Thinking of the future
It was nice to get back on the pitch last Saturday after four weeks away from first-team action. I was out injured for a fortnight and then we had the two-week international break. I was really pleased to complete 90 minutes at Ipswich and I felt stronger, more comfortable and more confident as the match, a hard-fought 0-0 draw which could have gone either way, went on.
It was end-to-end in the second half but there weren't too many clear-cut chances. It was nice to get a point though because it was the kind of game Wednesday might have ended up losing late last season by giving away a silly freak goal or something. Credit has to go to our goalkeeper, Lee Grant, and our back four because they did a tremendous job in difficult conditions.
We had a card-happy ref and three of our back four were booked in the first 20 minutes. It was a bit of a concern with three defenders on a yellow card but the lads showed real discipline to make sure they stayed on the pitch.
Having seen them up close, I'm sure Ipswich won't finish in the bottom three, despite their difficult start to the season. They have some good players like Grant Leadbitter, who was a youngster when I was at Sunderland, and Carlos Edwards, who was my team mate at Wolves briefly last season. When you've got players like that in your team the opposition fears you and once they get their confidence up, Ipswich will be a hard team to beat.
The result has certainly given us a bit of confidence going into this weekend's match against West Brom at Hillsborough. They are one of the best teams in the division this weekend so we'll have to be tight at the back and take our chances. The festive fixtures will soon be upon us so if we are to go on a bit of a run there's no time like the present to start it.
For some reason we often seem to play better against the top sides in the Championship. Maybe because they play a more open, attacking game that suits us better. But we lost against Newcastle and Middlesbrough earlier in the season despite playing well, so we're hoping make up for that by getting one over on West Brom this time.
Somebody asked last week whether I had considered playing abroad. You might think at this time of year with the cold, wind and rain it would be attractive to play in Australia or the USA but it's not for me.
Over the last couple of years I have had opportunities - people phoning up to ask if I wanted to play in Australia, Abu Dhabi, Dubai or America. Those approaches tend to come along more when you're in your 30s. They can be tempting but as soon as I've thought about it for a bit I've said 'no' because I learned my trade in the Premier League and the Championship and this is where I want to finish playing.
English football has been very generous to me over the years and hopefully I'm giving a bit of payback to English football now because I enjoy my football here. I think the fans here are the most passionate from around the world and it's great to be a part of that.
I have had friends go out and play in other countries and I'm still in touch with Andy Todd, who is now with Perth Glory in Australia. He's thoroughly enjoying himself out there with his family but I know pretty much every game involves a four-hour flight and that's not something that appeals to me.
Perth provides beautiful weather but long away trips
Last time I spoke to Andy he'd had a flight and a two-hour coach journey to get to a game. Yes, the weather must be nice and family life sounds fantastic but I don't like aeroplanes or long coach journeys so that has put me off a bit.
All I've known since I was a kid is English football. I used to go to watch Sunderland at Roker Park and because the north-east is a passionate place, the football is just instilled into you. This is my bread and butter. I love to visit every away ground and see the passion in the different sets of fans and I love playing at home too. I've been very fortunate over the years to play for some great clubs with very passionate fans and that's no different now at Sheffield Wednesday.
In places like Sheffield and Sunderland the first thing people speak about when they go into work on a Monday is the game at the weekend and I'm no different. I've got football in my blood.
I'll still have the same appetite for the game when I finish playing too. I've made some good friends in football and those friendships won't stop when I hang my boots up. I expect I'll be coming back to Hillsborough or going to Molineux on a regular basis even when I'm no longer playing. I love watching football; it's not the same as playing but I will certainly be a fan again one day.
Now I'm 35, I've been asked quite a few times about what I plan to do when I finish playing but I still feel that I have plenty to offer on the pitch. I am playing for a great club and I enjoy being a part of it. I am reminded by my team-mates at least three or four times a week how old I am and I don't mind it one bit because it's just a bit of dressing room banter. All I say is that "you'll be my age sooner than you think", because it does come around very quickly. That banter helps make you feel young and that's why I still love putting my boots on every time I go out to train.
I know that I don't want to move into coaching when I do eventually hang up my boots. I was on course for my Uefa B badge when I was at Blackburn but I had to stop that because the guy coaching us at the time, Neil Bailey, ended up going to Sunderland with Roy Keane. That put a stop to it and I've never been interested in picking it up again, to be honest.
A lot of my team-mates now talk about coaching when we're at the training ground and most of them are nowhere near as old as me! James O'Connor is one of those lads and he's not far off finishing all of his badges. He's very dedicated to the management pathway and I wish him well because he's a really good guy and I think he'll make a good coach or manager one day.
