Class and conviction - I met Preston North End's ex-chairman and he did not disappoint
The former PNE chairman spoke to the Lancashire Post last week
With press conferences dominating the football season, the summer always presents a great opportunity to hear from different Preston North End voices.
There have been some particularly rewarding interviews in recent years: former manager Alex Neil springs to mind, as do ex-players Tom Barkhuizen and Paul Gallagher. So, when the chance to go and speak with Bryan Gray - PNE chairman from 1994 to 2001 - arose, it was an absolute no brainer.
Particularly, for someone who grew up hearing about the Baxi-era at North End and Gray’s involvement, but ultimately didn’t live through much of it. As an interviewer there always feels a greater onus on preparation when that’s the case. The final part of it was to sit in on Gray’s one-hour talk to the Sporting Memories group at Deepdale, beforehand.
After that, it was clear Gray would make an engaging interviewee. He holds a room in a unique way and at a time when lots of people speak for the sake of it, there is great thought behind each word uttered - and he does not rush. Gray strikes a great balance between delving into detail but not saying more than he needs to.
It was also powerful to hear Gray pull no punches on the state of the game today. While he opted against weighing in on stagnation around PNE, Gray made his feelings known on the financial imbalance at play: that we have become anaesthetised to crazy player wages and colossal sums being lost every year by clubs. How can you disagree?
The impact he had at Preston comes as little surprise. Along with the drive and vision he is often praised for, clarity and conviction were obvious, vital traits of his. Gray’s business mindset provided the backdrop to the interview from start to finish. He backed himself to make the right decisions, placed a great value on people and didn’t let football change him.
For someone in their late twenties it was a privilege to spend an hour in Gray’s company, with a view of Deepdale - the stadium he played a central role in developing - directly to his left. If it is all you have ever really known then this is a place you probably take for granted. The job he, Ben Casey and co did must never be forgotten.
You can catch up on our interview pieces here - and also listen to the interview in full on the Preston North End Weekly podcast