Grays Thurrock United F.C.

Grays Thurrock United Football Club were an association football club from Grays, Essex, England.

Grays Thurrock United F.C.
Full nameGrays Thurrock United Football Club
Founded1924
Dissolvedc. 1932
GroundThe Lawn, Little Thurrock (1924–1925)
Recreation Ground (1925–1929)
The Lawn, Little Thurrock (1929–)

They were formed in 1924 to represent transport workers of the area, and had initially been formed as Grays Transport Football Club, but this was changed before the start of the 1924–25 season due to objection from other clubs. Grays Thurrock competed in the Kent League during their initial season and played at the Lawn in Little Thurrock.[1] They ended the season fifth in the Kent League and were semi-finalists in the Kent Senior Cup. They drew crowds of up to 5,000 spectators.[2]

The club were accepted into the Southern League for the 1925–26 season, but due to their failure to withdraw from the Kent League, they played in both competitions. Although they had spent over £350 on work to their ground, they made the decision to instead groundshare with Grays Athletic at the Recreation Ground. Their secretary-manager was Arthur Johnson, a local man who had played in the Football League for Sheffield United.[3] Frank Burton, a former West Ham United and Charlton Athletic player, was recruited as player-trainer, along with goalkeeper Freddy Wood, a teammate at Charlton. Jimmy Pipe of Millwall, Harry White, who had played for Southend United, and Charles Orford of Gillingham, were also signed.[2]

In April 1926, the club sold Jack Page to Millwall for the highest fee received for a Kent League player.[4] In June 1929, the club appointed former player Harry White as manager.[5] In August of that year, they returned to their original ground at the Lawn.[6]

The club resigned from the Southern League in 1930.[7] They appeared in FA Cup preliminary competition in September of that year,[8] and continued to play in the Kent League until 1931–32, ending that season 11th in Division One.[9]

References
  1. "Annual Meeting of the Kent League". East Kent Gazette. 21 June 1924. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "Grays Thurrock United". Chelmsford Chronicle. 21 August 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 15 March 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. Joyce, Michael (2012) [2002]. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-905891-61-0.
  4. "Page Gets His Place". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 18 September 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 15 March 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Sporting Notes & News". Northampton Chronicle and Echo. 14 June 1929. p. 3. Retrieved 6 May 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Grays Thurrock United". Chelmsford Chronicle. 23 August 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 15 March 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Grays Thurrock United". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  8. "To-morrow's Games and Teams". Chelmsford Chronicle. 19 September 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Final Tables". Thanet Advertiser. 17 May 1932. p. 8. Retrieved 15 March 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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