Grays Athletic FC is one of the many non-league teams that call the county of Essex home, and they are one which epitomises how easy it is for a small club to both rise and fall. Founded way back in 1890 the club spent most of its early history playing in the regional leagues. They eventually went on to become founder members of the Athenian League, but WWI disrupted that and they left for a while and played in the London League from 1919-20 until the onset of WWII.
Post-war they became founder members of the Corinthian League winning the title at the first attempt in 1945-46. They spent a total of 13 seasons here before rejoining the Athenian League before joining the Isthmian League in the early 1980s.
The club enjoyed unprecedented success in the opening decade of the 21st Century, coming close to obtaining Football league status and winning two FA Trophies. Sadly the ending of their lease on their long term home stadium in 2010 coincided with a sharp decline in their fortunes. The recent pandemic has not helped either but fortunately, it now looks like the club’s fortunes have stabilised.
They now play in the nearby town of Aveley at the Parkside Ground which is about 5 miles outside of Grays. They will be playing in the Isthmian League North Division in 2021-22 meaning ther will be a couple of Derby games against Aveley FC who share the ground with them.
Grays Athletic FC In The FA Cup
The Blues first entered the FA Cup in the late 1920s but didn’t enjoy a great deal of success. However, in the 1952-53 season, they finally made it to the 1st round proper thanks to a 2-0 win over Kings Lynn in their 4th qualifying round replay. Their adventure came to a shuddering halt against Welsh side Llanelli, however, this was no disgrace given that the Welsh side had some impressive FA Cup results under their belt.
Thirty-six seasons later they were back in the 1st round again, this time losing to Bath City. It has to be borne in mind that getting to the first round proper is no easy task for non-league clubs but by the turn of the 21st century, Grays were starting to make a habit of it.
They played Reading in round one in 2000-01 and were back the following season again succumbing, this time to fellow non-league side Hinkley United. In 2003-4 they lost to Aldershot Tow. However, their best was yet to come.
Grays Athletics Epic FA Cup Run
In 2005-6 the club enjoyed their best FA Cup run to date. First, they disposed of Cray Wanderers with the minimum of fuss to reach the 1st round proper. They then beat York City 3-0 away, to reach the 2nd round for the first time.
The draw could have been kinder but a trip to the League Two Mansfield was their reward. The game was played on a Friday night which didn’t help them galvanise their travelling fans and Grays were a goal and a man down within the first 15 minutes. A crowd of 2992 then witnessed an easy 3-0 win for Mansfield. Still, it was a great achievement and the start of their short-lived purple patch.
They completed their best decade of FA Cup achievement in 2008-09 when they took Carlisle United to a replay, in round 1 before bowing out 2-0.
Other Cups
Grays Athletic had a purple patch in the FA Trophy in the mid-2000s winning the cup twice in succession and reaching the semi-finasl three years running. Sadly for their fans, Wembley was closed for renovations so they never got to see them run out on the hallowed turf. Still trips to Villa Park & The Boylin Ground were a decent consolation.
They have also enjoyed considerable success in the Essex Senior Cup, winning it eight times, and reaching the final on 10 other occasions. Their main period of dominance was during the 1920’s but they have been in the final as recently as 2013.
A Little Bit of Trivia
Grays were founder members of the Athenian League in 1912 however despite two separate spells and many seasons competing in it they never managed to win it. Their best finish was ironically 2nd in 1982-3 which was the final time they competed in it.
Between 1914 and 1921 Grays only lost one Essex Senior Cup Match. This was aided massively by the competition being suspended for a few u=years due to WW1 but it is still some achievement. That only loss was a 1-0 defeat by Barking Town in 1920 final.
In 1987-88 Grays amassed 100 points in a season for the first time in the club’s history. Alas, too many draws cost them (10) and Marlow pipped for the title by a point.
In 2006-7 Grays so nearly made it three FA Trophy Finals on the bounce. Their quest was ended in extra time in the semi-finals going out to two late goals against eventual winners Stevenage Borough.
A Brief Grays Athletic FC Chronology
1890 Club founded as Grays Juniors.
20th Century
1906 Moved to the New Recreation Ground
1908 Joined the South Essex League
1912 Founder member of Athenian League
1914 Left Athenian League
1919-20 Joined The London League
1926-27 Entered the FA Cup for the first time
1945-46 Founder member of Corinthian and League Champions
1951-52 Corinthian League runner-up (missed out on goal average)
1951-52 Reached The FA Cup 1st Round Proper for the first time
1954-55 Corinthian League runner-up
1956-57 Corinthian League runner-up
1958-59 Rejoined Athenian League
1972 Relegated to Division One
1982-83 Athenian League runner-up (on goal difference)
1983-84 Joined Isthmian League Division Two
1984-85 Isthmian League Division Two South Champions – Promoted to Division One
1987-88 Isthmian League Division One runner-up – Promoted to Premier Division
1988-89 Reached the FA Cup 1st Round Proper for the second time
1997 Relegated to Isthmian League Division One
1999-2000 Isthmian League Division One runner-up (on goal difference) Promoted to Premier Division
21st Century
2000-01 First FA Cup game against a Football League Club (lost 4-0 to Reading)
2004-05 Joined newly-formed Conference South – Finished as Champions F.A. Trophy Winners
2005-06 Second consecutive F.A. Trophy Win
2005-06 Reached the FA Cup 2nd Round for the first time
2005-6 Lost in the Conference National play-off semi-final 5-4 on aggregate to Halifax.
2006-07 F.A. Trophy semi-finalists
2010-11 Rejoined Isthmian League in Division One North
2011-12 Lost playoff Semi-Final against Enfield 3-1 on penalties
2012-13 Isthmian League Division One North Champions with 102 points
2017 Relegated to Division One North
2019-20 & 20-21 Seasons postponed due to Covid
Grays Athletic List of Honours
Football Conference
Conference National Playoff Semi-Finalists 2005-06
Conference South Champions 2004–05
Isthmian League
Division One North champions 2012–13
Division Two South champions 1984–85
London League
Premier Division champions 1921–22, 1926–27, 1929–30
Premier Division (Amateur) champions 1914–15
Corinthian League
Champions 1945–46
South Essex League
Division Two B champions 1908–09
Cup Competitions
FA Trophy
Winners 2004–05, 2005–06
Essex Senior Cup
Winners 1914–15, 1920–21, 1922–23, 1944–45, 1956–57, 1987–88, 1993–94, 1994–95
Isthmian League Cup
Winners: 1991–92
London League Challenge Cup
Winners 1936–37
Corinthian League Cup
Winners 1945–46
Essex Thameside Trophy
Winners 1947–48, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91, 2001–02
East Anglian Cup
Winners 1944–45
Other records
Highest league position:
Conference National (tier 5) 3rd 2005-06
Best FA Cup Run:
FA Vase performance: Fourth round, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1983–84
Best FA Vase Run:
Round Four 1877-78, 1979-80, 1981-82 & 1983-84
Record attendance
9,500 v Chelmsford City, FA Cup fourth qualifying round, 1959-60
Club Details
The information below will come in useful if you are planning to take in a game or just want to keep abreast of their performances.
Address
Grays Athletic FC
Grays Athletic FC On Social Media
So there you have it our quick guide to the club. If you want to see who else plays in the area check out our other Essex Team Pages. Or for more information on the city itself, why not have a look at our Grays visitor guide.
