{{Short description|English footballer (born 2003)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Joe Grey | image = JoeGrey2024.jpg | upright = | caption = Grey warming up for Hartlepool United in 2024 | full_name= Joseph Grey<ref>{{Cite web |title=EFL squad list 2021/22 & U21 registered contracted players |url=https://www.efl.com/contentassets/d88a33a7ea89412c81933211703ad287/squad-list-publication-report-2021-22---07.02.2022.pdf |access-date=12 February 2022 |publisher=English Football League}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|5|4|df=y}} | birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England | height = {{convert|1.76|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/teams/first-team/forward/joe-grey/|title=Joe Grey}}</ref> | position = Winger, striker | currentclub = York City | clubnumber = 12 | youthyears1 = 2011-2012 | youthclubs1 = Corbridge United FC | youthyears2 = 2013–2019 | youthclubs3 = Cramlington Juniors | youthyears3 = 2019–2020 | youthclubs2 = Wallsend Boys Club | years1 = 2020–2025 | clubs1 = Hartlepool United | caps1 = 140 | goals1 = 21 | years2 = 2025– | clubs2 = York City | caps2 = 42 | goals2 = 6 | club-update = 00:25, 26 April 2026 (UTC) }} '''Joseph Grey''' (born 4 May 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|YorkCity}} club York City.
He started his youth career at Cramlington Juniors, before moving to Wallsend Boys Club and then on to Hartlepool United in 2019 where he signed his first professional deal the following year. He was part of the Hartlepool squad that gained promotion to League Two in the 2020–21 season. After making 162 appearances and scoring 25 times, Grey left Hartlepool to sign for National League club York City.
==Career== ===Hartlepool United=== Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://jobs4football.com/player/joe-grey/ | title=Joe Grey | Player profile }}</ref> Grey signed for Hartlepool's youth team in 2019 and turned professional a year early due to interest from other clubs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/teenage-forward-joe-grey-signs-first-professional-contract-at-hartlepool-united-despite-rumoured-interest-from-newcastle-united-sunderland-and-middlesbrough-2951368 |title=Teenage forward Joe Grey signs first professional contract at Hartlepool United despite rumoured interest from Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough |publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=24 August 2020}}</ref> On signing for the club Grey stated, "I'm over the moon to finally get this done, Hartlepool have been great to me and I was excited to be around the first team at different times last season and now during pre season. I want to continue working and get more opportunities when the season starts".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/joe-grey-signs-professional-contract/|title=Joe Grey signs professional contract|date=24 August 2020}}</ref> He made his league debut in a 4–0 win over Maidenhead United.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bt.com/sport/football/national-league/fixtures-and-results/2020-2021/10-10-maidenhead-united-v-hartlepool-united|title=Live: Maidenhead United v Hartlepool United | National League | BT Sport|website=BT.com}}</ref> Grey got his first senior goal in a 6–0 thrashing of Northern Premier League team Ilkeston Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/53686470|title=Catch-up: FA Cup fourth qualifying round - Ilkeston v Hartlepool United|work=BBC Sport|date=22 October 2020}}</ref> Grey's first league goal came in a 2–1 defeat to Eastleigh.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56064904 |title=Eastleigh 2–1 Hartlepool United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 February 2021 |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref> He was part of the Hartlepool United squad that gained promotion to League Two in the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12337003/hartlepool-promoted-to-league-two-after-national-league-play-off-final-win-over-torquay|title=Hartlepool promoted to League Two after National League play-off final win over Torquay|website=Sky Sports}}</ref><ref name="SW"/>
On 8 January 2022, Grey scored the winner in a 2–1 win over Championship team Blackpool as a substitute in the third round of the FA Cup.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59914772|title = Hartlepool fight back to stun Blackpool|work = BBC Sport}}</ref> It was his first goal of the season. On 25 January 2022, Grey scored again as Hartlepool reached the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy after defeating Charlton Athletic on penalties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2022/january/match-report-pools-are-in-the-semis/ |title=Match report: Pools are in the semis |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=25 January 2022 |access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref> He also scored the opening goal against Rotherham United in the following round, however Hartlepool lost on penalties.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60665134 |title=Hartlepool United 2–2 Rotherham United (4–5 on pens): Millers reach Papa John's Trophy final |website=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2022 |access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref>
