Julian Raymond Marvin Gray (born 21 September 1979) is an English football coach and former professional player.

Julian Gray
Gray in 2011
Personal information
Full name Julian Raymond Marvin Gray[1]
Date of birth (1979-09-21) 21 September 1979 (age 45)[2]
Place of birth Lewisham, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Left winger
Team information
Current team
Birmingham City (academy coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 Arsenal 1 (0)
2000–2004 Crystal Palace 125 (11)
2003Cardiff City (loan) 9 (0)
2004–2007 Birmingham City 60 (3)
2007–2009 Coventry City 29 (4)
2008–2009Fulham (loan) 0 (0)
2009 Fulham 1 (0)
2009 Barnsley 5 (0)
2010–2011 Walsall 61 (14)
2011–2013 Nea Salamis Famagusta 55 (8)
2013–2014 Walsall 12 (1)
Total 358 (41)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He played in the Football League and Premier League for Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Fulham, Barnsley and Walsall,[3] and in Cyprus for Nea Salamis Famagusta.

Club career

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Gray was born in Lewisham, in south London.[2] He began his association with Arsenal as a seven-year-old,[4] and made one substitute for the first team before making a switch across London in July 2000 to join Crystal Palace for a £500,000 fee.[5][6] He is an attacking left winger[4] who can also play as an auxiliary striker,[citation needed] and has learnt full-back duties so he can help out in defence.[7] Gray played a key part in helping them achieve promotion in the 2003–04 season,[8] despite missing the play-off final through suspension.[9] In addition to his successes during that season he spent a two-month spell on loan with Cardiff City.[10] One of Gray's most memorable games for Palace was when he scored in a man-of-the-match performance as Palace surprisingly knocked Liverpool out of the 2002–03 FA Cup at Anfield.[11][4]

 
Gray with Birmingham City in 2004

Gray's contract expired in June 2004, allowing him to sign for Birmingham City on a free transfer.[8][12] He made 32 Premier League appearances in his first season in the Midlands,[6] and remained a key part of manager Steve Bruce's plans during the 2005–06 season,[12] although an ankle injury kept him out for several weeks towards the end of the campaign,[13] but started only twice as the team returned to the Premier League in 2007 and was released at the end of that season.[14]

He joined Coventry City on 10 July 2007.[15] He signed for Fulham on a season-long loan on 1 September 2008,[16] and despite not playing a single league game for the club, the move was made permanent for an undisclosed fee on 2 February 2009.[17] He made only one substitute appearance for Fulham, and was released at the end of the season.[18]

In July 2009 Gray went on Sheffield United's pre-season tour of Malta as part of a trial with the club,[19] and the following month he had a trial with former club Cardiff City.[20] Gray signed for Barnsley on 15 September, initially on a monthly contract.[21] He was released after two months, during which he made seven appearances in all competitions and started only one Championship game.[22] Gray joined Walsall in February 2010,[23] and was offered a new deal by the club at the end of the season.[24] He scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season in the 2–1 victory over Brentford with a volley from a Darren Byfield cross.[25]

After leaving Walsall when his contract expired, Gray spent two seasons in Cyprus with Nea Salamis Famagusta. He returned to England in 2013, and trained with Walsall before signing a contract with them on 27 September, to run until January of the following year.[26] Gray made his second debut for the club on 12 October, as a 71st-minute substitute for James Baxendale in a 1–1 draw away at Colchester United.[27] He was released when his contract expired.[28]

Coaching career

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Gray joined the staff of Arsenal's academy in 2019, and became under-18s assistant coach in 2021.[29] He holds the UEFA A Licence.[29] He was appointed as lead under-15s coach in Birmingham City's academy in August 2024.[29]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/09/2013 and 30/09/2013". The Football Association. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 175. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. ^ "Julian Gray: All time playing career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Edworthy, Sarah (14 February 2003). "FA Cup on the spot: Julian Gray & Hayden Mullins". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Julian Gray". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Games played by Julian Gray in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  7. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  8. ^ a b "Birmingham eye Gray move". BBC Sport. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  9. ^ Taylor, Daniel (31 May 2004). "Dowie has drive to prosper". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Gray returns to Palace". BBC Sport. 8 December 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Palace stun Liverpool". BBC Sport. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  12. ^ a b Tattum, Colin (27 April 2006). "Bruce singles out Gray for praise". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Gold fires broadside at Savage after snub". Birmingham Post. 21 April 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  14. ^ Moore, Glenn (4 September 2007). "Footballers going cheap: Picking up the pieces of broken dreams". The Independent. London. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Coventry sign Birmingham's Gray". BBC Sport. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  16. ^ "Winger Gray joins Fulham on loan". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  17. ^ "Fulham wrap up Dacourt loan deal". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  18. ^ "Summer Departures". Fulham F.C. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 3 July 2009.
  19. ^ "Early chance for triallists". Sheffield United F.C. 6 July 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012.
  20. ^ Phillips, Terry (26 August 2009). "Julian Gray on trial with the Bluebirds". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  21. ^ "Another Gray day for Reds". Barnsley F.C. 16 September 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
  22. ^ "Tykes let Gray go". Sky Sports. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  23. ^ "Walsall sign former Barnsley winger Julian Gray". BBC Sport. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  24. ^ "Walsall release seven including Dwayne Mattis". BBC Sport. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  25. ^ "Brentford 1 Walsall 2". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  26. ^ "Walsall: Julian Gray rejoins Saddlers on short-term contract". BBC Sport. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  27. ^ "Colchester United 1–1 Walsall". BBC Sport. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  28. ^ "Julian Gray: Walsall release veteran winger". BBC Sport. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  29. ^ a b c "Julian Gray appointed to Blues Academy role". Birmingham City F.C. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Young Player of the Year: A History". Crystal Palace F.C. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
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