Jake Gray (footballer)

Jake Stephen Gray (born 25 December 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Hampton & Richmond Borough of the National League South.

Jake Gray
Gray playing for Hampton & Richmond Borough in September 2023
Personal information
Full name Jake Stephen Gray[1]
Date of birth (1995-12-25) 25 December 1995 (age 28)[1]
Place of birth Aylesbury, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Hampton & Richmond Borough
Number 10
Youth career
0000–2012 Wycombe Wanderers
2012–2013 Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Crystal Palace 0 (0)
2015Cheltenham Town (loan) 4 (0)
2015–2016Hartlepool United (loan) 29 (5)
2016–2017 Luton Town 19 (1)
2017–2019 Yeovil Town 56 (5)
2019–2020 Woking 5 (0)
2019Hampton & Richmond Borough (loan) 7 (2)
2020Hampton & Richmond Borough (loan) 9 (2)
2020– Hampton & Richmond Borough 113 (14)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:19, 14 January 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Gray was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and attended Grange School.[1][3][4] He began his career at Wycombe Wanderers before joining Crystal Palace when he was fifteen, after Wycombe Wanderers closed their academy at the start of 2012–13.[5] He progressed through the youth system and development squads,[5] before signing his first professional contract, effective from 1 January 2013 until the end of 2014–15.[6] Gray made his professional debut as a 62nd-minute substitute for Dwight Gayle in a 3–0 win away to Walsall in the League Cup second round on 26 August 2014.[5][7] He also featured in the third round as a 90th-minute substitute for Paddy McCarthy which resulted in a 3–2 defeat to Newcastle United after extra time.[8] Following the expiry of his previous contract, Gray signed a new two-year contract with the club on 2 July 2015.[9]

On 16 January 2015, Gray joined League Two club Cheltenham Town on a one-month loan.[10] He made both his Football League and Cheltenham debut in a 1–1 draw with Luton Town on 24 January.[11] Gray made three further appearances before returning to Crystal Palace, despite being keen on an extension.[12][13]

On 5 November 2015, Gray joined League Two club Hartlepool United on a one-month youth loan.[14] Two days later, he made his Hartlepool debut in a 1–0 win over former loan club Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup first round.[15] Gray followed up with a brace, his first professional goals in a 3–1 win at home to Leyton Orient eight days later.[16][17] After making three appearances for Hartlepool, Gray's loan was extended until 2 January 2016.[18] On 5 January, his loan spell at Hartlepool was extended until the end of the season, by now having made eight appearances for the club.[19] Gray's next appearance saw him score the opening goal with a volley during a 2–1 defeat at home to Derby County in the FA Cup third round, before his opponents came from behind to win the match.[20] Gray went on to complete his loan spell, making 33 appearances and scoring six goals for the club in 2015–16.[21]

On 1 August 2016, Gray signed a two-year contract with League Two club Luton Town on a free transfer.[22] Under the terms of the transfer, Crystal Palace would be due a contingency sum in any event of a future sale.[22] He made his Luton debut as a substitute on the opening day of 2016–17 in a 3–0 win away to Plymouth Argyle.[23] Gray scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win at home to newly relegated Championship club Aston Villa in the EFL Cup first round on 10 August.[24] After the end of the season, Gray was transfer-listed by Luton,[25] having made 28 appearances and scored four goals in 2016–17.[23]

On 26 June 2017, Gray signed for fellow League Two club Yeovil Town on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[26] At the end of the 2018–19 season, Gray was released by Yeovil following the club's relegation from the English Football League.[27]

Gray signed for National League club Woking on 25 August 2019.[28] In September 2019, he joined Hampton & Richmond Borough of the National League South on a one-month loan.[29] While on loan, this was extended for a further month. Gray returned to Woking in November but was unable to hold a regular starting place in the team. On the 10 January it was announced that he would be returning to Hampton & Richmond for a further five weeks.[30]

On 2 August 2020, it was announced that Gray would return to Hampton & Richmond Borough on a permanent basis ahead of the 2020–21 campaign.[31] He was awarded the National League South Player of the Month award for March 2023.[32]

