Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Henry Gray (Ipswich Town FC | England) [Loan: Harrogate Town AFC]

113 replies · 13,152 views
21 Jul 03:02
From Flying Kiwis.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Culzm7YtOqt/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=0559ec65-47ac-4957-a33b-923e77ec6c16

Finally got that official word from the club: Ipswich Town have confirmed the signing of NZ U20s international goalkeeper Henry Gray, a former Wellington Phoenix Academy prospect... although we already knew this was coming after ‘Ipswich Town’ popped up as his club on the squad list for that U20 World Cup. Cat out of the bag. But now ITFC have made it known for all, unveiling Gray as part of a triple pledge of young goalkeepers. Gray joins Scotland U18s keeper Woody Williamson and local prospect Antoni Burt, who is of Polish descent, in signing fresh contracts.

Rene Gilmartin, ITFC head of goalkeeping: “This shows our commitment to nurturing young talents and building a strong squad for the future. We firmly believe that their unique skills and passion for the game will contribute significantly to the Club's success. Henry is someone we’ve known about for a while now, so it’s good to have him here. Woody had an impressive season last year and has the potential to continue his development further, while Antoni Bort is a prime example of someone who’s committed to working hard and not letting setbacks get in the way of his development. I’m looking forward to seeing their progression over the course of the season.”

It’s a two-year contract for Gray and if he manages to progress to the first team then he’ll join Lee Norfolk, Tommy Smith, Rory Fallon, Chris Wood, and Monty Patterson as NZers to have played for the Tractor Boys.  

Up Next: It’ll be academy footy to begin with – he’s listed with the U18s on Wikipedia for what that’s worth
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29 Jul 06:57
90 mins for the U21s in a 1-0 win over Monty Patterson's former club Braintree Town of the National League South
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27 Feb 09:26
bump



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27 Feb 10:08
Rump
Journalist In NZ
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27 Feb 11:31


Matches coming thick and fast now as we get towards the pointy end of the season.

Gray's Chelmsford City (2nd) travelling to Farnborough (14th) tomorrow morning.

Hopefully he can keep up his excellent run of form in between the sticks.
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28 Feb 01:22
Yeah we should probably utilise this thread more than the Kiwis in UK one.

Anywho, another appearance for Gray this morning, but unusually for him, no clean sheet in a 1-1 draw at Farnborough. What you might call a bit of a disappointing result having had the opportunity to close the gap at the top to 9 points with 11 fixtures left to play.

As it is, Chelmsford stay 2nd after this one, while their opposition move up to 13th.
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28 Feb 13:35 · edited 28 Feb 22:58 · History


Thought Gray was on loan until the end of the season already. 

Sensible play nevertheless. Should guarantee at least another 11 games in the league, and if Chelmsford can hold their form they'll at a minimum qualify for the National League South playoff Semi-Finals.
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02 Mar 20:39


Chelmsford and Gray get back to their clean sheet ways with a 2-0 win against Aveley FC to remain 2nd in the National League South.

Next up, back home on Tuesday morning to face 3rd place Worthing FC.
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03 Mar 21:05
YoungHeartHM


Chelmsford and Gray get back to their clean sheet ways with a 2-0 win against Aveley FC to remain 2nd in the National League South.

Next up, back home on Tuesday morning to face 3rd place Worthing FC.

Would love to see the incidents for 4 red cards in a game!

Valley FC til I die?

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04 Apr 00:13
Chelmsford City (2nd, 79 pts) with 3 games left a strong chance of finishing 2nd, and then into the playoff. Likely a bridge too far to catch Yeovil Town (1st, 86 pts). YT with 2 games in hand, so they would have to seriously implode not to finish top. Just the one automatic promotion spot.

Chelmsford beat Yeovil 1-0 on the weekend, in a nice confidence boost. Gray in goal & another clean sheet. Hopefully Chelmsford get promoted to the National League (English 5th tier). A full season at that level on loan from Ipswich, probably be good for Gray's continued development. Or who knows some L2 clubs may even give him a chance on loan.

Him or Kees Sims behind Paulsen at the Olympics? I guess it doesn't really matter as a 3rd keeper will likely go as a travelling reserve.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/24/england/conference-n--s/chelmsford-city-fc/yeovil-town-fc/4117111/

https://us.soccerway.com/national/england/conference-n--s/20232024/south/r75712/
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09 Apr 16:40
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09 Apr 17:40
RR

Does that mean he's now 3rd choice keeper at Ipswich? Well for the time being at least...Not bad for 19 years old, and another great experience to add to what's already been a pretty successful first season for the lad in England.

