Wonderkid Kai Brown thankful for Grays Athletic chance as he lands move to Ipswich Town

By Matt Badcock
Grays Athletic wonderkid Kai Brown says he’s indebted to Grays Athletic for putting faith in him at such a young age.
The 16-year-old has landed a move to Championship club Ipswich Town having attracted rave reviews for his performances in the Bostik North this season.
Blues Boss Jamie Stuart has proven the old adage if you’re good enough, you’re old enough by handing Brown 36 appearances this season.
“It’s been really good,” Brown, who was also watched by Premier League clubs, told The NLP. “The boys at Grays were really welcoming and I didn’t feel out of place. The more games I played the more I adapted and felt comfortable.
“I’ve come on with the physical aspect but not only that, mentally as well. In the league there are loads of games. So every week I’ve managed to have a game for Grays and then training twice a week.
“All the players around me have always kept encouraging me. Even when I’ve made mistakes they’ve always helped me and they’ve made me a better player.
“I wouldn’t say many other managers in Non-League football would have given me the opportunities Jamie has given me. To play as many games as I have for the team, I’m so thankful to them.”
Brown’s dad Wayne had a good Non-League career himself with ten years at Welling United before spells at Kingstonian, Enfield – where he scored the famous FA Cup winner against Chesterfield in 1999 – Boreham Wood, Harlow and Chesham.
Wayne says Grays deserve huge credit for playing Brown so often and believes it shows how footballer’s learning their craft in the muck and nettles can aid their development long term.
“He has played alongside some very good players at Grays with vast experience of playing Non-League,” Brown Snr said. “They’ve really helped him and talked him through games.
“It’s also the faith Jamie has shown to play a 16-year-old at that level of football when we all know the demands on Non-League managers and how insecure it can be.
“He’s had faith to start Kai on a regular occasion and even if he doesn’t start and he’s on the bench, he has the confidence to bring him in on and try to change the game for him.
“So the part Grays have played – both Jamie, the chairman Steve Skinner and all the team – has been fantastic and certainly helped his development. He’s flourished.
“It’s been good to watch him follow in my footsteps from a Non-League perspective, hopefully he will go onto surpass my achievements and play at the highest level.”