Archie Gray
Encyclopedia
Archibald Colin "Archie" Gray (24 August 1878 – ?) was a Scottish
football
er.
Gray began his career at local junior clubs Govan Columbia and Glasgow Ashfield, before joining Edinburgh
side Hibernian
in 1899. He spent five seasons with Hibs, winning the 1902 Scottish Cup
. Gray made 18 league appearances and scored two goals as Hibs then won the 1902–03
Scottish First Division
title. He also won his one and only cap for Scotland
on 21 March 1903, against Ireland; Scotland lost 2–0.
In the summer of 1904 Gray moved south to London
to join Woolwich Arsenal
, who had just been promoted to the First Division
for the first time. Gray made his debut in Arsenal's very first First Division match, against Newcastle United
on September 3, 1904, and immediately became the club's first-choice right back
for the next five seasons; Woolwich Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup
twice (in 1905–06
and 1906–07
), while in the League they usually occupied a comfortable spot in mid-table.
Gray lost his regular place to fellow Scot Duncan McDonald
in 1909, but he returned to the team during the 1910–11
season. He played in both full back positions, often as cover for Joe Shaw. However, having passed the age of 30 he found his place came under threat from newer, younger players (such as John Peart), and he was largely left out in the 1911–12
season. He played his final first-class match, his 200th, against Notts County
on 23 December 1911. In spring 1912 he was transferred for £250 to Second Division
Fulham
, where he played 25 matches in three seasons, before his retirement in 1915.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
Gray began his career at local junior clubs Govan Columbia and Glasgow Ashfield, before joining Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
side Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1899. He spent five seasons with Hibs, winning the 1902 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
. Gray made 18 league appearances and scored two goals as Hibs then won the 1902–03
1902-03 in Scottish football
The 1902–03 season was the 13th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Hibernian-Scottish League division two:-Scottish Cup:...
Scottish First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
title. He also won his one and only cap for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on 21 March 1903, against Ireland; Scotland lost 2–0.
In the summer of 1904 Gray moved south to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to join Woolwich Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, who had just been promoted to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for the first time. Gray made his debut in Arsenal's very first First Division match, against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
on September 3, 1904, and immediately became the club's first-choice right back
Right Back
-Guest Artists:This album features many additional artists, including:* Barrington Levy, performing on "Righteous Dub" & "Saw Red"* H.R., performing on "New Sun"* Dangr, performing on "Kick Down"* Tippa Irie, performing on "Sensi"...
for the next five seasons; Woolwich Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The 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...
twice (in 1905–06
1905-06 in English football
The 1905–06 season was the 35th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Following the increase in size of the Football League from 36 clubs to 40, and with Doncaster Rovers having been relegated from the Second Division, four new clubs were elected into the league, along with Stockport...
and 1906–07
1906-07 in English football
The 1906–07 season was the 36th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:-First Division:-Second Division:P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = PointsReferences...
), while in the League they usually occupied a comfortable spot in mid-table.
Gray lost his regular place to fellow Scot Duncan McDonald
Duncan McDonald (footballer)
Duncan McDonald was a Scottish footballer, who played as a right-sided full backBorn in Bo'ness, McDonald started his career with Townside before joining Woolwich Arsenal in April 1909, but had to wait until October 30, 1909 to make his debut, against Manchester United...
in 1909, but he returned to the team during the 1910–11
1910-11 in English football
The 1910–11 season was the 40th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Huddersfield Town entered the Football League for the first time. Grimsby Town were the team who made way for them...
season. He played in both full back positions, often as cover for Joe Shaw. However, having passed the age of 30 he found his place came under threat from newer, younger players (such as John Peart), and he was largely left out in the 1911–12
1911-12 in English football
The 1911–12 season was the 41st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Blackburn Rovers won the First Division title for the first time....
season. He played his final first-class match, his 200th, against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
on 23 December 1911. In spring 1912 he was transferred for £250 to Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, where he played 25 matches in three seasons, before his retirement in 1915.
External links
- Archie Gray, www.ihibs.co.uk