Michael ‘Micky’ Gray is a former football player turned football speaker, the ex-England player is probably best known for his 12 year long stay at his home club Sunderland at which he played primarily as a left back or on the left wing and since his retirement, Michael Gray has gone on to establish himself as a tremendous football speaker and pundit working for the BBC.
Gray enjoyed successful schoolboy trials with Manchester United however decided not to sign a contract in favour of continuing to play for Fatfield Juniors FC. Some 18 months later, Michael Gray signed as an apprentice for Sunderland before making his first team debut shortly before his 18th birthday. Gray played in various positions, including as a striker, left winger and left back before fading slightly from first team affairs. However during 1995–96 season Michael really came to the fore, starting every game for Sunderland, invariably on the left side of midfield, as the team won promotion to the Premier League as Division Onechampions. This experience and journey to promotion is something that Michael Gray talks very fondly about when he performs as a football speaker.
The following few seasons saw Sunderland get relegated in their first season in the Premier League before agonisingly missing out on promotion as they lost on penalties with Gray taking the decisive and fatal penalty. The penalty miss brought a lot of scrutiny and unwanted attention for Gray, however he dealt with the adversity through his innate drive and determination, qualities he discusses as a football speaker and played an integral part to Sunderland gaining promotion back to the Premier League the following season. It was during his time as a First Division player that Gray was picked by Kevin Keegan to make his international debut for England, a rare feat for any footballer to gain International honours while not playing in the top flight.
After a turbulent end to his career at Sunderland, spells with Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday followed before he called time on his playing career. A prominent football speaker Michael Gray is known for his Northern pride; his choice to stay loyal to Sunderland when offers from other teams – including an offer from Manchester United mean he remains a favourite amongst fans.
Now a well-known football speaker, Michael Gray travels up and down the UK discussing football tactics, styles and topics. Alongside his work as a football speaker, Gray also works as a pundit for television and radio productions as well as working for the BBC, Gray has worked for talkSPORT.
Outside his work as a football speaker Gray is notorious for his outspoken and fiery personality; at the height of his career Gray was known for openly opposing managers and arguing with team mates. As a football speaker Gray harnesses this outspoken aspect of his personality and channels it into passionate and insightful football speaker presentations certain to provide a compelling and captivating performance at any event.