Chelmsford fans are absolutely gutted though, couldn't have happened at a worse time for them - Right before the playoffs! That and I think their regular #1 is out for the season as well. 
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11 Apr 23:54
Sounds like Ipswich carry 3 keepers with their Championship match day squads, so with one out injured and 19 yr old Gray promoted, presumably he's ranked no 4 within the club ranks.

Ipswich in a very tight race with Leicester City & Leeds for the 2 automatic promotion spots to the EPL.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/24242125.ipswich-town-henry-gray-recalled-chelmsford-city/

(Chelmsford City) Manager Robbie Simpson said: "Unfortunately we received a call from Ipswich this morning saying that they wanted to recall Henry due to an injury to one of their keepers. They always have three matchday keepers so with one out injury it was Henry’s opportunity to step up."
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22 Apr 18:35 · edited 22 Apr 18:36 · History


Nice nomination here for young Henry for his performances at Chelmsford City during his recent loan spell. 👏
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04 May 22:25
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06 May 06:44
He's managed the one thing Tommy always lusted after but never got at Ipswich. Good on him. Now to nail down that starting Prem spot!
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites

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06 May 07:11
Marto
He's managed the one thing Tommy always lusted after but never got at Ipswich. Good on him. Now to nail down that starting Prem spot!

After his successful loan spell at Chelmsford before being recalled, I'd love to see him get a good loan out next term, but step it up to say the National League or even a club in League Two. 

That would probably present the best career path trajectory given such a young age. 
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06 May 09:14
League 1 or 2 hopefully.

Would be cool if he got to go away on their pre season tours and everything.
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06 May 09:57
MetalLegNZ
League 1 or 2 hopefully.

Would be cool if he got to go away on their pre season tours and everything.

If he gets loaned to a League One outfit and can make an impression/get good minutes then that puts him squarely into the AW's rotation alongside Paulsen & Crocombe. And that's with a very capable Kees Sims waiting in the wings too.

Easily the best depth and quality we've had in the goalkeeping department for the national team ever?
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06 May 10:29
Not sure he's good enough to be a starting keeper in League One next season??

Maybe he is, but it's taken Crocombe 10 years to do it! Plus some luck - Burton Albion's incumbent getting injured at the start of the season.

In reality Gray is currently the 4th ranked keeper at Ipswich Town, the 2nd or 3rd ranked guy got injured leading to Gray being recalled from his loan deal. And with the Tractor Boys being promoted to the EPL, they could well sign a new quality keeper or two.

Unfortunately Chelmsford City (2nd in National League South, English 6th tier) got knocked out of the promotion playoffs losing 2-3 to Braintree Town (5th) at home. 34 yr old Freddie Sears, formerly with Tommy Smith at Ipswich & then Colchester with one of Braintree's goals.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/27/england/conference-n--s/chelmsford-city-fc/braintree-town-fc/4351268/

You never know, but League Two or National League on loan might be more Gray's opening next season. A very decent level for a 19 yr old GK.
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06 May 19:53
I think he will be looking at League 2 or higher. Yes he is young, but he had a stand out season in the Conference.

At a guess, the league would be fairly 'competative' in the physical sense with maybe not as much protection for a keeper as you see higher up the food chain.

Interesting call to say SIMS is in the wings - arguably he is currently playing at the highest level of any of the kiwi keepers.
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06 May 21:52 · edited 07 May 07:22 · History
MetalLegNZ
I think he will be looking at League 2 or higher. Yes he is young, but he had a stand out season in the Conference.

At a guess, the league would be fairly 'competative' in the physical sense with maybe not as much protection for a keeper as you see higher up the food chain.

Interesting call to say SIMS is in the wings - arguably he is currently playing at the highest level of any of the kiwi keepers.

I say Sims in the wings purely because in any squad you take 3 keepers into any international duty.

Crocombe being the incumbent - and fair enough, he's had good form over the past couple of seasons over in England and is worthy of being 'the top dog' for the national team (for now at least) and is in the prime goalkeeping years of his career.

Paulsen, well we all know how good he is - Would not be surprised to see him grab the #1 spot for the AW's over the next little while (perhaps even for the Nations Cup) and he has the potential to hold onto that spot for a very long time.

Right now I still think it's a toss up between Gray & Sims for that third spot. He's already been called up for the senior team at short notice - Although that was probably more convenience than anything to be honest. I can't find the exact post I made, but during the U20 World Cup I was on record that Gray should've at least been given a shot. If he gets a loan to League One then I think he gets that 3rd spot. 

Again this is just my opinion.

