- 9 months ago
Matt Gray is the new Eastbourne Borough FC manager - the former Sutton United boss and Tottenham Hotspur youth player speaks to Will Hugall for Sussexworld
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00:00Matt Gray, new boss of Eastbourne Borough. How does it feel to announce the news today?
00:05Yeah, delighted to be down here and excited to get going. Yeah, really, really pleased.
00:10Just had some good conversations with Simon and Alan this week and to get announced this afternoon
00:14and get cracking in the off-season to get the recruitment right and look forward to pre-season starting.
00:20And of course, because of the way that last season panned out for the club with the playoffs extending the season
00:26and then Adam deciding to move back home, it's been a move that's come slightly later in the summer
00:32than other teams that have changed manager. I mean, has it come about quite quickly for you?
00:36Yeah, it has, yeah. It's been 18 months now since I left Sutton, so there's certainly been opportunities
00:42and different options, but the timing was right here and I feel really ready to get back in.
00:47And here when I got the phone calls, really pleased to come and meet Alan and Simon
00:52and wrap things up and get things done. I'm looking forward to get going.
00:55Brilliant. And of course, you're new to Sussex football, so some fans will be familiar with you,
01:03some won't, depending on whether they've seen you as a player, as a manager, as an assistant.
01:06For those who aren't familiar, give everyone an overview of your career and what's brought you to this point now.
01:12Yeah, well, I'm from North London, is where I was brought up, but living in Surrey now.
01:16But yeah, came through at Spurs and the youth team there, pro at Cardiff,
01:21but dropped into the National League with Hayes, but six operations in six years.
01:25Unfortunately, I curtailed my playing career at the age of 25, but I've always had an eye for the coaching
01:32and loved that side of the game and got into assistant manager's roles at several different clubs,
01:37Eastleigh and Crawley, Aldershot, and then got my first managerial job in 2019 at Sutton.
01:46And of course, that was a successful one for you.
01:48So what were the sort of trademarks of your managerial stint there and what are the priorities that you'll bring to Eastbourne now?
01:55Yeah, just a really honest, hard-working group of lads who have a real connection with everyone in the club.
02:01And that's before we've gone out onto the pitch.
02:03And then, yeah, just a really unorganised and hard-to-beat side that when we are in possession,
02:10that we want to create and score as many goals as we possibly can and have that flexibility to do so.
02:18Because I believe there's many ways to go and win football matches.
02:21And certainly at these levels, you have to be flexible with your play against certain systems, styles, conditions, pitches, times of the year.
02:30So there's many factors that you have to deal with across the 46-game season.
02:36And I just want to make sure I can put a team together to be able to do all of those.
02:40And as you say, you've had 18 months out of the game now.
02:43So what was it about the role here that was right for you at this time to come in and fill it?
02:48Well, just look at, obviously, the facilities are excellent as soon as you walk in.
02:52But the room for improvement and the potential and the people as well is a really good feel around the club.
02:58We've gotten really well with Simon and Alan when I've spoken to him and met them.
03:02And that was a really important thing for me to build the foundations for everyone to be successful.
03:06So it starts from the top within the football club.
03:10And I'm really pleased to be working for those guys.
03:12But then with the sponsors, the supporters, as well as the current players that we've already got here,
03:16I'm looking forward to working with them.
03:18And then bring some, obviously, new faces into the building as well.
03:21And how about did the move come about?
03:24I mean, were you approached or did you apply?
03:26And how quick was the process?
03:28Alan, I've known for many years and not too well.
03:31I bumped into him a couple of times and had an initial conversation right back a week after I left Sutton, actually.
03:36And I was really impressed with what they were trying to do here.
03:39But I just felt I needed that time out and that break then.
03:43But, yeah, it was Alan giving me a call and getting the wheels moving on it.
03:47So, as I say, I'm pleased to be here alongside my assistant, Jason Goodliffe, who will be coming in with me.
03:53And we can't wait to get started.
03:55Brilliant.
03:55And how quick, you know, was the entry process as well?
03:58Was that quite a rigorous process or was it one where everyone was set on, you know, having you here from the start?
04:03Well, I think it probably helped when we had that conversation way back 18 months ago that, you know, the initial concept had been made and we both knew where both parties were at.
04:11But, no, we had some conversations this week and thankfully on Friday afternoon we've managed to get it done.
04:16And we all know where we're at from my side of things as well as the club and we're all going to try and achieve together.
04:23And understanding that, did you watch the side quite a lot last season?
04:26Have you got sort of your idea of what to change and what to improve?
04:30Well, they've had a really good season out of Adam and the club has really been moving forward.
04:35And that's my responsibility to keep moving in that direction.
04:38But I've been watching different training sessions, managers' work.
04:42I've been fortunate to go into several clubs.
04:44But obviously on Saturdays and weekends going out and watching games of all levels.
04:48So, yeah, I've seen Eastbourne this season.
04:50I've seen a lot of the National South, the National League and, yeah, obviously my experiences in League Two as well.
04:56So I've been watching a lot of football and players and I certainly know what's in store here and what for me is going to be the toughest National South that there's ever been.