Career statistics

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As of match played 13 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Crystal Palace 2014–15[33] Premier League 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
2015–16[21] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
Cheltenham Town (loan) 2014–15[33] League Two 4 0 4 0
Hartlepool United (loan) 2015–16[21] League Two 29 5 4 1 33 6
Luton Town 2016–17[23] League Two 19 1 1 1 2 1 6[a] 1 28 4
Yeovil Town 2017–18[34] League Two 26 3 4 0 1 0 6[a] 1 37 4
2018–19[35] League Two 30 2 1 0 0 0 3[a] 0 34 2
Total 56 5 5 0 1 0 9 1 71 6
Woking 2019–20[36] National League 5 0 0 0 5 0
Hampton & Richmond Borough 2019–20[36][37] National League South 16 4 2 0 1[b] 0 19 4
2020–21[36][38] National League South 17 2 4 0 1[b] 0 22 2
2021–22[36][39] National League South 27 4 3 0 1[b] 0 31 4
2022–23[36][40] National League South 46 5 4 1 1[b] 0 51 6
2023–24[36][41] National League South 23 3 2 0 3[b] 0 28 3
Total 129 18 15 1 7 0 151 19
Career total 242 29 25 3 5 1 22 2 294 35
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ a b c d e Appearances in FA Trophy

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Jake Gray". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Jake Gray". ESPN FC. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Pro players return to their old school roots". The Bucks Herald. Aylesbury. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Talented teen is hailed a 'star in waiting' after signing first pro deal". The Bucks Herald. Aylesbury. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Jake Gray joins Luton Town". Crystal Palace F.C. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Crystal Palace starlets Jake Gray and Sullay Kaikai win professional deals". Sky Sports. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Walsall 0–3 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Crystal Palace 2–3 Newcastle United (aet)". BBC Sport. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Gray and Inniss sign new deals". Crystal Palace F.C. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Jake Gray: Crystal Palace midfielder joins Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  11. ^ Cunliffe, James (24 January 2015). "Match report: Cheltenham Town 1 Luton Town 1 – goal problems continue on 'atrocious' pitch". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  12. ^ Palmer, Jon (12 February 2015). "Jake Gray returns to Crystal Palace after loan spell". Cheltenham Town F.C. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  13. ^ Palmer, Jon (11 February 2015). "I'd love to extend loan at Cheltenham Town – Jake Gray". Cheltenham Town F.C. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Jake Gray: Hartlepool United sign Crystal Palace winger". BBC Sport. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  15. ^ Kelly, Roy (7 November 2015). "Hartlepool Utd 1 Cheltenham Town 0: Kudos to Kudus as Pools make cup progress". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  16. ^ "Hartlepool United 3–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Hartlepool United's Crystal Palace midfielder Jake Gray will stay as long as boss wants him to". Hartlepool Mail. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Jake Gray: Hartlepool United agree loan extension with Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  19. ^ "Hartlepool extend loan deals of Adam Jackson and Jake Gray". BBC Sport. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Hartlepool United 1–2 Derby County". BBC Sport. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  21. ^ a b c "Games played by Jake Gray in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Jake Gray: Crystal Palace midfielder joins Luton Town on a free transfer". BBC Sport. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  23. ^ a b c "Games played by Jake Gray in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  24. ^ Shepka, Phil (10 August 2016). "Luton Town 3–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Luton Town: Jonathan Smith, Jake Gray & Josh McQuoid put on transfer list". BBC Sport. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  26. ^ "Jake Gray: Yeovil Town sign Luton Town midfielder for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Yeovil Town: Glovers release nine players after relegation from Football League". BBC Sport. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  28. ^ O'Sullivan, Daniel (25 August 2019). "Jake Gray signs". Woking F.C. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  29. ^ Youlton, Clive (19 September 2019). "Dynamic Hodges happy to play Woking waiting game". Surrey Live. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  30. ^ "Jake Returns". Hamptonfc. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  31. ^ "Hampton & Richmond Borough FC on Twitter". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. Twitter. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  32. ^ "Gary And Gray Gather The National League South Gongs!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Jake Gray in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  34. ^ "Games played by Jake Gray in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  35. ^ "Games played by Jake Gray in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  36. ^ a b c d e f "J. Gray: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  37. ^ For FA Cup second qualifying round: "Chesham United 1–2 Hampton & Richmond Borough". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  38. ^ For FA Cup second qualifying round: "Corinthian FC 0 - 1 Hampton & Richmond Borough". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
    For FA Cup third qualifying round: "Hampton & Richmond Borough 2 - 2 AFC Hornchurch". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  39. ^ For FA Cup second qualifying round: "Walton Casuals FC 0 - 3 Hampton & Richmond Borough FC". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
    For FA Cup third qualifying round: "Hampton & Richmond Borough FC 3 - 1 Wimborne Town FC". Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  40. ^ For FA Cup second qualifying round: "Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Bognor Regis Town 0 - 2 Hampton & Richmond Borough – 2022-2023". Football Web Pages. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
    For FA Cup third qualifying round: "Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round – Hampton & Richmond Borough 6 - 1 Paulton Rovers – 2022-2023". Football Web Pages. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Jake Gray Player Profile". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
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