Concord and Southend Manor among Grays Athletic's rivals (From Thurrock Gazette)

Grays Athletic's pre-season unveiled

6:20am Saturday 2nd June 2012 in Sport

NON-LEAGUE: GRAYS Athletic will play their first pre-season matches against well known rivals.

Blues travel to Canvey Island-based Concord Rangers on Saturday July 21 and will face Southend Manor away from home on Tuesday August 7. Last July a brace of goals from trialist Dwight Gayle helped Blues to a 3-2 win at Thames Road, while The Beach Boys notched up their own 3-2 win in December as they won an exciting Essex Senior Cup Quarter Final tie.

The match against Southend Manor will be the first between the two clubs.

Blues will also entertain AFC Hornchurch and a Dagenham & Redbridge XI.

Jimmy McFarlane will bring his newly promoted AFC Hornchurch side to Rush Green on Saturday August 11, which is a week before both teams start their respective league campaigns.

The Urchins visited Rookery Hill last July and won by a single goal scored by Frankie Curley.

Blues will also face a Dagenham & Redbridge XI on Thursday July 19.