The U’s were in the middle of a 14-game run that featured just one win under their new boss.
Gray, 39, had been coaching for more than a decade before he took what was described by many at the time as the hardest job in Non-League football.
Paul Doswell had unexpectedly stood down after 11 years as manager, driving Sutton from Step 3 to the National League play-offs, and an FA Cup fifth round clash against Arsenal in 2017.
With that tie still fresh in the memory, a 5-2 defeat at lower-league Billericay Town in a fourth qualifying round replay ramped up the frustrations of a few fans.
“Matt asked me not that long ago, ‘Be honest, when this was going on and I was under a bit of pressure, was there any thought about changing?’” Sutton chairman Bruce Elliott told The NLP. “Not one second did we think about it. It was never discussed in a meeting, nobody within the club had mentioned it.
“There were a few posts on our fans’ forum, but other than that what people had to remember is we were quite close to him, we were talking all the time about team selection and what’s happened.
“We just needed a little something to turn it round and as soon as a couple of players came in that seemed to turn it round and we’ve never looked back since.”
Elliott reflects on that difficult start just days after Gray led Sutton to the National League title and promotion to the Football League for the first time in their 123-year history.
The triumph, secured last Sunday with a resounding 3-0 victory over Hartlepool United, will go down as one of the greatest Non-League stories ever told.
Baptism of fire
Denne historien er fra May 30, 2021-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 30, 2021-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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BISH BASH BOSH! IT'S LINING UP FOR LEWIS
DAVE Lewis believes Bashley are yet to ‘reach their ceiling’.
REBELS YELL FOR GREAT CAUSE
FOOTBALL shirts specially designed by Worthing FC Supporters Association and local artists Two Faced Twins have been such a hit they’ve been able to hand over a sizeable cheque.
FLEET IN BOSS HUNT...AGAIN!
STRUGGLING Ebbsfleet United are searching for their third manager of the season after Harry Watling left Stonebridge Road after just 90 days in charge.
TOP TALENT HAD 'MAGIC AT HIS FEET'
TRIBUTES have been paid for a talented 17-year-old with ‘magic at his feet’ who passed away after collapsing on the pitch.
ALPORT GO ON THE ATTACK TO SEAL PLACE IN LAST 32!
ALL out attack eventually delivered a warranted win for Whitchurch – despite living dangerously late on.
BRILLIANT BECKWITH INSPIRES LEADERS
GOALKEEPER Charlie Beckwith made the difference as his clean sheet and a goal from Cemel Ramadan saw Bury Town take all three points at Chadfields yesterday afternoon.
OWLS WIN KEY CLASH IN BATTLE FOR TITLE
LEAGUE leaders Cleethorpes claimed an important win over second-placed Emley to move four points clear at the summit of the East Division.
BARDS DO THE HARD YARDS IN BIG WIN
THERE was not much to warm Stamford’s fans as the Daniels were beaten by a good Stratford side.
FREDDIE TREBLE TEES UP LATE WIN
FREDDIE PARKER scored his second hat-trick of the season as Cray Valley came from behind to win in what was a great advert for Non-League football.
TIGERS & LIONS IN A TASTY SCRAP!
PLAY-OFF contenders Hyde United and Guiseley had to settle for a share of the spoils after a hard-fought encounter.
