Matt Gray highlights

[Gareth]

320-odd games, 60-odd goals, over 6 years service to the club....there are a few memories that stick out of Matt's Sutton career.

My personal favourite - the final goal in our 4-0 annihalation of K's in the last Ryman season which saw an awesome 60-yard pass from Nicky Bailey straight to Matt who was standing on the edge of the box at the Collingwood Road end. Most normal people would take a touch, but as we all know, Matt's far from normal so he headed it first time over the stranded K's keeper into the net.

Other times that stick out - the old boy at Redbridge grabbing his shirt, and a neutral this year at Yeading stating that Matt had called the ref every expletive he knew after giving them a penalty - as well as a few swear words that he hadn't even heard before!!

Any other memories stick out?

[Del]

My early memory of him was at Boeham Wood.I'm not sure if we were playing Enfield or Boreham Wood but Matt was on the bench feeling really pissed off.I told him to stick with it,that his turn would come and that he would become a regular in the side but at the time he had to accept he had to work for his place.I think JR had trouble finding the right place for him and everyone said he should play as a striker.He turned into an excellent wing back and was outstanding in the season we were runners up to Canvey.Woking wanted him then but were not willing to pay that" substantial fee".

[taz]

I recall him making his debut at Farnborough aged a shade over 16 (January 2001 wasn't it?).

As for memorable moments, I recall him taking that penalty at Redbridge and injuring himself in the process, the late winning pen at the Bobbins a couple of Crimbo's back, him having a "No! My ball!" moment with Ali Chabaan at Thurrock and that cross shot that snuck in against Cambridge at home in the last minute to break that 20-odd game winless streak last season.

But the free-kick against the Bobbins in that 6-0 win really stands out for me. The pic in the NLP of him buried under team-mates and all you could see was his grinning face is one of my favourite U's images.

[os]

There has been so many matty moments over the last 6 season's, as Taz says the penalty at Thurrock was one. He was a main cog in that 2003 side that scared the crap out of Woking in the SSCF so much so that they have spent 3 yrs trying to put Nursey and MG in their shirts. But for me I liked the way he just keeps running even when in the following season we kept giving the ball away in midfield and he was playing wingback he did not stop making the pitch length runs.

[Millsy]

The 'tumble' at Weymouth, or maybe Dorchester (I think) that earned hm a booking that I actually appealed for, "Ref, book him for that!" - Good luck Matty, aka 'Hollywood'


(he'll let me off for that comment)

[Indiana Johns]

The obligatory booking for descent, he was at least close enough to the jokers known as conference south referees to let them know what we all feel about their mistakes! ;D

My dad's enduring image of Sutton Utd is a Matt Gray free-kick, though he can't remember when...or who against That and a Hutchinson (I think) right hook just after coming on as sub.

[medibot]

Descent? Matt never dived!

[Rupert Scallywag]

Think the right hook was Forrester against K's

I remember loads of goals for the youth and reserves which seems a hell of a long time ago now. I remember when he came on for his debut at Farnborough and someone said to me "Who's he?" My reply was something like "Matt Gray. Look out for him. He's good." One of the few times I got it right.

My dad visits once every couple of years. The times he has been he was always impressed with Matt and as a result is the only name that sticks in his mind.

Good luck Matt. The right side of midfield will be very different without you.

[undergroundernie]

A player who always had 5 mins for all supports young and old never to busy not to chat to anybody. not bad with a ball aswell.

[jeff]

My personal highlight;

Matty completely fluffing a corner kick and, whilst on the floor, hitting the ground shouting "why am i so sh1t?"

Seriously though, watching Matt sprinting up the right wing taking defenders on left right and centre and getting the cross in was a joy!

Good luck!

[Amber Aleman]

Another memory to treasure: the 2nd minute goal he scored at Havant during our first visit there in January 2005. We went on to win 3-2.

[medibot]

How about the assist for the goal against Lewes (at Lewes) this season?

Took the ball around the man with some beautiful control and put in the sweetest of crosses for McBean to tap in. Lovely stuff.

Or him wrestling Craig Watkins to the ground with the aid of a water bottle at the infamous Cambridge away trip on the last day of the 04-05 season, probably something to do with Craig's goal meaning they finished joint top scorers.

Also the Farnham incident with some classic Matt in the form of "what the f*ck are you doing you f*cking fat f*ck or something along those lines after he had to evade a rather dodgy challenge from their rather rotund defender.

[Andy K]

Great thing about Matt was he never hid his emotions.

I have a great long list of footballing moments, but some of the more comical ones were

Stopping Ali Chabaan from taking a penalty at Thurrock in 05
Being attacked at Redbridge in 05
Being elbowed by IH to stop him getting red carded by the ref against Newport this year
My personal favourite - coming off at half time against Yeading at the warren saying "Why do we always get dogshit referees in this divison"

Love it!!!

[popinjay]

That "right hook" was by Scott Forrester again K's - he got tackled and turned round and punched the guy clean in the face, then when the ref showed him a red card he stood up and put his hands on his hips with a bewildered look on his face as if to say "what did I do?!". Not a Matt Gray memory but still priceless!

[Indiana Johns]

Forrester, that was it, my dad still has a chuckle about it every now and then. But Matt was always one of his favourites. Good luck to him at Woking and lets hope Sutton find someone else with as much passion and determination.