Gregory Fred Image 1 Reading 1935

Description

Doncaster, Yorkshire born right back Fred Gregory began his football career with Brodsworth Main Colliery in 1927, from where he signed for hometown Third Division (North) club Doncaster Rovers in October 1928, making his Football League debut against Southport in October 1929 as a centre forward, although he mainly played at centre half over the course of 15 appearances with Rovers, during which he scored 3 goals. He was signed by First Division Manchester City in March 1930 although he didn’t make his debut until September 1931, playing at centre half for 10 matches during 1931-32 and 1932-33 before coming back into the first team at centre forward in December 1933, where he scored twice in 11 further appearances for City before a transfer to Third Division (South) club Reading at the beginning of March 1934, where he scored on his debut in a win over Aldershot.

From September 1934 Gregory established himself at right back for The Royals, helping them to finish runners up in the division in 1934-35 and in third place in 1935-36. The following season he was an ever present for Reading, but in December 1937 he transferred to Crystal Palace after 7 goals in 147 appearances, where he played until the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 forced the abandonment of peacetime football, by when he had scored 9 goals in 45 appearances for Palace, including a hat-trick when again deputising at centre forward in a win over Clapton Orient in October 1938.

After the Second World War he returned to Selhurst Park and played 3 further matches for Palace in their 1946 FA Cup campaign, before transferring to Hartlepools United in June 1946. He played 23 matches at left back for The Monkey Hangers during their first post war campaign but moved on to Rotherham United in February 1947, where he played a single match for The Millers against Carlisle United the following month before retiring.

NB in the photograph showing Reading’s back line, he stands on the left with goalkeeper Percy Whittaker (centre) and left back Bill Robson.