As the Wembley…Ten Years On series continues, this week we take a look at the man who was pretty much responsible for getting me hooked on the Cobblers. Neil Grayson’s never say die attitude, rapport with the fans and numerous goals were massive drawing factors as I first joined the Claret army!
Larry was a mainstay of the Town’s fight for promotion and I still find it shocking how he was dumped in the few months after he led the line at Wembley. He may not have fired on all cylinders in a higher division but he should have at least be given a chance to test himself. Fortunately for Grayson, he’d already left a legacy to be proud of with the Cobblers and will forever be a hero to the fans.
Neil Grayson started out his career with the brilliantly named non-league side Rowntree Macintosh in 1989 but made himself known with a jump to league football with Doncaster Rovers. Larry hit seven goals in twenty one starts for Rovers but was released in his first season. He struggled to find a settled club, spending time with York City, Chesterfield, Gateshead and Boston before finally moving to Sixfields in June 1994. Larry found his feet and his goals and went on to make over 100 appearances for the Cobblers, scoring 33 goals in his time here.
Larry made himself a star here and after so many clubs threw away the chance to sign him up after departing Doncaster, we should certainly feel lucky that he chose the Cobblers to settle down with! Grayson hit the fastest ever hat-trick seen at Sixfields in a league game against Hartlepool in January 1997, the promotion season. He’ll also be remembered for his infamous “snow dive” after scoring in a game that saw the outside of the pitch covered in snow and Larry taking the chance to nosedive into it after his goal!
Following Wembley, Grayson was transferred to Hereford United and remained in the basement leagues following a £25,000 move. Hitting eleven goals in nine league games alerted Cheltenham Town and the Robins snapped him up a year later for £15,000. Grayson spent four years at Whaddon Road and even came back to haunt us, scoring for Cheltenham in a 3-2 Cobblers win! After his time with Cheltenham, Larry signed for Conference side Forest Green Rovers, again banging in the goals until a 2004 move to Stafford Rangers.
Larry is still playing and still scoring goals at the age of and good luck to the man! Great to see him still in the game and when he finally does retire, the sport will have lost a true character.
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