05:05Exactly.
05:05And as you say, the league is really tough to get out of.
05:09We know that from last season.
05:10There were so many teams that were competing for those, what, the top spot and then the playoff spots outside of that.
05:16Are you expecting it to be the same next season?
05:18If not tougher, yeah.
05:19You look at the sides that have come down from the National League and the size of the clubs and the backing that they've got.
05:26Well, as well as the ones coming up into it as well are some really ambitious and good sides as well.
05:30So now, as I said, the strength in quality and clubs within this National South coming up is going to be really tough.
05:39And there'll be so many clubs and managers and teams all trying to achieve the same thing, which is trying to get promotion, of course.
05:45What are your personal ambitions? Is it just that promotion thing? Is it to develop the club as a whole? Is it to develop the playing style? What have you set out for this season?
05:55Yeah, you take over a club that's moving in the right direction, which is a huge pull for me.
06:01But, yeah, you want to make your own stamp on it.
06:03And, of course, you build and I managed to do that at Sutton from the club I took over originally there.
06:08And four and a half years later where I left it was phenomenal, really.
06:12So, you know, to try and emulate or get anywhere near what we did there would still be a huge success.
06:17So I'm looking forward to trying to build off the pitch, of course, in every way.
06:21But what we want to see, all of us, while we're all in it, is results on a match day.
06:26So, of course, trying to achieve things. I've managed to be successful in my first job.
06:31This is my second and I'm hungry for more success.
06:34And you mentioned your assistant there. I mean, are you looking to announce assistant coaches, goalkeeper coaches, physios,
06:41all of that in quite quick time after the announcement of your position?
06:45Well, I'll be sitting down with Alan and just going through it.
06:48Obviously, Jason comes in with me as an assistant. I wouldn't go anywhere without him because we really go as a pair
06:53and the attributes he's going to bring to the club and on and off the pitch is absolutely brilliant.
06:58So that's a given. And now I'll sit down with the, obviously, staff.
07:03I'll speak to the current staff here and get a feel for how I just want that, what that to look like,
07:08as well as, obviously, the playing staff and who's on contract, who's up and who needs a decision.
07:12So we'll be on that over the next couple of days and be making announcements, I'm sure, over the coming days and weeks.
07:17And, of course, it's a different environment, a different feel to being at Sutton.
07:23I mean, you can't necessarily expect the same things that work there to work here as well.
07:28So what are you looking to do differently, perhaps, from your time at Sutton?
07:33Well, of course you learn. You can't stop learning.
07:35So this timeout has allowed me to, me and Jason would meet up once a week
07:39and reflect of what we'd so likely tweak and what we'd do differently.
07:45And, obviously, you've then got to fit into the club and where that is and what that looks like when you go in.
07:50But you've also got to reflect on what went well as well and make sure you keep that going and don't come off the page there.
07:57So, yeah, we've reflected a lot. There will be some slight tweaks and whatever.
08:01But we'll get our feet under the table first and work that out as we go.
08:05But we're very clear on how we work, how we train, how we play, how we want to do things.
08:10But, first of all, what I'm going to be busy with over the summer is filling that squad up with the players that we need.
08:16And on that, are you expecting to bring in a few familiar faces for yourself from your time at Sutton?
08:21Or are you quite open to all players at the moment?
08:23Of course I'm open to all.
08:25And if that meant one, two, three, whatever, who knows?
08:28I haven't spoken to any of the boys yet, who's out of contract, all their different circumstances.
08:34Of course, it's sometimes nice with that familiarity of what you're going to be bringing in.
08:38Or it might be players I've worked with at other clubs.
08:41Or it might be ones that, you know, between me and Jason and our knowledge of players who we've come up against
08:46and have played well against us and got good character references.
08:49And, of course, there'll be options to bring those type of players in too.
08:53And just looking at the personal side of being manager here,
08:57how well does it fit into your 9 to 5?
08:59How well does it fit into your lifestyle?
09:01I mean, are you going to continue to live up in London?
09:03Are you going to move down here?
09:04How does it work?
09:04Well, I've got North London originally, but I'm now into the Surrey area.
09:08So it's easily commutable for me.
09:12But there is an option, obviously, for me to stay over a couple of times a week if I need to.
09:16So it will depend on where we are from day to day.
09:19But, no, me and Jason will be 9 to 5.
09:22It will be longer than that, that's for sure.
09:24So we'll be in first thing in the morning and we'll be working extremely hard to bring success to this club.
09:30And how well do you expect to acclimatise with the fans and the volunteers and the staff of the club?
09:35Because, obviously, a new figure is always something, you know, things are people, you know, they're slightly uncertain about.
09:41So what do you do when you go to a new club to sort of ingratiate yourself with everyone?
09:46Well, first of all, I just think you can just be yourself and be approachable, which me and Jase will be.
09:51But there will be fans forums and, obviously, opportunities to speak.
09:55I'll always be in the bar after games as well and can have a drink with the supporters and see where they're at.
10:02There's different sponsors lounge and all what you do.
