Pic: Glenavon FC
STRIKER James Gray has signed for Northern Irish side Glenavon after leaving National League outfit Southport.
The 24-year-old was born in England but has represented Northern Ireland at U16, U17, U19 and U21 level.
He started his career with Middlesbrough before stints in Non-League with Darlington and Kettering led to a move to League Two side Accrington Stanley.
Gray spent three seasons with Stanley, netting 13 times in 68 games, but signed for Wrexham in the summer of 2015 after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.
He spent only one season in north Wales however, scoring seven times in 19 appearances. He missed over a month of the season after a bite from a false widow spider left him needing surgery.
Gray teamed up with his former Wrexham team-mate Andy Bishop, who was Southport boss, in May but he had scored just twice for the Sandgrounders before being released last week.
The striker will hope to get his career back on track in Northern Ireland with Glenavon, who are currently seventh in the NIFL Premiership.
Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton said: “I’m obviously delighted to get a young player like James, with Football League experience, on board. He has a hunger to do well and put himself in the shop window.
“Hopefully he will do a good job for us until the end of the season and if he attracts the interest of EFL clubs then it will mean he has done the business for us as we push ahead to try again for a European spot.”
