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Fullname: Stuart Edward Gray
aka: Stuart Gray
Born: 18 December 1973
Died: 27 January 2024
Birthplace: Harrogate, Yorkshire, England
Signed: 7 July 1992
Left: 26 March 1998
Position: Left sided Defender/Midfielder
Debut: Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen, League, 1 May 1993
Internationals: none (only capped for Scotland U21s)
Biog
Stuart Gray is the son of former Leeds United and Scotland player Eddie Gray, his uncle (Frank Gray) and cousin (Andy Gray) also represented both Leeds and Scotland. A hell of a lot to live up to and sadly a step too far for him but he still managed a number of games at the senior level with Celtic, which was far more than many others in the same family position have achieved.
He gave as good as he could but played with Celtic during the very dark barren years of the “Sack the Board”/Celtic Takeover era, not a great time for any player’s development. Sadly for him, he didn’t develop into a full regular player in the side (partly due to lost periods through injury), and during this time the pressure was on every player to give more than they could.
Stuart Gray had made his debut for Celtic on Saturday, 1st May 1993 in a 1-0 win at home to Aberdeen, aged 19, but he had to wait till November 1994 for another chance, in a 1-1 draw with Hibs. This was just a few days after Celtic had been humbled in the league cup final losing to Raith Rovers which extended the barren spell for trophies, stretching back to 1989. Likely happy with the opportunity, but a depressed Celtic environment.
In his number of games that season (1994/95) he played in an inordinate number of draws but at least he was gaining experience, but sadly he only played in a third round Scottish Cup tie on the road to Celtic finally winning the Scottish Cup that season.
He was bought at a time of increasing belt tightening, and then the transition thereafter at Celtic following the takeover was no easy environment for anyone. Some loan spells helped to get him games and experience.
He was to only play sporadically over the years with Celtic, as the first team was desperate to stop Rangers making ten-in-a-row, and experienced players were mostly transferred into the club rather than giving a preference to blood in youngsters.
Sadly, he missed out on a place in the 1997/98 league winning side, his only matches being in an early round of the UEFA Cup v Inter Cardiff (8-0 win aggregate over two games).
Although never capped for the full international side, Stuart Gray did earn 7 Scotland U-21 caps while playing for Celtic.
In total, he made 28 league appearances (6 as substitute) for Celtic, scoring 1 goal. His one goal came in a 4-1 season end win v Raith Rovers.
Since then he became something of a journeyman, signing for Tommy Burns at Reading and eventually rounded off his playing career with a spell at non-league cracks Guiseley back in the Leeds area. His playing days were brought to a shuddering halt by a badly broken leg sustained at North Ferriby United on 3rd October 2006, whereupon he joined the Yorkshire club’s coaching staff.
Made a bit of history by getting a small role playing his dad in the cult film “The Damned Utd” (based on the short managerial tenure of Brian Clough at Leeds Utd).
We wished him all the best.
Post-Football
In 2023, Stuart Gray, aged just 49 and at the time a father of five (living in Harrogate, North Yorkshire), he was diagnosed with stage four Cholangiocarcinoma, which is a very rare and highly aggressive form of cancer that forms in the bile ducts.
He sadly passed away prematurely in January 2024. The Celtic players wore black armbands in tribute to Stuart Gray at the following league game against Ross County.
Quotes
“Incredibly sad to learn of Stuart Gray’s death at just 50 at Celtic game today. I interviewed Stuart a few times during his six years at Celtic and always left you with the impression of humility. My prayers for his family, and dad Eddie. Rest in peace, Stuart. #CelticFC”
Journalist Phil Gordon @PJG_Sport · (twitter)
Playing Career
| Club | From | To | Fee | League | Scottish/FA Cup | League cup | Other | ||||
| Oxford | 27/05/2005 | 08/05/2006 | Free | 10 (0) | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 |
| Rushden | 14/03/2001 | 27/05/2005 | Free | 119 (8) | 12 | 6 (0) | 1 | 4 (1) | 0 | 4 (1) | 1 |
| Reading | 26/03/1998 | 14/03/2001 | £100,000 | 46 (6) | 2 | 1 (1) | 0 | 8 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 |
| Morton | 17/10/1997 | 18/01/1998 | Loan | 15 (0) | 1 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 |
| Celtic | 07/07/1992 | 26/03/1998 | Signed | 22 (6) | 1 | 0 (0) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| Giffnock North AFC | 01/08/1991 | 07/07/1992 | No appearance data available | ||||||||
| Totals | £100,000 | 212 (20) | 16 | 7 (1) | 1 | 14 (1) | 0 | 6 (2) | 1 | ||
| goals / game | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0 | 0.12 | |||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
Honours with Celtic
Pictures
Articles
Former Celt, Stuart Gray passes away
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2024/january/27/former-celt–stuart-gray-passes-away/
General
By Celtic Football Club
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27 Jan 2024, 12:34 pm
Everyone at Celtic is deeply saddened by the news that former Celt, Stuart Gray has passed away after illness at the age of 50.
The midfielder, son of Eddie and nephew of Frank Gray, both stars of the famed Leeds United side of the early 1970s, came through the youth ranks at Celtic and made his debut in a 1-0 home win over Aberdeen on May 1, 1993.
That was the first of 32 games for the Hoops in which he scored one goal, with the strike coming in a 4-1 home win over Raith Rovers in May 1996.
Stuart joined Tommy Burns’ Reading side in 1998 and was there for three years before going on to play with Rushden & Diamonds for four years where he made 142 appearances.
The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Park are with Stuart’s family and friends at this very sad time.
The Celtic players will wear black armbands in tribute to Stuart at today’s game against Ross County.