Joe Grey is thriving in a key role for York City as the club enjoys an unbeaten start to the Sky Bet League Two season. The attacker has been directly involved in a goal in each of York's three matches, helping the team to seven points and third place in the table.
This news was first reported by the York Press. Grey's influence was clear in the recent 2-1 victory over Exeter City, a team that played two divisions higher last season. Head coach Scott Lindsey felt the win should have been more comfortable, but it still contributed to a strong opening run of two wins and a draw. York's form reads WDW, with six goals scored and four conceded.
What is Joe Grey's new role this season?
Scott Lindsey has placed significant responsibility on Joe Grey this season, using him in a different position compared to last term. Grey played a few times as a number 10 under previous manager Stuart Maynard, but his impact largely came from the bench. Lindsey's system, while sharing a similar shape, demands more possession dominance, and Grey has been central to that plan. He registered an assist in the opening day win against Bristol Rovers and played passes that led to two assists for Harry Boyes in the subsequent games against Rotherham and Exeter.
Lindsey even drew a light-hearted comparison, with Grey noting, "It's not a bad player to be compared to!" when the coach mentioned Diego Maradona. The player himself reflected on the team's performance against Exeter, saying, "I thought that we were really strong in the match."
How has the squad changed from last season?
York City kept much of its core from the previous campaign but added some new faces. An early setback saw Dipo Akinyemi suffer a first-half injury on the opening day, which led to Alex Newby's introduction. The forward line that day finished with Ollie Pearce, Newby, and Grey, and the team turned the game around in the second half to win. Newby has since scored three goals in three games, proving a valuable addition.
The most recent newcomer is Jovan Malcolm, a loanee from Stevenage who signed last Wednesday. He made an instant impact by scoring on his debut in the win over Exeter. Grey believes Malcolm, with his power and pace, will be a problem for opponents and do well for the club. Fans can view the full squad details on our squad page.
What does the current league picture look like?
York City's solid start has them sitting third in League Two with seven points from a possible nine. They have a positive goal difference of two, having found the net six times. The team was disappointed not to win at Rotherham, which prevented a perfect three wins from three, but the unbeaten streak provides a strong platform. You can follow the evolving league picture on our standings page.
The immediate focus now shifts to maintaining this momentum. York's next challenge is an away fixture against Cheltenham Town on September 1st. Cheltenham currently sits 12th in the table, making it another important match in this early phase of the season. A positive result would further cement York's place among the early pace-setters. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
York City's strong start is built on a blend of retained talent and effective new signings, with Joe Grey's adapted role proving particularly successful. The team's ability to collect points while integrating new players like Jovan Malcolm bodes well for the challenges ahead, starting with the trip to Cheltenham.