On 23 June 2022, Grey signed a new three-year deal with Hartlepool.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/2022/june/joe-grey-signs-new-contract/ |title=Joe Grey signs new contract |publisher=Hartlepool United FC |date=23 June 2022 |access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref> He scored on his 100th Hartlepool appearance in a home defeat to Oldham Athletic in December 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-squander-early-lead-to-lose-3-1-at-home-to-oldham-athletic-in-national-league-4458166 |title=Hartlepool United squander early lead to lose 3–1 at home to Oldham Athletic in National League |author=Gavin Ledwith |website=Hartlepool Mail |date=26 December 2023 |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref> He finished the 2023–24 season with 13 goals in total.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-4-3-dorking-wanderers-mani-dieseruvwe-bags-a-brace-as-poolie-blues-brothers-celebrate-after-their-side-edge-seven-goal-thriller-4598712 |title=Hartlepool United 4–3 Dorking Wanderers: Mani Dieseruvwe bags a brace as Poolie Blues Brothers celebrate after their side edge seven-goal thriller |first=Robbie |last=Stelling |website=Hartlepool Mail |date=20 April 2024 |access-date=20 April 2024}}</ref> In the 2024–25 season, he made 41 appearances in all competitions scoring 6 times.<ref name="SW"/> At the end of the campaign Grey was offered a new deal.<ref name="JGYCFC"/> However, he departed having made 162 appearances in total for Hartlepool, scoring 25 times.<ref name="SW"/>
===York City=== On 15 July 2025, it was announced that Grey had signed for National League club York City on a permanent deal with the fee to be set by a tribunal.<ref name="JGYCFC">{{cite news |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/joe-grey-departs-pools/ |title=Joe Grey Departs Pools |website=Hartlepool United FC |date=15 July 2025 |access-date=15 July 2025}}</ref> In November 2025, Grey scored his first career hat-trick in a 5–1 win against Aldershot Town.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/sport/national/25660609.joe-grey-hat-trick-helps-york-secure-convincing-win-aldershot/ |title=Joe Grey hat-trick helps York secure convincing win against Aldershot |publisher=Harrow Times |date=30 November 2025 |accessdate=23 December 2025}}</ref>
==Style of play== Grey can play as either a winger or as a striker.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19637953.dave-challinor-says-hartlepool-fans-watching-different-joe-grey/ |title=Dave Challinor says Hartlepool fans are watching a different Joe Grey|publisher=Northern Echo |date=11 October 2021}}</ref> In his first season playing in the Football League, Grey predominately played as a winger.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/20134709.joe-grey-stay-hartlepool-club-exercised-option-year/ |title=Joe Grey to stay at Hartlepool after club exercised option for further year |publisher=Northern Echo |date=12 May 2022 |access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref> He has been praised for his work ethic, speed, and skill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/its-been-really-tough-for-him-dave-challinor-discusses-hartlepool-united-youngster-joe-grey-after-the-former-newcastle-united-middlesbrough-and-sunderland-target-returned-from-injury-this-season-3435774 |title='It's been really tough for him' - Dave Challinor discusses Hartlepool United youngster Joe Grey after the former Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Sunderland target returned from injury this season|publisher=Hartlepool Mail |date=28 October 2021}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 25 April 2026}}
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=6|Hartlepool United |2020–21<ref name="SW">{{soccerway|joe-grey/645554|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref> |National League |13||1||1||1||0||0||1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}}||0||15||2 |- |2021–22<ref>{{soccerbase season|126986|2021|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref> |League Two |28||1||4||1||0||0||5{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||2||37||4 |- |2022–23<ref>{{soccerbase season|126986|2022|access-date=20 August 2022}}</ref> |League Two |17||0||4||0||0||0||2{{efn|name=EFLT}}||0||23||0 |- |2023–24<ref name="SW"/> |National League |43||13||1||0||0||0||2{{efn|name=FAT}}||0||46||13 |- |2024–25<ref name="SW"/> |National League |39||6||2||0||0||0||0||0||41||6 |- !colspan=2|Total !140!!21!!12!!2!!0!!0!!10!!2!!162!!25 |- |York City |2025–26<ref name="SW"/> |National League |42||6||1||0||0||0||1||0||44||6 |- !colspan=3|Career total !182!!27!!13!!2!!0!!0!!11!!2!!206!!31 |}
{{notelist}}
==Honours== '''York City''' *National League: 2025–26<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=2185 |title=National League: 2025/26: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=29 April 2026}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2910&teamTabs=stats&season_id=158 |title=York: Squad details: 2025/26 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=29 April 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{York City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grey, Joe}} Category:2003 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Newcastle upon Tyne Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football wingers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players Category:York City F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:21st-century English sportsmen