Matt Gooding introduces Sunday's visitors, Grays Athletic:
Although the season is only two months old, Sunday's visitors Grays Athletic are already on manager number three.
The season began with Chairman Mike Woodward in charge of first team affairs. However, he stepped down on September 12, citing "personal abuse" as his reason for quitting. He handed the reins over to coach Tim O'Shea, who has overseen the last couple of matches. But following Sunday's game, control of first team affairs will be passed to Wayne Burnett, the former Fisher Athletic and Dulwich Hamlet boss. O'Shea will be hoping he can round his spell as manager off with a victory.
Woodward has backed down on his initial threat to quit the club altogether, and will now stay on as chairman for the foreseeable future. It is the entrepreneurs' cash that has lifted Grays to their highest ever position in the football pyramid. The club was formed way back in 1890, and for the whole of the last century they bobbed around between the Athenian and Isthmian leagues.
Woodward's arrival in 2001, followed a year later by that of manager Mark Stimson, was the catalyst for their climb through the divisions.
Stimson and his assistant, former U's keeper Scott Barrett, didn't achieve immediate success, but gradually built a young squad capable of playing fast flowing football.
They cantered to the Conference South title in 2004/05 thanks largely to the goals of prolific strikers Freddie Eastwood and Aaron Maclean. They were also successful in the FA Trophy, beating Forest Green in the final.
Although Eastwood was sold to Southend, Maclean, together with impressive youngsters like Mitchell Cole and Michael Kightly, took to Conference National football like ducks to water.
2005/06 saw them brush aside several larger clubs to achieve a third place finish and a play off place in the Conference, and although they lost in the semi-finals to Halifax, they did retain the FA Trophy. Backed by over 8,000 fans, they defeated Woking 2-0 at Upton Park.
The Trophy final proved to be the last hurrah for Stimson and Barrett, who moved onto Stevenage Borough, and since their departure the Blues have struggled to achieve any kind of on-pitch stability. The appropriately named Frank Gray began 06/07 in charge at the New Recreation Ground, but despite a promising start he was fired in November following a poor run of form. Woodward took charge for one match (a 1-1 draw against United) before the experienced Andy King took over. He lasted just two months, with assistant boss Justin Edinburgh replacing him and steering the team to 19th place.
Last season was slightly less turbulent, with Edinburgh making his side hard to beat yet uninspiring in the final third. He was shown the door in February, with Woodward assuming managerial duties alongside O'Shea and Gary Phillips. It was perhaps the chairman's presence in the dressing room which inspired a fine late run, which saw Grays claim a tenth place finish.
The Squad
Over the last three years players have come and gone at the New Rec at an alarming frequency, reflecting the amount of managerial changes there have been at the club.
In goal against United is likely to be David Button, who returned to the club for a second loan spell from Spurs this week. Button's wiry frame belies a confident keeper, who enjoyed a good game against the U's last season. Ross Flitney, formerly of Barnet, and youngster Steve Arnold are the other stoppers in the squad.
A familiar face will be present in defence for the Blues in the form of Rob Gier. Gier enjoyed a spell at the Abbey in 2006/07, after being signed by Rob Newman in September. His tough-tackling style won him plenty of fans, but he was released by Jimmy Quinn and has subsequently turned out for Woking and Aldershot.
Skipper (and ex-United trialist) Jamie Stuart is one of the toughest defenders in the league, while former Ipswich veteran Fabian Wilnis brings a touch of Dutch class to the Grays backline. Although the talented Jon Ashton is currently on the injury list, Grays boast other good defensive options, including Lee Canoville and Adam Gross, both of whom have substantial Football League experience, and Simon Downer.
In midfield, Stuart Thurgood has returned for a third spell at the club. He established a reputation as one of the top midfielders in Non-League during his first spell in Essex, but has struggled over recent years with injuries and lack of fitness. A move to Gillingham, where he was reunited with Stimson, didn't work out, and he is now back at Grays until the end of the year.
Grays pulled off a bit of a coup when they signed Sam Sloma in the summer. The midfielder was influential in Dagenham's run to the Conference title in 2007, and has already registered a couple of spectacular goals this year. Stuart Elliott, a summer signing from York, and tricky winger Ishmael Welsh, formerly of Yeovil and Forest Green, are also available, as is experienced campaigner Mark Molesley.
Up front Grays have lost last season's top scorer Danny Kedwell, who joined AFC Wimbledon last month after deciding to revert to part-time football for family reasons. With other regular front man Jamie Taylor struck down by injury, three new signings will be expected to fill the void.
Kieran St Aimee has signed a short-term deal after being released by Barnet. He struck twice in a recent win over Wrexham. Sean Rigg, who can also play on the left wing, has joined on loan from Bristol Rovers, while the most recent signing is Johnny Dixon. Dixon, who scored against United for Aldershot last term, is on a month's loan from Brighton, and made his debut in Thursday's defeat to Stevenage.
This Season
So far this season Grays have lived up to their form of the last couple of years by being consistently inconsistent. After losing on the opening day, 3-1 at Weymouth, they picked up a good point in drawing 1-1 with Kettering, then beat Northwich 2-1 thanks to eye-catching goals from Sloma and Elliott.
However, a trio of 1-0 defeats followed, underlining the lack of firepower which has dogged Grays since last season. They also went down 2-1 at Crawley despite taking the lead through Taylor. A goal packed encounter with Kidderminster resulted in Athletic come out 3-2 winners, but a disappointing performance at Woking saw the home side pick up their first win of the season.
Woodward then passed control to O'Shea, who has presided over the aforementioned win against Wrexham and Thursday's 2-1 defeat to resurgent Stevenage Borough. Ex-Grays favourite Mitchell Cole came back to haunt his old side, capitalising on defensive errors from Thurgood and Stuart, who briefly brought his side back on level terms with a close range finish in the 50th minute.
Last Time
Much like this season, United needed a victory when Grays visited the Abbey in September last year. Having drawn three successive games, we were in danger of losing ground at the top of the table, but a single Scott Rendell goal proved to be the difference between the sides.
Just after half time a long ball out of defence found Courtney Pitt on the left. He held the ball up before feeding Stephen Reed, whose inch perfect cross was powered home by Rendell. Grays struggled to make an impact, and the closest they came to an equaliser was a Jamie Stuart header which landed on the roof of the net [report].
Matt Gooding
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