When Michael Gray looks back on his career, the moment Peter Reid walked into Roker Park must be viewed as a sliding doors moment.
The youngster had burst onto the scene under Malcolm Crosby – famously scoring in the first minute of his first start, in his first pro game at Roker – before enjoying a good run in the team under Crosby’s replacement, Terry Butcher.
The following season was tough, with Gray not seeing much action under Butcher or his successor, Mick Buxton. During Buxton’s tenure, Gray was often
on the periphery – or out of contention altogether.
After watching Reid’s first couple of games from the stands, Gray found himself on the bench against Luton at home before forcing his way into the team – initially playing on the left wing before switching to the right, where he impressed in both positions.
We were now almost three years on from Gray’s impressive arrival as a 17-year-old, and it felt as though this was a ‘make or break’ season for him at Sunderland.
And boy, did he make it.
As we all know, Sunderland ground out the Championship title in 1995 – 96 rather than romping home at the top of the league – but that’s not downplaying the achievement one bit. The team was excellent, with Gray one of the star men operating from the flanks, and his success that season can be traced back, in many respects, to a friendly against Irish side Drogheda 31 years ago today.
After Reid’s decision to extend his temporary stay, Sunderland’s pre-season had kicked off two days earlier with a 2-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic, with Phil Gray and Brett Angell on the scoresheet. But it was Michael Gray who was making the headlines a couple of days later as the Lads romped to an impressive 6-0 victory.
After a quiet opening 30 minutes, the game sparked into life, with right winger Gray causing all sorts of problems down the flank.
Angell – who had arrived at the club just a few months earlier and had struggled with injuries in his early months – was causing the home side all sorts of problems in the air and, after Armstrong, Phil Gray and Atkinson had all gone close, it was the former Southend man who opened the scoring on 30 minutes, heading home from Armstrong’s high ball.
Michael Gray added a second before half-time after a neat one-two with namesake Phil and, after the break, the goals flew in.
At the interval, the returning Paul Bracewell came on for his first appearance since joining the club for a third spell, and he showed he still had the quality to make an impact in the season ahead – dictating the game from midfield in his new role as player-assistant manager.
Michael Gray grabbed another from the edge of the box before Phil powered the ball home off the crossbar to make it four. Micky completed his hat-trick on the hour, finishing after Phil’s chest-down, while the Northern Irishman completed the scoring – with Michael providing the assist on that occasion.
All in all, it was an exceptionally good night for the team, and for Michael Gray in particular. With the youngster entering the final year of his contract, he was keen to earn a new deal while playing on the right of the attack.
After the game, he said:
“When Peter Reid came in I felt it was a fresh start. I have got my confidence back and hopefully I will have a good season.
“This is an important season for me as my three-year contract comes to an end.
“Right wing is definitely my favourite position. It suits my type of game when I can cut inside and take people on.”
As it turned out, Gray was ever-present as Sunderland claimed the title – operating to great effect on both the right and left wing across 52 league and cup appearances. Although he didn’t reach the goalscoring heights his pre-season form may have suggested, scoring just the five goals throughout the campaign, he enjoyed an exceptional season that truly paved the way for everything that followed.
SUNDERLAND: Chamberlain, Kubicki, Scott, Martin Gray, Bennett, Ord (Howey 60), Michael Gray, Atkinson (Bracewell 45), Armstrong, Phil Gray, Angell.
