Andy Gray (footballer, born 1955)

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This article is about the former footballer turned TV pundit. For other people of that name, see Andy Gray (disambiguation).

Andy Gray
Personal information
Full name	Andrew Mullen Gray
Date of birth	November 30, 1955
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Position	Striker
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1973-1975 1975-1978 1979-1983 1983-1984 1985-1986 1986 1987-1988 1988-1989 1989-1990	Dundee United Aston Villa Wolverhampton Wanderers Everton Aston Villa Notts County (loan) West Bromwich Albion Rangers Cheltenham Town	62 (46) 113 (54) 133 (38) 49 (14) 54 (5) 4 (0) 35 (10) 14 (5) - (-)
National team
1975-1985	Scotland	20 (7)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Andrew Mullen Gray (born November 30, 1955 in Glasgow) was a Scottish football player and is now a much respected football pundit for Sky Sports.

Contents 1 Football 2 Commentator 3 Personal life 4 References

[edit] Football

Gray was born in Scotland's largest city (Glasgow), but his mother was of a Hebridean background, notably from the village of Back near Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. He started his career with Dundee United, before moving to Aston Villa (his 29 goals in 1977-78 season, though earning him the Professional Football Writers' Young Player of the Year award were not enough to convince Scotland manager Ally McLeod to select him for the 1978 World Cup squad). He then moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1979 for a then-record £1.5m. After scoring the wining goal for Wolves in the 1980 League Cup final, he moved to Everton in 1983 for a bargain £250,000. At Everton he enjoyed two great years, winning the FA Cup in 1984, and League and European Cup Winners' Cup medals a year later. Further spells at Aston Villa followed and a short time at Rangers (the team he has supported all his life) before he dropped into non-league football with then Nationwide Conference club Cheltenham Town, leaving to first try coaching. He won 20 caps for the Scotland, scoring 7 goals for his country. His international debut was on December 17, 1975 in a 1-1 draw with Romania.

[edit] Commentator

Gray is considered as one of the most respected football pundits, earning a reputed £20,000 a week ^[1], and can be seen and heard regularly on Sky Sports' Ford Super Sunday.

Among many great moments, his most notable is his famously over-zealous scream of "aaah you beauty!" when Steven Gerrard scored the third goal for Liverpool in their 3-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Olympiakos in 2004 and his trademark phrase "Take a bow, son", which has been parodied on Soccer AM. He also made a brief appearance in Sky One's hit soccer drama Dream Team. Andy Gray also played a part in the movie "A Shot At Glory" which starred Rangers legend Ally McCoist and Oscar winner Robert Duvall.

Gray and Clive Tyldesley provide commentary in EA Sports' FIFA 06 and FIFA 07 football video games.

[edit] Personal life

Gray fell for the former Olympic gymnast Suzanne Dando when she landed a job alongside him on Sky Sports in 1999. Gray told tabloid reporters that his womanising days are over: "With age, I hope, comes maturity. I certainly do not see myself with anyone else." ^[2]. Gray and Dando split up shortly afterwards, when he was caught cuddling a blonde in Puerto Banus. Gray is now engaged to Rachel Lewis, an ex model and the fomer wife of his long time friend and agent ^[3]

[edit] References

1. ^ The People (02/04/2006) Exclusive: Randy Andy Rat It Again.. With Best Mate's Wife people.co.uk (accessed 4th October 2006)
2. ^ Guardian Unlimited (06/02/2005) The ten sporting love matches guardian.co.uk (accessed 4th October 2006)
3. ^ The Life Ring (Aug 2006) The Life Ring stars at a glittering celebrity golf day TheLifeRing.com (accessed 4th October 2006)

Preceded by: Peter Barnes	PFA Young Player of the Year 1977	Succeeded by: Tony Woodcock
Preceded by: Pat Jennings	PFA Players' Player of the Year 1977	Succeeded by: Peter Shilton