Thankfully, as a player, other opportunities tend to present themselves and I've got some ideas about what I want to do when I retire. I've already got a car business with Nick Summerbee which is doing quite well, but it's not something I want to be my sole focus when I finish football, it's just something I can enjoy doing while I'm still playing.
In the meantime, I'd better get back to concentrating on getting three points this Saturday...
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~29~RS~)
Hi, I'm Michael Gray. I've played more than 500 league games for Sunderland, Celtic, Blackburn, Leeds, Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday over the past 17 seasons. I'm currently enjoying life at ambitious Sheffield Wednesday and the aim of my blog is to provide an insight into the life of a footballer.
Comments
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Now you are writing for the BBC have you had any offers of TV work or tried to move into punditry especially with the BBC starting to show more Championship games?
Good luck for the season
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Its funny you should talk about long away trips Michael, because surely Sunderland have some of the longest away trips going! Down to London on a coach must have been 6 hours or more, right? So whats the difference of a 4 hour flight or 6 hour coach ride!!!
Great blog again though. Really enjoy the read. Is there any chance though that you can reply to comments a couple of times a week, rather than once the blog has reached its conclusion and been pushed off the front pages of the BBC website? I think more interaction with the readers normally makes for a more successful blog... do other bloggers agree?
Good luck against the Baggies and we (Leeds) will be seeing you and the Owls back at Elland Road next season all been well. And im sure you will get a much deserved warm welcome from the Kop!
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Impressed that you would prefer to play away to Blackpool on a freezing cold day in September for the Owls than in Australia or the US. Good man! Coming over form Northern Ireland with the wife for the Reading game next weekend - Looking forward to three points ... No pressure!
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Thanks Michael.. It was me who asked about the possibility of playing abroad...
I think over the last 5 to 10 years the pundit game has really kicked off and is now an industry in its own right.. If you think of Sky's Soccer Saturday and how many are involved in that.. Must be an attractive way to top off the retirement fund and stay involved in football..
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Top stuff Michael, another good read. If management isn't your thing then what do you see yourself doing, say in ten years time? If Brian Laws is still at Hillsborough when you do retire do you think you could be persuaded into coaching with the Owls or is that definately a no-no?
Fingers crossed for three points against the Baggies!!!! UTO!!!!
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Whooaa, hold on here..
no mention of that 'open goal' you missed Saturday Micky?
Well i thought you could of buried it..
Up the Owls!
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Always a great blog michael. I'm Wednesday through and through for many years. I was at the first match this season v Barnsley then moved to Perth the day after for work so I was pleasantly surprised when i saw the picture of Perth taken from Kings park. It's a great life here but I doubt if I'll be staying once my contracts up. I miss going to Hillsborough, I miss the passion of the support (home and away) and I miss just going to the game with my mates and having a few beers. Having said all that, I'd rather be here playing football for big money than doing what I'm doing......gettin a bit warm here so I'm off for a swim in the pool! UTO.
P.S. Robbie Fowler is known as Flabbie Fowler over here so maybe it's not such a good idea!
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Michael,
Great Blog.
I was a steward at Hillsborough for three seasons in the '90s. I still remember stewarding at Euro '96 and the league Cup final replay between Leicester & Middlesborough, and will always have a soft spot for Wednesday & a profound dislike of United.
My sister lives in Sydney. As my Australian born niece pointed out to me, not only do you have the ordeal of travelling thousands of miles between Australia's cities, but if you're flying from Sydney to the UK, for the first 9 hours, you are still over Australia. It is very isolated, which is why my sister is planning to move back to Britain. Australia also has sharks, fresh water crocodiles, salt water crocodiles, the most poisonous frog, in the world; the most poisonous jelly fish, in the world; two of the most poisonous spiders, in the world; and thirteen of the world's fifteen most poisonous snakes. I reckon you're much better off in the Peak District.
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Good blog again MG,
I have to say you have made the right choice in staying put in the Championship, I am Owl who has been fortunate enough to move to Sydney for work a month ago, and having seen you storming down the wing a couple of times this season at Hillsborough before I left, you are still at the top of your game and are way way above the standard of football out here. Having took in a few games already (with a keen eye on Toddy, Fowler etc) I have to say that the footy out here is Div2/Conference standard (at best!!!)
Good luck this season and credit to you for looking after your body in training over the years, hope you sign a new deal with the Wednesday!!
Up the Owls!
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#9 those animals may frighten some, but the probability of encountering one is pretty rare in most places. Id be more against moving there as the country is full of Australians, a bit like London really. The pits!
Yorkshire = Gods country
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Good blog again.
You mention you were a regular at Roker Park as a youngster, I'm 32 and was brought up as a Middlesbrough fan despite never living there (family connections) and wondered if you ever visited Ayresome Park back in the mid 80's?
