Frank Grayer
Encyclopedia
Frank Grayer was an English footballer who played as a full-back for Southampton
and Liverpool
in the period prior to World War I
.
and moved along the south coast
to Southampton
as a child. He was educated at St. Denys school and played football for the school and later with St Mary's Athletic. Described as "a modest and unassuming youngster", he was selected to join Southampton
's professional staff after a successful trial in August 1908.
He spent his early years at The Dell playing in the reserves and is was not until two days before his 21st birthday, on 11 February 1911, that he eventually made his first-team debut in a Southern League
match at Swindon Town
, replacing Jack Eastham
at right-back. Although he was a "solid, reliable performer at full back with a good turn of speed", he found first-team chances hard to come by, making only six appearances in his four years with the "Saints". The return of Dan Gordon
in 1911 reduced his chances of regular football even further and in July 1912, the Saints accepted an offer of £100 from Liverpool
of the Football League First Division
.
On Merseyside
he again found few opportunities of first-team football and in three seasons at Anfield
, his only Football League appearance came on 15 April 1914 when he replaced regular right-back Ephraim Longworth
in a 2–1 defeat against Manchester United
.
, he enlisted in the Army and was badly injured at Ypres. He never fully recovered from his injuries and was unable to resume his football career after the cessation of hostilities. Instead, he found employment with a furniture company, Shepherd & Hedger, where he remained until his retirement in 1955.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the period prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Football career
Grayer was born in BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and moved along the south coast
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
as a child. He was educated at St. Denys school and played football for the school and later with St Mary's Athletic. Described as "a modest and unassuming youngster", he was selected to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
's professional staff after a successful trial in August 1908.
He spent his early years at The Dell playing in the reserves and is was not until two days before his 21st birthday, on 11 February 1911, that he eventually made his first-team debut in a Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
match at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, replacing Jack Eastham
Jack Eastham
John Bilborough "Jack" Eastham was an English footballer who spent most of his career with Blackburn Rovers and then Southampton playing as a full-back.-Blackburn Rovers:...
at right-back. Although he was a "solid, reliable performer at full back with a good turn of speed", he found first-team chances hard to come by, making only six appearances in his four years with the "Saints". The return of Dan Gordon
Dan Gordon (footballer)
Daniel "Dan" Gordon was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a full-back for various clubs in the early years of the 20th century.-Football career:...
in 1911 reduced his chances of regular football even further and in July 1912, the Saints accepted an offer of £100 from Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
of the Football League 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....
.
On Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
he again found few opportunities of first-team football and in three seasons at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, his only Football League appearance came on 15 April 1914 when he replaced regular right-back Ephraim Longworth
Ephraim Longworth
Ephraim Longworth , was an England international footballer for Liverpool in the early part of the twentieth century.-Life and playing career:...
in a 2–1 defeat against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
Later career
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he enlisted in the Army and was badly injured at Ypres. He never fully recovered from his injuries and was unable to resume his football career after the cessation of hostilities. Instead, he found employment with a furniture company, Shepherd & Hedger, where he remained until his retirement in 1955.