Gerry Gray
Encyclopedia
Gerard "Gerry" Gray is a former Canadian national soccer team
player who is currently the head coach of Tacoma F.C.
.
. In 1982 Gray was named to the NASL’s first North American All-Star team.
Gray also played indoor soccer
in the original MISL
for the Chicago Sting
as well as the Tacoma Stars.
Gray played outdoors again in the Canadian Soccer League with the Ottawa Intrepid
in 1988, Hamilton Steelers in 1989, Toronto Blizzard
in 1990, the Steelers again in 1991, and then the Blizzard again in the same year.
In April 2001, Gray was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
.
in Japan. He then made his senior debut for Canada
in a September 1980 friendly match against New Zealand and earned a total of 34 caps, scoring 2 goals.
He has represented Canada in 11 FIFA World Cup qualification
matches and played in two of Canada's games at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
finals, the country's only appearance at a World Cup finals. He also played for Canada at the 1984 Olympics
.
His final international game was a March 1991 friendly match against the United States
.
of the USL Premier Development League
.
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
player who is currently the head coach of Tacoma F.C.
Tacoma F.C.
Tacoma Tide is an American soccer team based in Tacoma, Washington, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Stadium...
.
Club career
Born and raised in Scotland, Gray moved to Canada at the age of 12 and played for several teams in Canada and the United States in the NASLNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. In 1982 Gray was named to the NASL’s first North American All-Star team.
Gray also played indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
in the original MISL
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
for the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
as well as the Tacoma Stars.
Gray played outdoors again in the Canadian Soccer League with the Ottawa Intrepid
Ottawa Intrepid
Ottawa Pioneers/Intrepid was the name of the Canadian Soccer League entry from the National Capital Region from 1987-1989 Ottawa, Ontario....
in 1988, Hamilton Steelers in 1989, Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (1986-1993)
-National Soccer League:In 1985, less than one year after the Toronto Blizzard ceased operations due to the failure of the North American Soccer League , Blizzard owners York-Hanover purchased Dynamo Latino of the semi-professional Ontario-based National Soccer League with the intention of...
in 1990, the Steelers again in 1991, and then the Blizzard again in the same year.
In April 2001, Gray was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in Vaughan, Ontario, was founded in 1997. It was incorporated by the Ontario Soccer Association. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of top Canadian Footballers and Builders who have played and developed the game in Canada...
.
International career
Gray was a member of the national youth team that played in the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship1979 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship, the second staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Japan from August 26 to September 7, 1979. The tournament took place in four venues — Kobe, Omiya, Tokyo and Yokohama — where a total of 32 matches were played, four more than in the...
in Japan. He then made his senior debut for Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in a September 1980 friendly match against New Zealand and earned a total of 34 caps, scoring 2 goals.
He has represented Canada in 11 FIFA World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
matches and played in two of Canada's games at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
finals, the country's only appearance at a World Cup finals. He also played for Canada at the 1984 Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
.
His final international game was a March 1991 friendly match against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
Managerial career
On April 8, 2010, Gray was appointed the head coach for the Tacoma F.C.Tacoma F.C.
Tacoma Tide is an American soccer team based in Tacoma, Washington, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Stadium...
of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
International goals
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 16 November 1980 Mexico City Mexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
1-1 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification 1982 FIFA World Cup qualificationA total of 109 teams entered the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament, an increase from 16 in the previous World Cups...2 10 May 1986 Toronto TorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
2-0 Friendly match
External links
- Player profile - Canada Soccer
- Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame inductee page
- NASL/MISL stats