10:04So there'll be many opportunities to meet the supporters, but they're huge, if not the biggest part of a football club.
10:10And none of us would be here without them.
10:13So we look forward to, for them, all of us, you're a successor at a football club when you're all in it together and you're all on the same page.
10:21And the supporters, I'm sure, we'll be really looking forward to meeting them in pre-season and, obviously, when the season starts,
10:28that we'll be creating that togetherness with every aspect of this club, which is what we need to then go and be successful.
10:35Absolutely. And looking in the longer term for the club, obviously, there's big ambitions here.
10:40I mean, they wouldn't have become professional without having those big ambitions.
10:43But with that, they also bring expectation and eyes on the club and other clubs potentially point at Eastbourne Borough and say,
10:51you know, they've got the money now, there's an expectation that they should go up.
10:55So is that hard to work with for you?
10:58No, because that's football and that's what we were in it for.
11:00And that's what we're here.
11:01We want the pressure to try and succeed.
11:04And people on the outside might look at, you know, myself and the club.
11:08And it's clear what we're all trying to do here.
11:10But it's no different that we'd look at other clubs and there.
11:13Managers, ambitions and size of clubs and what they're trying to do.
11:16And as I say, I think it's probably the most competitive national self it's going to be.
11:20So, of course, we're looking to try and get up and try and get out of it.
11:23But along with quite a lot of others as well, which really excites me and means it's going to be a really good, excitable season coming up.
11:32And where do you see the ceiling for the club at the moment?
11:34Is it a club that could potentially go to the Football League?
11:37Is it a club that will go to Step 5?
11:39Is it, you know, a club that wants to be the best non-league team in Sussex?
11:43I mean, what are the ambitions?
11:45They're endless.
11:46There's such huge potential here.
11:48But first and foremost, you know, not looking too far ahead.
11:51I just want to get the recruitment right and implement my ideas and thoughts onto the squad.
11:58That's got to be the early stages.
11:59And that can take time as well.
12:01It certainly doesn't happen overnight.
12:03So, we need, you know, time with that to get that right.
12:06And, of course, we work hard to do so.
12:09But it's just one step at a time.
12:11And the first goal will be, obviously, trying to be up in that top seven, competing for that number one spot come the end of the season.
12:18And, of course, what we're all here for is to get this club promoted up to the next level.
12:23And then we re-evaluate and look at our targets again then.
12:27And what should fans expect to see on the pitch this season in terms of playing style?
12:32Will it be quite quick passing?
12:34Will it be more direct?
12:35Will it be a mix between the two?
12:37Yeah, a real mix.
12:38Finding a way to win.
12:40The most important thing is winning for me.
12:42That's what we're in it for.
12:43And it's getting results.
12:45And some days there will be a certain style or way that we've got a result that could be completely different the following week.
12:51Because we're going to have to play against different systems, different styles.
12:54As I said earlier, different conditions and that as well.
12:56Pitches.
12:57Times of the year.
12:58So, there's so many factors.
12:59So, we've just got to create a squad that can go and do anything to go and get a result and have that flexibility to do so.
13:06But, no, we'll be extremely organised.
13:08That will be a given.
13:09And hard-working, without a doubt.
13:11Because they're two foundations.
13:14There'll be pace and power in the team.
13:16And, you know, I just, for me, what entertains me, there's no right or wrong answer.
13:21But I just love goal-mouth action at the top end of the pitch for us.
13:24And I love chances being created and goals being scored.
13:27That's what entertains me.
13:28So, I'll be setting my team up to try and do that as many times as we possibly can in the 90 minutes.
13:33And are there players already here that you're looking to build the team around, potentially?
13:37I mean, obviously, there's a lot of goal scorers in the team.
13:39Are there players that you've particularly got your eye on making leaders in the team?
13:43Well, I'm pleased with who we've already got on contracts and who's already here.
13:48And I'll be getting in touch with those very shortly and looking forward to seeing them in pre-season and working with those.
13:53It would be a little bit unfair to probably single out any particular names at this stage.
13:57But, no, I'm pleased with already what's here and looking to fill those gaps to strengthen in areas that I feel we need to, to kick us on and keep improving this football club and moving us forward.
14:10And I suppose long-term for yourself as well, are you tied down to a long-term contract or is it season by season and see how it goes?
14:16No, I'm on a rolling contract, so that's where we are.
14:21And, yeah, long-term, again, I'm not really thinking where Eastbourne Borough could be in the Football League, Premier League or myself.
14:28It's here and now and it's getting football results and building a real unity within the whole club to go and bring success.
14:36And, of course, just wrapping up now, your first task will be to, you know, make appointments and schedule for pre-season.
14:45Are the fixtures already in place for that or have you had some sway?
14:48That's what we'll be doing, planning pre-season, getting the games in place, getting the schedule out as soon as we can.
14:55Once that's confirmed, I'll be working that straight away as well as, obviously, my staff instructor and, of course, the players' ins and outs as well.
15:03So, my work starts here. It's going to be extremely busy.
15:06Brilliant. Well, all the best and we'll chat very soon.
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