Archie Gray

Archibald Colin Gray (born 24 August 1878)[3] was a Scottish football player.

Archie Gray
Personal information
Full name Archibald Colin Gray[1]
Date of birth (1878-08-24)24 August 1878
Place of birth Cambuslang, Scotland[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Govan Columbia
Ashfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1899–1904 Hibernian 51 (2)
1904–1912 Woolwich Arsenal 184 (0)
1912–1915 Fulham 25 (0)
National team
1903 Scottish League XI[1] 1 (0)
1903 Scotland 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Gray began his career at local junior clubs Govan Columbia and 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.[4] He also won his one and only cap for Scotland on 21 March 1903, against Ireland; Scotland lost 2–0. A week earlier, Gray had represented the Scottish League.[1]

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 3 September 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.

References
  1. "Archibald Colin Gray". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  2. Lugton, pp221.
  3. According to Allfootballers.com; although Harris & Hogg (1995) give his year of birth as 1883, this is less plausible as it would have made him only 16 when he joined Hibernian.
  4. Scotland 1902/03, RSSSF.
  • Harris, Jeff (1995). Hogg, Tony (ed.). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  • Lugton, Alan (1999). The Making of Hibernian 1. John Donald Publishers. ISBN 0-85976-509-1.
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