Will be interested to see where Tzanev ends up too, as he's still well in the mix.
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22 Jul 10:47 · edited 23 Jul 02:31 · History
Found that Henry Gray flew over to Austria with Ipswich Town for a training game. They are playing a total of 5 friendlies there in a week I think, so he might get some mins.

However Town have just signed 38 cap Kosovo international Aro Muric on a 4 year deal. Muric was at Burnley last season in the EPL. That will push Gray down the pecking order, and you'd think he'll go out on loan again somewhere this season.
https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/july/17/town-sign-keeper-muric/


https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=879885797521159&set=pcb.879886027521136
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22 Jul 10:54
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20 Aug 12:43
Niche Cache.
A season with the Ipswich Town U21s or another loan deal. We wait to see

Here’s a sneaky situation. Henry Gray remained with the Ipswich Town first team throughout preseason. He was named in the NZ Olympic team but never travelled, though did remain on call if needed. Last season he had a blinder of a time in a non-league loan with Chelmsford City then finished the campaign as the third-choice keeper with the Ipswich first team. No matchday squad selections but manager Kieran McKenna has a policy that they always have three goalies with the team for any game and injuries elsewhere had cleared the path for Gray to make up those numbers.

Nothing’s really changed since then. Number one keeper Vaclav Hladky left on a free to Burnley which turned out to be an unofficial swap deal when Ipswich then bought Burnley’s Arijanet Muric to replace him. But that doesn’t affect Gray’s situation. Christian Walton remains at the club, as does Cieran Slicker whose injury it was that cleared the path for Gray to return from Chelmsford. Curiously it was Walton who got the start in their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in week one of the Premier League, his first start in over a year. Muric was out injured so Slicker was the man on the bench. Muric will surely be the starter when he’s available therefore the hierarchy is basically the same as it was before with Henry Gray hanging out as number four.

As such, he was free to rip in with the U21s in their first game of the new season, a 6-1 win against Birmingham U21s. East Anglian Daily Times mentioned Gray as one of several standouts, stating that: “It was solid defensive performance too, with Henry Gray making some top saves and centre-backs Jacob Mazionis and Harry Barbrook leading from the back”. 

Gray could yet go out on loan – there are still a couple of weeks of transfer window remaining plus the emergency loan market is always there. Or he could hang back and get some reps with the U21s, train with the first team, and wait and see if any injuries happen to shoot him up the ladder. Or there could be a transfer for one of the other goalies. Most likely Slicker who has been linked with a possible loan to Scotland.  
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20 Aug 23:59
coochiee
Niche Cache.
A season with the Ipswich Town U21s or another loan deal. We wait to see

Here’s a sneaky situation. Henry Gray remained with the Ipswich Town first team throughout preseason. He was named in the NZ Olympic team but never travelled, though did remain on call if needed. Last season he had a blinder of a time in a non-league loan with Chelmsford City then finished the campaign as the third-choice keeper with the Ipswich first team. No matchday squad selections but manager Kieran McKenna has a policy that they always have three goalies with the team for any game and injuries elsewhere had cleared the path for Gray to make up those numbers.

Nothing’s really changed since then. Number one keeper Vaclav Hladky left on a free to Burnley which turned out to be an unofficial swap deal when Ipswich then bought Burnley’s Arijanet Muric to replace him. But that doesn’t affect Gray’s situation. Christian Walton remains at the club, as does Cieran Slicker whose injury it was that cleared the path for Gray to return from Chelmsford. Curiously it was Walton who got the start in their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in week one of the Premier League, his first start in over a year. Muric was out injured so Slicker was the man on the bench. Muric will surely be the starter when he’s available therefore the hierarchy is basically the same as it was before with Henry Gray hanging out as number four.

As such, he was free to rip in with the U21s in their first game of the new season, a 6-1 win against Birmingham U21s. East Anglian Daily Times mentioned Gray as one of several standouts, stating that: “It was solid defensive performance too, with Henry Gray making some top saves and centre-backs Jacob Mazionis and Harry Barbrook leading from the back”. 

Gray could yet go out on loan – there are still a couple of weeks of transfer window remaining plus the emergency loan market is always there. Or he could hang back and get some reps with the U21s, train with the first team, and wait and see if any injuries happen to shoot him up the ladder. Or there could be a transfer for one of the other goalies. Most likely Slicker who has been linked with a possible loan to Scotland.  
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21 Aug 00:01
coochiee
Niche Cache.
A season with the Ipswich Town U21s or another loan deal. We wait to see

Here’s a sneaky situation. Henry Gray remained with the Ipswich Town first team throughout preseason. He was named in the NZ Olympic team but never travelled, though did remain on call if needed. Last season he had a blinder of a time in a non-league loan with Chelmsford City then finished the campaign as the third-choice keeper with the Ipswich first team. No matchday squad selections but manager Kieran McKenna has a policy that they always have three goalies with the team for any game and injuries elsewhere had cleared the path for Gray to make up those numbers.

