Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
100	97	3	2	0	0	8

When coach Peter Fox signed veteran Jeff Grayshon from Bradford in August 1988, eyebrows were raised. Admittedly Grayshon had won every honour in the game (except a Wembley appearance), which included 13 Tests for Great Britain [he holds the record of the oldest player to play in a Test at 36 years 8 months in 1985], 10 for England, a Lions tour in 1979, and 14 appearances for Yorkshire, whilst playing for Dewsbury, Leeds and Bradford; but at thirty-nine, what could he offer the Rovers? Fox knew his man, having coached him with Bradford, Leeds and Yorkshire, and needed him to provide the leadership and experience for the side he was building at Featherstone: and how his decision was vindicated!

Grayshon made his senior debut v Leeds (at home) on 28 August 1988 and quickly proved that age does not matter if you are good enough and fit enough. Fox employed him as the king-pin of his pack, orchestrating short moves and feeding players with intelligent ball distribution. This proved very effective as the Rovers consolidated their position in the First Division, having been promoted from the Second Division in 1988. Grayshon's understanding with Deryck Fox was almost telepathic and his partnership with the up and corning Karl Harrison before his transfer to Hull was an effective combination.

Making a mockery of his age, he appeared in 34 out of 35 games in his first season, an ever-present 36 in 1989/90 and 30 out of 33 appearances in 1990/91 - 100 appearances out of a possible 104 games. On 5 November 1989 he added to his medal collection with a Yorkshire Cup runners-up medal as Bradford beat Rovers 20-14; and on 8 April 1990 he had the personal satisfaction of propping against his twenty-two year-old son who played for Bradford at Featherstone (Rovers and Dad won 24-16).  Despite this incredible record, the club did not offer him a contract for 1991/92, a decision of which Fox was openly critical. It meant that Grayshon had played his last match for the Rovers v Widnes (away) on 5 May 1991. He left Featherstone after a job well done and he then proceeded to notch up 104 appearances for Batley before retiring at the age of forty-five in 1995. He was awarded the MBE in 1992 for his services to rugby league.

His career statistics are remarkable enough, but his influence upon the Featherstone team and his durability in his early forties testified to his physical prowess, skill and unquenchable enthusiasm for the game. Grayshon gave much to Featherstone at an age when others had either retired or were content to serve out their contracts quietly.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey