylan | View Profile |
| Dean Brennan | View Profile |
| Mitchell Cole | View Profile |
| Owen Coll | View Profile |
| Lee Flynn | View Profile |
| Santos Gaia | View Profile |
| Dominic Gentle | View Profile |
| Liam George | View Profile |
| Jermaine Hunter | View Profile |
| Ryan Kirby | View Profile |
| Billy Manuel | View Profile |
| John Martin | View Profile |
| Craig McAllister | View Profile |
| Mark Molesley | View Profile |
| John Morgan | View Profile |
| Fred Murray | View Profile |
| John Nutter | View Profile |
| Aaron O'Connor | View Profile |
| Lloyd Opara | View Profile |
| Richard Pacquette | View Profile |
| Craig Reid | View Profile |
| Robbie Reinelt | View Profile |
| Justin Richards | View Profile |
| Jean-Michel Sigere | View Profile |
| Jamie Slabber | View Profile |
| Jimmy Smith | View Profile |
| Jamie Southon | View Profile |
| Jude Stirling | View Profile |
| Tony Stokes | View Profile |
| Robin Trott | View Profile |
| Darren Twidell | View Profile |
| Andy Walker | View Profile |
| Darren Williams | View Profile |
