Play Offs 98- Michael Gray's story

I assume a few might have picked up on this from NewsNow, but having just read it I thought it was a very enjoyable read and really worth giving it a once over. He comes across very candid and chucked in a few anecdotes about what he and Sunderland did after the defeat.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jun/02/football-championship-play-off-michael-gray

 

very enjoyable

bit weird reading it and recalling that it was (apart from wedding and birth of my son) the best day of my life - then reading that it was the worst day of his

 

This is a very good read - he was a tremendous player throughout his career and to have that career defined by one penalty miss must be deeply frustrating.

One of my work colleagues in the North-East knows him well and says he's a thoroughly decent bloke.

 

Better penalty than Baileys....

 

Thats debateable ..though it was ontarget I suppose

 

Nice work Super...

Barring the births of my boys that playoff final was the best day of my life. Those who were there that day could live to a hundred and never see another game of football half as good as that.

One of my best pals is a Mackem and ever since that day I've always had a soft spot for Sunderland. The way their fans and players conducted themselves in defeat was Imo truly admirable...

Lets not forget... That was without doubt a truly epic football match to emerge victorious from, but in equal measure it must have been earth shattering to go away from it as the looser.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2005/feb/13/newsstory.sport6

Was just doing some research at work and came across this interview with Curbs from '05. Again, think it's worth a read. Very funny when acknowledging he would do 15 minute press conference with Sky for them to only show 30 seconds. Similar thoughts re MOTD.

 

Very entertaining, thanks SC.

I know what he means about Jennifer Aniston movies - the only one I can remember is the one with the dog...

 

Him not managing for the past few years might be summed up by the comments here, as it rings through to the very end that he has missed not seeing his family whilst being a full time manager.

 

Pretty much echoes the comments made by Edwin van der Sar as well, SC - he said (and I paraphrase here) that if he didn't retire now, he'd miss seeing his kids grow up altogether.

 

Really hits home how much they have to do- love the stories of Lille/Lyon on a Wednesday with Jeff Vetre, getting home at 2:30am then to work at 8:30am. Shows how much he did for our club. Would be interesting to know if JV is taking Chrissy to some places abroad to check out talent.