Nothing’s really changed since then. Number one keeper Vaclav Hladky left on a free to Burnley which turned out to be an unofficial swap deal when Ipswich then bought Burnley’s Arijanet Muric to replace him. But that doesn’t affect Gray’s situation. Christian Walton remains at the club, as does Cieran Slicker whose injury it was that cleared the path for Gray to return from Chelmsford. Curiously it was Walton who got the start in their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in week one of the Premier League, his first start in over a year. Muric was out injured so Slicker was the man on the bench. Muric will surely be the starter when he’s available therefore the hierarchy is basically the same as it was before with Henry Gray hanging out as number four.

As such, he was free to rip in with the U21s in their first game of the new season, a 6-1 win against Birmingham U21s. East Anglian Daily Times mentioned Gray as one of several standouts, stating that: “It was solid defensive performance too, with Henry Gray making some top saves and centre-backs Jacob Mazionis and Harry Barbrook leading from the back”. 

Gray could yet go out on loan – there are still a couple of weeks of transfer window remaining plus the emergency loan market is always there. Or he could hang back and get some reps with the U21s, train with the first team, and wait and see if any injuries happen to shoot him up the ladder. Or there could be a transfer for one of the other goalies. Most likely Slicker who has been linked with a possible loan to Scotland.  

WhatsApp Image 2024-08-21 at 09.55.23_18d05eb3.jpg 132.29 KB

In the wider matchday squad against Liverpool. Boy is living the dream and surely destined for much higher things!
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21 Aug 00:38 · edited 21 Aug 00:41 · History
Sounds like as long as one of the 3 keepers head of him is injured, he won't go out on loan. Their gaffer wanting always 3 keepers in the wider senior squad on match days.

And then if no 3 Slicker goes out on loan, then Gray stays at Ipwsich all season long. As long as he's playing regularly midweek for the U21s and training daily with the senior EPL team, that seems a good development outcome.

And yeah what a season to be in and around the senior team, with them in the Premier League, travelling to all those iconic big team grounds. Living the dream. High chance it will be a one & done season for the Tractor Boys, so Gray may well prefer to stay with their U21s than go out on loan somewhere. Only an injury away from sitting on the pine in an EPL game!
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25 Sep 22:37 · edited 25 Sep 23:36 · History
Henry Gray extends his deal with Ipswich Town.

https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/47977/keeper-gray-signs-new-deal



Hopefully a loan move for him at some point in the near future to build on his first team appearances while on loan with Chelmsford City late last season.
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25 Sep 23:44
Nice little joke by an obviously proud dad.
Gray is ranked no 4 GK at Ipswich, but the 3rd choice has gone out on loan?

If so Gray may spend the whole season playing midweek for the U21s, given Kieran McKenna has said he always likes to have 3 keepers available in the wider match day squad. Young Henry maybe travelling with the first team to all their away EPL games. Great experience, and reasonable chance the Tractor Boys will be relegated, so this exciting EPL season is when you want to be in & around the first team, not out on loan. Only an injury away from possibly a bench spot in a Premier League game.


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26 Sep 00:16
coochiee
Nice little joke by an obviously proud dad.
Gray is ranked no 4 GK at Ipswich, but the 3rd choice has gone out on loan?

If so Gray may spend the whole season playing midweek for the U21s, given Kieran McKenna has said he always likes to have 3 keepers available in the wider match day squad. Young Henry maybe travelling with the first team to all their away EPL games. Great experience, and reasonable chance the Tractor Boys will be relegated, so this exciting EPL season is when you want to be in & around the first team, not out on loan. Only an injury away from possibly a bench spot in a Premier League game.



His old man is seriously good value. Top bloke.

Good range of keepers at UK clubs both now, and for the foreseeable future at least. Easily the position with the most depth from a national team perspective as well. Just a shame we can only have one of them on the pitch at a time!
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03 Oct 00:46
Niche Cache. If Slicker (3rd choice) doesn't go out on loan, maybe Gray is better to look for a loan deal away from Ipswich again this season.

Still I guess it can't be so easy to find a good loan deal where you would be the starting keeper. Heaps of non 1st team keepers at various EPL/Championship clubs all wanting to be a starter for a 3rd/4th/5th tier club - limited number of opportunties available. Think Slicker was up in Scotland last season. And of course the Nix picked up ex Spurs age group GK Oluwayemi via Finland.


