Martin Gray

Martin Gray has been a keen cricketer from school days and played locally for Tortevites and Salemites. He later took up an officials coat and became one of the leading umpires not only in Guernsey but also Europe.

Martin in his playing days

In January 2010 Guernsey umpire Martin Gray was promoted to the ICC European Elite Panel of Umpires. It meant Martin was eligible to officiate in top-level ICC European and global fixtures and tournaments. This included the ICC Under-19 World Cup, the higher levels of the World Cricket League and even official one-day internationals. The European Elite panel consists of 10 umpires, three of which are also on the Associate and Affiliate International Panel.

“All the commitment and hard work since my first ICC tournament in 2006 has paid off,” Gray said. Ralph Anthony, secretary of the Guernsey Association of Cricket Umpire and Scorers, added: “GACO are proud and delighted for Martin to be awarded this promotion. “It is thoroughly deserved for the effort and time he as given to umpiring. Martin has long been recognised as one of our most consistent and hard-working officials. “Having spent many years playing in the local leagues he has taken the change to officiating in his stride and has worked hard in qualification and at many ICC events to earn this accolade.”

Martin umpiring Argentina against Nigeria

In August of that year he umpired his first Women’s ODI between Ireland and Netherlands. Martin says, ‘I have always been involved in sport, played rugby at Colt level many years ago, played cricket at a high level and supporter of Guernsey Cricket. A former umpire with the ICC Regional A&A Umpire Panel. A lover of rugby, cricket and all sports. Umpiring has taken me all over Europe and I’ve had the opportunity to umpire teams such as Guernsey, Jersey, Denmark, Argentina, Kuwait, Bahrain, Bermuda, Namibia, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Israel, Spain, Croatia, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Norway, Greece, Vanuatu, Bahamas, Mozambique, Malta, Belgium and Portugal.’

He umpired several Inter Insular matches and the Sussex Premier League in 2014 as well as 83 matches for the ICC around Europe.

Guernsey Sports Photography (Martin Gray)

Photography has always been an interest for Martin and a renewed interest over the years led to his website which can be found at www.guernseysportphotography.com

Operating under the banner of Guernsey Sport Photography, he has captured action-packed moments in rugby, cricket, hockey, football, rowing, athletics, and more. His work is frequently featured in publications such as the Guernsey Evening Press and various sports websites.

Martin’s photography has gained significant recognition for its compelling storytelling and technical excellence. For instance, his striking image of a firefighter on a crane during the Bulwer Avenue blaze in 2023 was widely circulated and praised for its dramatic portrayal of the incident.

In June 2025 Martin was the recipient of the Robin Millard trophy for the best print at the Guernsey Eisteddfod. (Robin Millard was one of the leading photographers at the Guernsey Press from the 1950s to the 1970s).

According to Rob Batiste in his article in the Lookback section of the Press when it came to black-and-white prints there was no-one better than Robin. He inspired many, which included Martin Gray, who became the first winner of the Robin Millard trophy for the best print in the 2025 Eisteddfod. ‘What a privilege it was to be the inaugural winner, to be the first name on the trophy, knowing Robin’s pedigree when it comes to print and monochrome photography,’ Martin said.

Martin Gray receiving the Robin Millard trophy from ‘the master’

and the winning photo was a black-and-white print of the rugby match between Guernsey Raiders Ladies and Dorking RFC Women in the Women’s National 2 South East at Footes Lane