Grayer Frank Image 1 Southampton 1911

Description

Southampton, Hampshire born right back Frank Grayer began his football career with Fazeley and played for St Mary’s Athletic before signing for Southern League club Southampton after a successful trial in August 1908. Described as “a modest and unassuming youngster” he spent his early years at The Dell playing in the reserves and it was not until two days before his 21st birthday, on 11th February 1911, that he eventually made his first team debut in a Southern League match at Swindon Town, replacing Jack Eastham at right back.

Although he was a “solid, reliable performer at full back with a good turn of speed”, he found first team chances hard to come by, making only six appearances in his four years with The Saints. The return of Dan Gordon in 1911 reduced his chances of regular football even further and in July 1912, the Saints accepted an offer of £100 from First Division club Liverpool. His Football League debut came when he was picked as a replacement for regular right back Ephraim Longworth late in the season at home to Manchester United on 15th April 1914. United won the match 2-1 and it was Grayer’s only selection for Liverpool’s first team before the onset of the First World War forced the abandonment of peacetime football, his contract at Anfield expiring in 1915.

During the First World War, he enlisted in the Army and was badly injured at Ypres. He never fully recovered from his injuries and was unable to resume his football career after the cessation of hostilities.