Gray Day for Blades

Last updated : 29 March 2010 By @blades_mad1889

andy gray scores for the blades
'Gray day for Blades' was a regular headline on the Blades-Mad website, more particularly during the 2004-05 Championship campaign where he netted eighteen goals as the Blades narrowly missed out on a top six finish.

He started his career with Leeds United in July 1995 and played some part in the Whites Coca-Cola League Cup Final (0-3) against Aston Villa, he also featured for Bury (loan), Nottingham Forest, Preston North End (loan) and Oldham Athletic (loan) and Bradford City before completing a full transfer to the Lane in February 2004.

Ten minutes into his Blades debut at Reading he found the back of the net despite recording a 2-1 defeat at the Madejski Stadium - Gray went onto score a total of nine goals for United that season, including a brace at Preston in a 3-3 draw; a win could have sealed a play-off place.

Once again they missed out on a play-off place a season later with his only memorable achievement, netting twice against old club Leeds in a 4-0 hammering at Elland Road!

He played on the opening day of the 2005/06 season and scored in a 4-2 home win over Leicester City, however a few days later he was sold to Sunderland in a £1,200,000 deal - also netting on his debut in a 3-1 home defeat to Charlton Athletic.

His stay in the North East wasn't to be the brightest in his career and come March 2006 found himself on loan at Burnley which later that summer would turn into a permanent transfer after just 13 (+2) appearances and that solitary debut goal.

He made his Clarets debut in a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City and soon netted in a 2-0 win the following fixture over Norwich City.

Gray spent a further two seasons with the Lancashire side and fast established himself as a scoring Championship player; netting 14 goals in the 2006/07 campaign and 15 during 2007/08 season. He returned to Bramall Lane in November 2007 in a 0-0 draw but didn't feature in the Blades 2-1 win at Turf Moor later that season.

This prompted a full transfer to Charlton Athletic and again he netted on his debut, the Addicks winning 2-0 at home to Swansea City. He played in the 2-5 home defeat to United and their double defeats (2-1 & 3-1) at the Lane has he netted 7 goals in a season which saw the London club relegated to League One.

However in January a return move to Bramall Lane was on the cards with the Red and White Wizards short of strikers, but the striker sustained a broken leg and the transfer was called off. But in August he completed a free transfer to Barnsley and has made a blistering career with the Oakwell club.

In the 2-2 draw with the Blades this season he came off the substitutes bench to make an appearance but to date has failed to find the net against his former S2 club.