Michael Gray

Sunderland

While at school, Gray had trials with Manchester United and signed schoolboy forms, but decided against signing a contract at Old Trafford and continued playing for Fatfield Juniors F.C. in the Hetton Youth League. After 18 months he signed, as an apprentice, with Sunderland. He broke into the Sunderland first team shortly after his 18th birthday, at the beginning of the 1992–93 season. He made his senior debut on 21 November 1992 in a 1–0 win at Derby County in Division One (the first season after the creation of the new Premier League). He played in various positions, including as a striker, left winger and left back before fading slightly from first team affairs. It was not until 1995–96 that he 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 One champions. Gray was also the scorer of their first Premier League goal, scoring the seventh-minute opener in a 4–1 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 21 August 1996. Gray continued to be a regular in the side in 1996–97, but the club was relegated after just one year in the top flight. Gray gained unwanted attention a year later, in May 1998, when he missed the decisive penalty during a shoot-out in the First Division playoff final after a 4–4 draw with Charlton Athletic, which could have taken Sunderland back into the Premier League. Sunderland finished first in Division One the following…

Gray earned his first cap for England on 28 April 1999, coming on as a 74th minute substitute in the 1–1 friendly draw with Hungary at the Népstadion in Budapest. He made his competitive debut on 5 June, coming on for Graeme Le Saux at half-time in the 0–0 draw with Sweden during Euro 2000 qualifying. On 9 June, Gray made his first start for England in the 1–1 draw with Bulgaria, this was also during Euro 2000 qualifying. This turned out to be Gray's last cap for his country. He won a total of three caps for England, scoring no goals.

Gray was involved in a fracas with Wayne Rooney in 2006 following a disagreement at the Panacea Bar and Restaurant in Manchester and was later ejected from the restaurant. In 2006, Gray became an investor in Golf Punk magazine, alongside former Sunderland teammates Phil Babb, Jason McAteer, Thomas Sørensen and Stephen Wright, saving the publication from closure. His nephew, Jordan Richards, is a professional footballer who plays for Southport. Gray has written a blog for the BBC. He also is a pundit for Talksport and is the station's Manchester correspondent. On 11 September 2016, Gray took part in the Great North Run.

Sunderland

Football League First Division winner: 1995–96, 1998–99 Individual

PFA Team of the Year: 1995–96 First Division, 1998–99 First Division