Andy Gray (footballer, born 1955): Difference between revisions

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

Gray was born in Scotland's largest city (Glasgow), but his mother was of a Highland background, notably from the village of Back near Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. He started his career with Dundee United F.C., before moving to Aston Villa F.C., then on to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 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 F.C. 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 Conference club Cheltenham Town F.C., leaving to first try coaching

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

Among many great moments, his most notable is his famously over-zealous scream of "You beauty!" when Steven Gerrard scored the third goal for Liverpool F.C 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.

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

There is a popular drinking game based around Andy's commentary on Sky Sports football coverage. This revolves around Mr Gray's favourite turn of phrase. Every time he says "a little..." (such as "he's been a little lucky there") some drink must be consumed. If he utters the phrase "a little warning" a whole drink must be consumed by all participants. Gray's co-presenter Richard Keys also can play a role in the drinking game. If Keys or Gray references Gray's playing career then every participant has to consume the whole drink.

Nick named "Randy Andy", he has father five children with four different women. He left his childhood sweetheart Sara Matthews in 1979 for Vanessa Taylor, who gave birth to his first son Jamie. Four months after his wedding to Vanessa, his ex-love Sara secretly gave birth to their son, also called Jamie. Gray then started an affair with Face Of The Eighties beauty Janet Trigg, which led to his divorce from Vanessa in 1982. Gray and Janet had two children: Amy (born 1986) and Katy, now 16 (born 1990); but the couple divorced in 1987. A year later he wed Jackie Cherry, and they had a daughter Sophie (born 1992). In 1995 first love Sara rang Gray to tell him he had fathered her son Jamie, now 24. They got back together but later split again. ^[2]

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." ^[3]. Gray and Dano 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 ^[4]

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