Andy gray Martin Tyler
In 1977, Andy Gray was notably absent from the PFA awards ceremony despite his significant achievements in football that season. Gray, who was named both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, was prevented from attending by Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders. This set the stage for a tense relationship between Gray and Saunders.
Andy Gray said, “When I got told that I’d won both I thought ‘Wow, how can I, this wee kid from Drumchapel, in Glasgow, with all these players in this league, be voted the best player in the country – younger and older’? To think that only Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have done it since is a measure of how rare it is. So to be in that little trio of players is very special. I guess that was when Saunders and I started to fall out because he didn’t allow me to go to the function to get presented with it.”
Gray recalls the reasoning given by Saunders for blocking his attendance at the awards and reflects on the poor man management that fueled their fallout further.
Andy Gray explained, “Again, it was a little measure of him having no sympathy. Andy’s won awards? Doesn’t matter, don’t care, it’s not a team award, you’re not going. Now, if it had been today, knowing what I know, I’d have told him to shove it and that I was going. But in those days your manager’s word was the law and you didn’t argue.”
Several occasions exemplify the clash between Gray’s dedication and Saunders’ stringent regime. This relationship strain was further highlighted during a critical UEFA Cup match against Barcelona.
Andy Gray recalled, “I went ‘What?’ This is arguably his best player and a cup tie at Barcelona when he needs to score. He left me behind, he didn’t even take me. We went really close. We lost 2-1 at the Nou Camp, another stadium he denied me the opportunity of playing in – that didn’t go unnoticed.”
Gray’s frustration with Saunders reached a breaking point, leading him to request a transfer, following public remarks from his manager questioning his commitment.
Andy Gray stated, “I said, ‘You and I have got a problem, I can’t play for you again, I don’t want to. I want a transfer, so stick me on the list. What I’ve done for you, how I’ve gone on this pitch the state my body was in, the huge injuries I’ve risked because of you. I’ve just lost all respect for you, boss – and that’s it, simple’.”
As time passed, Gray reflected on his career moves post-Aston Villa and made peace with how things unfolded, even though he lamented missing significant achievements with the club.
Andy Gray concluded, “It’s sad the way it ended the first time, it really was because it was an amazing four years. It shouldn’t have ended on such a sour note, but it did. When I left and went to Wolves and Villa went on to win the league and European Cup I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t think at times ‘Ooh I could have been part of that’. But when I sit down now, having had my career, the success we had at Wolves – it was rocky the last couple of years – and the amazing two years I had at Everton, they were just absolutely blissful. If it meant I had to leave Villa to sample what I sampled at Goodison then I would have done it all over again knowing what I know.”
