Welcome back to another TTTONLF meets…Paddy Gray who until recently was the kitman for Cray Wanderers. I sit down with Paddy and discover what it is really like to be a kitman for a football club as well as understanding the biggest challenges he personally has faced so far in his journey in football.
Lets get stuck in!
Name – Paddy Gray
Age – 22 Years Old
Favourite team – My childhood team was Arsenal, but I just seem to support the club that I work for nowadays. All my energy goes into the club I work for
Occupation – retail supervisor
Thing I love about football – The togetherness, I can honestly say I’ve made such good friends through football. You have to stick together through thick and thin to achieve what you want to achieve.
My football pet hate – Thinking about it, I really can’t decide whether it’s someone going into the kitroom, and taking something without asking (even though I would say yes anyway!) or a stubborn stain that won’t come out of a kit!
Q) What 1st attracted you to the role of kitman?
I started volunteering at Bromley when I was 15, I would be doing all sorts of things. Match reports, filming matches, helping tidy the changing room, things like that. I developed a close relationship with Neil Smith at the time and I looked up to him a lot. As time went on the opportunity arose to help with kit, and I had a good relationship with all the players, so it was brilliant. I was still at school when I first started so I would have to go to the club every evening to wash the training kit and have that all prepared for the next morning. I really enjoyed it, and the relationship I had built with the players, seriously made it a joy to do.
Q) What does your role entail on a day to day basis?
I like to run things as professional as possible, so all training kit, any personal under garments and boots are all looked after by me. So on training days I will get in early, make sure all the players’ training kit is set out for them neatly, with their boots in their space aswell. That way the players don’t have to worry about anything other than turning up and training. I was lucky last season, with such a good group of lads we had great banter in the changing room it was brilliant!
Q) How busy are you on a matchday?
Matchdays are flat-out from the minute I walk through the door. I’m laying everything out, making sure everything’s in the right place, dealing with any last-minute player requests. it’s full-on! But being part of that matchday buzz and knowing the lads are ready to go because I’ve done my job, makes it worth it.
Q) Is that your busiest day or is the day after busier?
If I’m being honest, I will have everything sorted and ready for the next game, before I leave on a Saturday after a game. That way I don’t have to worry about anything, and I’m as prepared as I can be. The aftermath of a game can be a heavy task! We had a white away kit last season and it seemed to be a challenge, my ocd would cause havoc and sometimes I’d be up until 3am getting the shorts spotless!
Q) What is your best story you have heard (that you can tell) from your time as kitman?
There’s many that I unfortunately can’t tell. I’d say one of the good ones I have was when it was a Tuesday night home game, it got to 50 minutes before kick off and one of the players still hadn’t arrived. Everyone started to wonder where he was. Eventually we got hold of him and he forgot we had a game, so arrived as if he was coming in for the training meet time. Let’s just say he wasn’t able to live that one down easily!
Q) Now you have decided to take a step away from football next year – why is that and how difficult was it to decide on?
It was an incredibly difficult decision and one that was really hard to accept but equally acknowledge that it’s the right decision for me at this point in my life. I’m 22, I’ve been working in the men’s game since I was 17. The commitment of football is huge over the course of a year, I’ve missed lots to ensure standards are maintained and that I can give my all in my role. But over the off season I’ve decided that it’s now time to take a step back from football for a year and do things that I can’t normally do due to the commitment of a football season
Q) How has is it been for you, being involved within a non-league club such as cray?
I was involved at Cray Wanderers for three years, and it was an incredible journey. Being part of a non-league club like Cray gives you a real appreciation for the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. It’s not just about the matchday; it’s the hard work put in through the week, the community, the history, the people who give their all week in, week out. You feel like part of a proper football family, and that’s something really special. I’ve loved every minute of it.
Q) What are the biggest challenges you have faced?
One of the biggest challenges has been managing the sheer unpredictability that comes with non-league football. Whether it’s last-minute player changes, kit issues, or adapting to limited resources, you learn to stay flexible and think on your feet. It can be tough, especially on matchdays when everything needs to run smoothly, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when you get it right. Another challenge is balancing the role with other commitments since non-league football often means juggling work, family, and club duties, but it’s all part of the fun of non-league football.
Q) What has been your biggest success in your role!
I’d say my biggest success has been consistently making sure the players have everything they need to perform at their best, often behind the scenes where no one sees it. Whether that’s having the kit perfectly prepared, handling last-minute equipment issues, or just being a reliable part of the team, knowing I’ve contributed to the smooth running of matchdays feels like a real win. A particular highlight was being part of the squad during the 2022-23 season when Cray Wanderers made the playoffs, which was a fantastic achievement for the club. Building strong relationships with the players and staff over the past three years has also made this role really special.
Q) Do you have any plans for the future, is there a dream role you’d one day like to take on or is that the point of this break to work that out?
At the moment, I’m just enjoying a bit of breathing room! No kit bags to carry and no last-minute sock panics! But football’s in my blood, so I’ve no doubt I’ll be back around it in some shape or form. This break’s really about taking a step back and figuring out what the next chapter looks like. If that’s back in a club role or maybe something completely different within the game. I’m keeping an open mind and seeing where it leads.
Q) Why should people come to Flamingo park and watch the team, and will you be there to cheer them on from the stands?
Flamingo Park is a great place to watch proper, honest football. Passion and commitment, isn’t in short supply from the players whether its the youth team or the men’s and women’s. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out on what non-league football is really about. I might not be behind the scenes anymore, but I’ll always be cheering the team on from afar and who knows, you might still spot me in the stands from time to time!
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Thanks to Paddy for his time and i would also like to wish him well in wherever his next decision takes him. The intensity of working in football is either not understood or generally underappreciated but the work that people like Paddy do, especially in Non-League football is incredible and they are the beating heart that makes everything tick.
So – I am not a supporter of Cray Wanderers but on behalf of them I am sure they would like to thank you for everything you have done and given them during your role as kitman. Enjoy the rest Paddy!
That is all for now so….Until next time!
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