Ian Gray

NSL Career: APIA, Marconi 331 (50) / 1980 - 1994/95

Socceroos Career: 14 (3) A Internationals / 21 (3) B Internationals

A Marconi club legend, Ian 'Iggy' Gray was a competitive but clean footballer who was comfortable on the ball and equally adept in the middle of the park or in defence during Marconi's most successful period in the NSL which led to his selection in the club's greatest team.

Gray began his junior career at Manly Vale and later moved to Western Suburbs before making his NSL debut at the age of 17 for APIA. Gray made just one appearance in his debut season and was unable to cement his spot in the side over the following two seasons, playing in various midfield and defensive positions as APIA's midfield included club veteran Terry Butler, star Croatian import Zdenko Kafka and Scotsman Alan Hughes.

Gray won the 1982 NSL Cup with APIA without making an appearance in the tournament before becoming a regular in the side over the next two seasons, helping the side reach the 1984 Northern Conference Preliminary Final. Gray's form for APIA earned him a call-up to the national team where he played in a number of B internationals against English, Scottish and Italian top flight clubs (scoring against Manchester City) and made his full international debut in a friendly against China that was advertised as the Ampol Cup. 

Marconi signed Gray for the 1985 season for $22,000 where he became part of a formidable midfield with enforcer Craig Mason and the technical Peter Tredinnick. Gray converted his penalty in Marconi's minor semi-final penalty shoot-out win against Sydney Olympic before the club reached the Northern Conference Grand Final, losing two-nil to Sydney City. 

Spending time in a sweeper role, Gray played a significant role in the club staying a top four side in the 1986 and 1987 seasons before Marconi became NSL champions in the 1988 season. Gray scored the equaliser in the minor semi-final before converting Marconi's first penalty in the grand final shoot-out against Sydney Croatia. Marconi continued to improve under coach Berti Mariani in the 1989 season, finishing as minor premiers before going on to win back-to-back grand finals, defeating Sydney Olympic with a last minute header from NSL Player of the Year Zlatko Nastevski. 

Marconi came out firing once again in the 1989/90 season, finishing the season on the same amount of points and goals conceded as the previous season, as Gray did a commendable job screening the defence. Playing in his third consecutive grand final, Gray was unable to help Marconi complete the NSL's first three-peat since Sydney City achieved the feat in the early 1980s, losing two-nil to Sydney Olympic. In the 1991/92 season, Marconi missed out on a spot in the finals series for the first time since the format was adopted in 1984, but went on to reach the NSL Cup Final where they conceded a late goal in two-one loss to Adelaide City.

Former Socceroos coach Frank Arok took over as Marconi coach for the 1992/93 season and guided the club back to the finals series. Gray played in his fourth NSL Grand Final after Marconi comfortably beat South Melbourne eight-nil on aggregate in the major semi-final and took the armband from Steve Calderan as the two-time championship-winning captain missed out on selection for the championship decider.

Gray led the club to a record-equalling fourth NSL Championship, defeating Adelaide City one-nil. With his international career over, the experienced Gray captained the club for two more seasons before hanging up his boots at the age of 31. Gray was selected at right-back in Marconi's Greatest XI and was inducted in to the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2004.