U's fan Chris Vessey talks to Chris Jones, 28, a Grays supporter currently working in finance at a London-based bank.

CV - Are you happy with the start to the season?

I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with the start we have made - the football hasn't been pretty to watch at times and our recent away games at Altrincham & Droylsden were a struggle to watch, but I'd take winning ugly away from home after our awful away form last season.

CV - Justin Edinburgh now looks likely to be the settled manager of Grays after a season of managerial merry-go-round, how is he doing?

I think last season can and should be written off with the judging of management and players alike. Everything seemed to be all over the place with regards to managers and players coming and going, what seemed like every week. The fact we used in excess of fifty players in first-class competitions last season says it all. All but one of Frank Gray's signings have now left the club which is good work by JE, and he seems to have set his mark on the squad. 5th placed after six games is something most fans would have been more than happy about, so in my eyes he is doing well.

CV - Last season, Mick Woodward, your outspoken chairman, involved himself in some heated Internet debates with fans and went as far as threatening to quit. What happened, and have things settled a little bit with the decent start?

It's one of those things that has reared its head a couple of times over the years, and tends to happen following a bad spell on the pitch. Fans get uptight and vent their frustration; the chairman gets annoyed and before this season took it far too personally. For every critic of the chairman and the club in general, there are a lot more people who back him. In pre-season and the times I have seen him about at games, he seems to have mellowed a little and seems to be allowing people to do their jobs at the ground, rather than getting involved all the time. This has appeared to have had a positive effect on his demeanour around and about the club.

CV - What does the future hold for Grays Athletic? Any plans for relocation or ground development?

A new ground is on the horizon, although where and when is all very secretive at the moment. In the past the local council have been extremely unhelpful with any move, but with the Thames Gateway project, the council are building yet more houses / flats in the town.

Our sponsorship with housing construction firms would indicate a deal has been done to sell the ground already, but maybe that's me just being cynical. There have been rumours that the deal is done and dusted and that next season could see us ground-sharing, but again they are rumours; however they haven't been rejected as false by anyone at the club. We're hoping that when it comes to it, the new ground will be local!

CV - Prolific goalscorer Lee Boylan had an ill fated spell with you last season, why do you think things didn't work out for Lee?

Many factors could be attributed to his lack of success at Grays... the build up play at times wasn't great and his lack of goals meant he seemed to become a bit anxious at times. He never really got a great run in the side, and with different managers and styles of play throughout the season, there is no surprise that certain players appeared not to succeed.

CV - In all honesty, where do you think Grays Athletic will be come May next year?

At the start of the season I would have said mid-table, and would have been more than happy with that considering last season. After seeing the first six games, and having seemingly got over our curse to win away from home in the league (we had to wait 307 days for an away league win following a 6-0 win at St Albans last October), there is renewed optimism. Having said that, the squad has been rebuilt and time needs to be taken for them to gel, and as JE has said, they need to trust each other a little more. I reckon a top 8 finish is possible, which will be a great achievement.

CV - What has been your opinion of Cambridge United since we joined you in the Blue Square Premier?

Being in my late twenties, I can remember Quarter Final appearances in the FA Cup in the early nineties and finishing in the play offs in the old Division Two (today's Championship for younger readers) in 1992. If my memory serves me correctly, both Cambridge and our local rivals Southend were close to topping the table at one point during the season.

When we first played one another in 2005, I honestly couldn't believe that Cambridge United were playing at The Rec in a league encounter. Obviously we won 5-3 in that first match, and since then the games have been a little closer, with a win apiece and two draws. I guess the first season was hard work for the club and its fans, having to visit places such as Grays, Canvey and Gravesend after having quite an illustrious history within the League.

CV - Who are your tips for promotion and relegation?

Promotion seems to be a lot tighter than down at the bottom of the table, with Torquay, Oxford and Stevenage appearing the teams to beat. Cambridge's start to the season, along with Aldershot could see them push for the play-offs, I would like to see ourselves in the top five but believe its a step too far for this season, however hopefully I will be proved wrong. I see Torquay winning the league with any of those mentioned to go through via the play-offs.

As for relegation, after recent trips to Altrincham & Droylsden, I can see both Manchester based teams struggling to avoid the drop. Stafford & Northwich currently complete the bottom four and from what I have heard and seen from the results, those two should be returning to the lower leagues come the end of April.

CV - And finally... what do you think the score will be on Tuesday?

An unbeaten home record for Cambridge and an unbeaten away record for Grays - come the end of 90 minutes of football on Tuesday evening, I can see both records being stretched for another game.

Fortune-West and Boylan will be dangerous and our decent defensive record will be put to the test, but we also have strikers who can score goals this season. My prediction is another 1-1.

Many thanks to Chris for giving his time to answer these questions.

Chris Vessey

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