Andre Gray learned from his Shrewsbury Town mistakes
Watford striker Andre Gray admits he could have done more to succeed at Shrewsbury Town but learned from his mistakes ahead of one of the biggest games of his career tomorrow.
Gray came through the academy ranks at Shrewsbury having been released by his hometown club Wolves in his early teenage years and made his senior debut on the opening day of the 2009/10 season.
The striker made just four appearances for Town in total. He spent some time on loan at AFC Telford United where he managed one goal in six outings before he was released in May 2010.
His next move was a switch to non-league Hinckley United.
The frontman has come a long way since. His 30-goal Conference Premier haul with Luton in 2013/14 earned a move to the Championship and after impressing with Brentford and Burnley – a season with the latter in the top flight – it is at the Hornets where Gray is buzzing for one of the biggest games in English football’s calendar for tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final – a reunion with Wolves.
Reflecting on his time in academy football, he told the Shropshire Star: “They’re both good clubs in terms of their set-ups and how they go about things.
“Obviously that’s shown with the players that have gone on to make careers in the professional game.
“It is not easy and a lot of players can fall off but I think a lot of the players I played with made it as professionals.”
The 27-year-old has previously spoke about getting involved in the wrong crowd in Wolverhampton.
In 2011, after his release from Shrewsbury, he was the victim of a gang knife attack and bears a four-inch scar on his cheek as a result.
Gray believes he warranted game-time as an 18-year-old at Shrewsbury having ‘earned’ to play but knows he could have done much more to lock down a regular first-team place.
“I think I earned it at the time but I still feel like I could’ve done more to actually play,” the striker admitted.
“I didn’t give myself the best chance and I always accepted that when I left there and learned from it.”
Gray, who netted Watford’s quarter-final winner against Crystal Palace, was released by managerless Shrewsbury in the summer of 2010 alongside Graham Coughlan, Jake Simpson, Paul Murray and Andreas Arestidou.
