Barry Gray stepped away from his role as Newry City manager in April 2024
Barry Gray says his cancer diagnosis last year offered him a new perspective on football and life in general.
The 45-year-old stepped down from his role as Newry City boss in April 2024 with his full focus on his recovery from throat cancer.
The experience hit home for the former Warrenpoint Town and Cliftonville manager, and reinforced what was important to him as football paled into insignificance
“It shows you and everyone around you that nobody’s untouchable,” Gray told BBC Sportsound.
“This situation and that illness is one of the good things about being stubborn at times. It gives you that ‘won’t be beat’ attitude that we have in football, and it becomes an asset in real life.
“I always would have said when I went back through the door [after football], my kids would meet me at the door and they wouldn’t care if I’ve won, lost or drawn. You’re the same to them regardless.
“When you’ve something like this, it’s with you all the time. There are no ups and downs and even today when it’s gone, it’s still there in my house and will be for a long time to come.
“I hope nobody ever has to feel what I’ve gone through in the past couple of years to see that reality.
“Take football for what it is. It’s brilliant, it’s there for the highs and lows but the most important is yourself and your nearest and dearest. They’re the priority all the time, football is just a piece of your life.”
Gray admitted it was challenging times for him but added things are “looking positive” now.
“It spiralled everything in life out of control or everything we knew as normal disappeared for a period of time, but thankfully we’re on the other side of it now and we’re very fortunate to put it in the past,” he added.
“[My] health is good and everything’s looking positive and that’s all that matters.”
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