Two-year full professional contract extension for 19yo Henry Gray, that’s what we love to see. Gray hasn’t gone out on loan this season, at least not yet, instead sticking around and playing pretty regularly for the Ipswich U21s. Curiously, Ipswich recently loaned a young Scottish keeper named Woody Williamson to Chelmsford City – the same club that Gray had such success at last campaign. The pathway is the same but Henry Gray is further down the track, it would seem. Weirdly, Williamson played the most recent U21s game for Ipswich after being on the bench for Chelmsford on the weekend so he must be allowed to go back and forth.

Back to the first team picture, Arijanet Muric is the number one for the Tractor Boys with Christian Walton backing him up. Cieran Slicker is also still at the club having not gone on loan either – he also just signed a new deal, his being a four-year banger. That means that, as things stand, Gray is the fourth-choice goalkeeper for a Premier League club and one injury would get him into the wider matchday squad while two injuries could get him onto the bench. There’s a lot to be gained by sticking around and this new contract shows that Ipswich are happy to invest in his abilities.
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22 Dec 18:07
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360530755/kiwi-teenager-who-dreams-emulating-chris-wood-playing-premier-league

Gray is effectively Ipswich’s fourth goalkeeper behind starting goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and back-ups Christian Walton and Cieran Slicker.

Although he is yet to take the field, he trains with the first team on a daily basis. He said three goalkeepers are involved in every match-day so whenever there’s an injury, he gets called in to be part of the warm-up.

It will likely take two injuries for him to sit on the bench.

He came through the Wellington Phoenix academy and spent a season with the A-League Men squad during their forced relocation to Australia during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There he struck up a friendship with English forward David Ball, who suggested on a car ride one day that “we should get you over to England”.

Gray’s agent approached Ipswich and they liked the look of him from the footage they had seen of him playing for New Zealand age-group teams.

Earlier this season, Gray signed a two-year extension that will keep him at the club until at least 2026-27.

“I think I fit the structure quite well with the build-up play, the way the gaffer wants to keep possession as much as he can and that’s my game.

“My ball distribution is one of the best parts of my game and obviously Ipswich are really keen on that.

“Luckily I was offered a new contract and I was very stoked to sign it. The goals are you just have to keep working for the next contract.

“I was talking to [teammate] Omari Hutchison and he said the second and third contracts are the hardest so you just have to see what happens and keep working hard.”

Gray thought he would be sent out on loan ahead of Ipswich’s Premier League return in a bid to get some game time, only for one of the goalkeepers to go down with an injury.

Gray’s one loan stint was to Chelmsford where he replaced another loanee, English-Nigerian Josh Oluwayemi, who is now the Phoenix’s starting goalkeeper.

Chelmsford needed to find a new goalkeeper when Oluwayemi broke his finger.
“He was there before me. I’ve never met the guy, Josh, but I heard he was a very good goalkeeper and now he’s at Wellington Phoenix so it’s like roles are reversed. I went to Chelmsford, he went to the Nix.”
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03 Jan 22:48 · edited 03 Jan 22:51 · History


Joins Braintree Town until the end of the season. Will hurt Chelmsford City fans to see that one given the rivalry between the two.
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03 Jan 23:35 · edited 03 Jan 23:40 · History
Presumably he's going there to immediately go in goal. Braintree are 20th in the National League (5th tier), only above the relegation spots on GD. This is the same level as Jamie Searle at Forest Green Rovers (2nd), but it seems unlikely Searle will get even one league match this season with FGR tracking well and him a constant on the pine.

Gray gets a few clean sheets, and helps keep BT up, he will have done a job.

FYI - Chelmsford City are 13th in the English 6th tier (South)


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14 Jan 19:53
Good call Coochiee!
Straight into the starting XI for Braintree to face Aldershot. Just kicked off, and Braintree up 1-0 early on.

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21 Jan 11:45
As above the Aldershot game finished 2-2. Then a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Solihull Motors.

From Niche Cache

And we’re underway. Gray’s second loan move away from Ipswich Town has taken him a step higher up the levels to Braintree Town in the English National League (fifth tier). They were rivals of his when he played in the sixth tier for Chelmsford City last year but they’re his allies this time around.

And although Gray joined them in a relegation battle, his first two appearances have been a 2-2 draw away to Aldershot and a 1-0 win against Solihull Moors. Four points to earn some breathing room. Up to nineteenth (out of 24) in the standings. He made one excellent save in particular during the second half of the Solihull win. That’s what we like to see.
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