Games had a different feel to them back then (the Holgate end was always freezing!) and I remember I used to walk from my grans and meet my dad outside the Erimus (a proper drinking establishment!) before heading to the ground where I'd always get a bag of them fish & chip crisps!
Not sure why I felt the need to share that with you all but there you go!
Good luck for the rest of the season anyway.
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Couldn't agree more 'Deats80' - with any luch Leeds and the owls will be playing in the same league next season ... League Division 1!
Up the Blades (still the best team in Yorkshire)
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Boring blog as usual ... hence only a handufl of comments! Right, I'm off to watch some paint dry!
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Great read, thanks :)
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Good to see Lee Grant getting some well deserved praise - I was gutted when he left Derby on the cheap, I always thought he was brilliant for us!
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#14 Why waste your precious time coming on to read it then?
I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with your bias towards the other half of Sheffield.
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Great blog Mikey.
How's the Potter tash watch going? It looked as though the wind had blown it off against Ipswich...!
What do you think to the new loan signings? I like Tom Soares thats a great one for the engine room and I know Feeney is a worker but know little else.
Good luck tomorrow I'll be there cheering you on.
James
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#17 Why waste your precious time commenting on my comment?
If I didn't read it I wouldn't know whether or not it was worth the read would I?! Fool.
Like a night out in Sheffield!
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#17 Just realised your a 'Boro fan ... says it all! Doin much better then, since you off-loaded Southgate!
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#18 Tom who? and Mr Feeney! before you know it, with signings like that the mighty owls will be top of the league before xmas!
You fill up my senses ...
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Hey Mickey Lad
I've got an X Reg Red Picasso. How for you to take off me hands?
Good read again marra.
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hey mick, say you get to 17, sunderland say you haven't made the grade son, you have trials elsewhere but nothing comes up. What would you have gone onto do?
what did lads you knocked about with get onto doing in their lives?
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If you want to finish your career in the championship i assume you must be retiring at the end of this season after we get relegated??
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Fantastic blog Michael. As a veteran footballer, like yourself, I'm keen to continue my Sunday morning career and I'd be interested in the weekly diet of professional.
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# 25.
burger, chips & 5 pints of beer if Wednesday's performance on Saturday was anything to go by- what a load of rubbish!
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reply to no 2
Hi how are you....
Ive not had anybody come to me asking if i would do any tv work but i do enjoy writing my blogs.
Maybe in the future it will be something i look at.
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reply to no 3
Hello there..
Im not sure if you were aware but for the last couplr of weeks i wasnt able to reply to any comments as there was a technical fault with the site.
I reply when i get the chance to get on my computer so hope this is early enough for you.
As for the travelling with sunderland it was more flying to london than coach so it wasnt as bad as it could have been.
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reply to no 6
I think i will be going down a diffrent route than coaching.
At the moment i try and pass some of my experience on to the younger lads but thats as far as my coaching goes really.
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reply to no 9
Haha now you have made me really want to stay in England.
I get shivvers watching im a celebrity so god knows what i would be like if i saw any of those reptiles you mention.
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reply to no 12
when i used to watch Sunderland at roker park i used to watch from the fulwell end and i loved every minute of it.
My parents wouldnt allow me to go to away games so i had to wait till i turned professional before i played there.
very intimidating place i remember and a great derby to play in.
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reply to no 18
Potts tash is coming on.
One day soon he will look like a muskateer im sure of it.
The two new lads have blended in well and hopefully turn out to be great loan signings.
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reply to no 22
Sounds like you have a beauty on your hands their.
I would keep hold of it.
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reply to no 23
That was something that never crossed my mind.
You have to believe in yourself before anybody else does.
Some of the unfortunate lads who didnt make it have gone on to do a number of things.
I still have friends from my younger years at Sunderland.
If i wasnt a footballer i wouldnt have a clue what else to do.
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I remember a mackem player called Lionel Perez was he a bit mad? I remember him poking some northampton guy in his eyes on the touch line. it was crazy, i'd love to see footage of that but cannot get it anywhere. whats the maddest thing you've ever seen happen on a pitch?
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Hi Michael, thanks for answering my question. Actually you always end up answering peoples questions, which is great, and i can see you put a lot of time into the blog.
I was only saying about regular(ish) replies, just as the blogs with more replies from the blogger seem to get a lot more responses from readers. I didn't realise your log in hadn't been working though, so sorry for hassling you, it wasn't intended :)
Im surprised Sunderland flew to games, but i guess it makes sense as long coach trips must really take it out of the players. Im just surprised that clubs shelled out this money, as a few years ago flights weren't as cheap as they are today!
Anyway, thanks for the reply and im looking forward to your next blog!!
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