With exactly a week to go until the Blues kick off their 2014-15 Ryman premier league campaign against Billericay FC, Jody Browns boys travel to leafy surrey to take on Ryman League Division one south side Merstham FC in their penultimate pre season friendly.

The 2013/14 season saw Merstham attain their highest place in the club’s history finishing seventh with their highest tally of points and goals since gaining promotion to the Ryman League. It was a proverbial season of two halves for the Moatsiders. At Christmas Merstham were languishing in 18th place with just 25 points from 21 games, however, with the return of Fabio Saraiva and the addition of the raw talent of Michael Abnett Merstham turned the tide during the wettest winter on record. After a humiliating 1-4 defeat at home to local rivals Chipstead, Merstham went on an incredible unbeaten 13-game league run, winning on 11 occasions and finally just missing out on the play-offs, finishing seventh. Tommy Hutchings deservedly won the Players and Supporters ‘Player of the Season’ awards.

After the blues 4-1 win over Tilbury in the Stan Veness cup blues boss Jody Brown bolstered his squad with the signing of Former Conference south striker Joe Benjamin. speaking about Joe the manager said "He is suited to the general system that we play and the style in which we want to play. He adds power to our side and he's another goal threat"
"I hope he can become a fans favourite and make a huge number of appearances whilst helping to establish Grays Athletic as one of the top sides in Essex again."
The blues look set to field a mixed starting X1 in todays friendly with some U21 players looking likely to start.

Please note that todays match is FREE entry to all supporters.
KO 15:00