Joe Grey
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Joe Grey
| image = JoeGrey2024.jpg
| caption = Grey warming up for Hartlepool United in 2024
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|5|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England
| height = 1.76m{{Cite web|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/teams/first-team/forward/joe-grey/|title=Joe Grey}}
| currentclub = Hartlepool United
| clubnumber = 12
| youthclubs1 = Corbridge United FC
| youthyears1 = 2011-2012
| youthyears2 = 2013–2019
| youthclubs3 = Cramlington Juniors
| youthyears3 = 2019–2020
| youthclubs2 = Wallsend Boys Club
| years1 = 2020–
| clubs1 = Hartlepool United
| caps1 = 139
| goals1 = 21
| club-update = 20:53, 26 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Joseph Grey (born 4 May 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|HartlepU}} club Hartlepool United.
He started his youth career at Cramlington Juniors, before moving to Wallsend Boys Club and then on to Hartlepool United. He was part of the Hartlepool United squad that gained promotion to League Two in the 2020–21 season.
Club career
=Hartlepool United=
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne,{{cite web | url=https://jobs4football.com/player/joe-grey/ | title=Joe Grey | Player profile }} Grey signed for Hartlepool's youth team in 2019 and turned professional a year early due to interest from other clubs.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/teenage-forward-joe-grey-signs-first-professional-contract-at-hartlepool-united-despite-rumoured-interest-from-newcastle-united-sunderland-and-middlesbrough-2951368 |title=Teenage forward Joe Grey signs first professional contract at Hartlepool United despite rumoured interest from Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=24 August 2020}} On signing for the club Grey stated, "I'm over the moon to finally get this done, Hartlepool have been great to me and I was excited to be around the first team at different times last season and now during pre season. I want to continue working and get more opportunities when the season starts".{{Cite web|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/joe-grey-signs-professional-contract/|title=Joe Grey signs professional contract|date=24 August 2020}}
He made his league debut in a 4–0 win over Maidenhead United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bt.com/sport/football/national-league/fixtures-and-results/2020-2021/10-10-maidenhead-united-v-hartlepool-united|title=Live: Maidenhead United v Hartlepool United | National League | BT Sport|website=BT.com}} Grey got his first senior goal in a 6–0 thrashing of Northern Premier League team Ilkeston Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/53686470|title=Catch-up: FA Cup fourth qualifying round - Ilkeston v Hartlepool United|work=BBC Sport|date=22 October 2020}} Grey's first league goal came in a 2–1 defeat to Eastleigh.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56064904 |title=Eastleigh 2–1 Hartlepool United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 February 2021 |access-date=25 August 2021}} He was part of the Hartlepool United squad that gained promotion to League Two in the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12337003/hartlepool-promoted-to-league-two-after-national-league-play-off-final-win-over-torquay|title=Hartlepool promoted to League Two after National League play-off final win over Torquay|website=Sky Sports}}
On 8 January 2022, Grey scored the winner in a 2–1 win over Championship team Blackpool as a substitute in the third round of the FA Cup.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59914772|title = Hartlepool fight back to stun Blackpool|work = BBC Sport}} It was his first goal of the season. On 25 January 2022, Grey scored again as Hartlepool reached the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy after defeating Charlton Athletic on penalties.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2022/january/match-report-pools-are-in-the-semis/ |title=Match report: Pools are in the semis |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=25 January 2022 |access-date=9 February 2022}}
On 23 June 2022, Grey signed a new three-year deal with Hartlepool.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2022/june/joe-grey-signs-new-contract/ |title=Joe Grey signs new contract |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=23 June 2022 |access-date=12 July 2022}} He scored on his 100th Hartlepool appearance in a home defeat to Oldham Athletic in December 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-squander-early-lead-to-lose-3-1-at-home-to-oldham-athletic-in-national-league-4458166 |title=Hartlepool United squander early lead to lose 3–1 at home to Oldham Athletic in National League |author=Gavin Ledwith |website=Hartlepool Mail |date=26 December 2023 |access-date=26 December 2023}} He finished the 2023–24 season with 13 goals in total.{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-4-3-dorking-wanderers-mani-dieseruvwe-bags-a-brace-as-poolie-blues-brothers-celebrate-after-their-side-edge-seven-goal-thriller-4598712 |title=Hartlepool United 4–3 Dorking Wanderers: Mani Dieseruvwe bags a brace as Poolie Blues Brothers celebrate after their side edge seven-goal thriller |first=Robbie |last=Stelling |website=Hartlepool Mail |date=20 April 2024 |access-date=20 April 2024}}
Style of play
Grey can play as either a winger or as a striker.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19637953.dave-challinor-says-hartlepool-fans-watching-different-joe-grey/ |title=Dave Challinor says Hartlepool fans are watching a different Joe Grey|publisher=Northern Echo |date=11 October 2021}} In his first season playing in the Football League, Grey predominately played as a winger.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20134709.joe-grey-stay-hartlepool-club-exercised-option-year/ |title=Joe Grey to stay at Hartlepool after club exercised option for further year |publisher=Northern Echo |date=12 May 2022 |access-date=12 July 2022}} He is a quick, skilful player who has been praised for his high work ethic.{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/its-been-really-tough-for-him-dave-challinor-discusses-hartlepool-united-youngster-joe-grey-after-the-former-newcastle-united-middlesbrough-and-sunderland-target-returned-from-injury-this-season-3435774 |title='It's been really tough for him' - Dave Challinor discusses Hartlepool United youngster Joe Grey after the former Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Sunderland target returned from injury this season|publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=28 October 2021}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 26 April 2025}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=5|Hartlepool United
|2020–21{{soccerway|joe-grey/645554|access-date=8 January 2022}} |13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|126986|2021|access-date=8 January 2022}}
|28 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 2 | 37 | 4 | |
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|126986|2022|access-date=20 August 2022}}
|League Two |17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2023–24
|National League |43 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 46 | 13 | |
| 2024–25
|National League |38 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 6 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!139||21||12||2||0||0||10||2||161||25 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Hartlepool United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grey, Joe}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Footballers from Newcastle upon Tyne
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English Football League players
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
{{England-footy-forward-2000s-stub}}