*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Adrian Bray
Appearances: 1 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 2nd July 1955
Position: Centre-back
Season of first appearance: 1977/78
Season of last appearance: 1977/78
Also played for: Hythe Town, Folkestone, New Romney and Hythe United
Tall defender who began his career with Hythe Town in the Kent Amateur League and spent several seasons with the club as it attained senior status and progressed to the Kent League.
In February 1978 Adrian joined Margate, at the time he was playing Sunday football for a Folkestone-based side called British Lion that Margate manager Dennis Hunt was involved with and agreed to try his luck in Southern League football. He made a single first team appearance for Margate, playing at centre-back in a 2-0 win over Folkestone & Shepway at Hartsdown on 18.2.78. The Thanet Times described Adrian as "lanky" and said that he put in "a commendable performance" but unfortunately he suffered a recurrence of a long-standing cartilage problem during the match and was unable to play again during the 1977/78 season.
Although Adrian was new to the club, Margate paid for him to have a knee operation with a view to him being fit for the 1978/79 campaign. However further knee problems meant that he missed all the pre-season friendlies and by the time Adrian regained full fitness he was unable to break into the first team. He then spent a month or two in the reserves before returning to Hythe.
Adrian went on to have a lengthy spell there, staying with the club until the end of the 1988/89 campaign. During that season he'd found himself demoted to Hythe's reserves as the club were taken over by millionaire Tony Walton and new player-manager Neil Cugley brought in an entirely different squad of experienced players to form the first team.
When Hythe's reserve team was disbanded Adrian joined Folkestone for the 1989/90 campaign and he played for their reserves before moving on to New Romney for the 1990/91 season.
Adrian spent a couple of years with them before returning to Hythe once more when the club was reformed as Hythe United following the departure of Tony Walton and the subsequent demise of Hythe Town.
After retiring from competitive football he dropped back into the Sunday game and played for a Hythe-based side called Grove Grovellers.
In 2003 Adrian was still turning out in friendlies for the club and working at Canterbury City Council. He still lived in Hythe.
He was still employed by Canterbury City Council in 2011.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS | |
|
1977/78 (MFC) |
1 (47) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION (S) (1ST OF 20) |
1QR |
1R |
1R |
1R |
GR |
| Margate promoted to Southern League Premier Division. | |||||||||