Exclusive interview with Bromley loanee Danny Imray – Crystal Palace youngster on shunning early academy route, switching to full-back and League Two loan

EXCLUSIVE
BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Danny Imray had the best of both worlds when he headed into his first senior EFL loan spell with Bromley this season.

The Crystal Palace loanee has spent recent seasons perfecting his craft in the club’s £20million academy facility.

However, attacking full-back Imray was handed his footballing education in non-league for Chelmsford City against Concord Rangers in the BBC Essex Senior Cup as a 16-year-old.

Imray’s route saw him shun the prospect of joining professional academies, instead climbing through the ranks of semi-professional outfits in the Essex area before eventually joining Palace in 2021 as a 17-year-old.

“I have had a bit of a different journey to other people,” Imray told the South London Press. “I came through non-league, starting off at a club in my local area that my dad [Danny] used to run with one of his mates.

“There were a couple of boys at that side who left there to go on to academies such as West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham.

“I just wanted to carry on my football. I didn’t like the idea of academies. I went to West Ham when I was younger on trial – I didn’t like it. I used to have a disagreement with my dad all the time about going.

“I just wanted to play with my mates and nothing else. I was at Dagenham & Redbridge for a couple of years when they were in League Two and had an academy. But it folded, so I just carried on playing in my local teams.

“I learned different things playing in non-league. I enjoyed it.”

He had spells with Ilford and Billericay Town before moving to Chelmsford at U18 level.

Imray, who was initially an attacking midfielder, netted 23 goals in his first 11 outings for the U18 side before being promoted to the senior squad by Robbie Simpson.

“As a kid, everybody wants to be an attacker,” said West Ham fan Imray, who grew up idolising Dimitri Payet and Marcus Rashford.

“Scoring goals puts a smile on your face – it’s the best thing about football. But I started playing right-back when I went into the first team at Chelmsford. The gaffer Robbie Simpson put me there after he was watching me in training.

“I have always been an aggressive player – I like to get stuck in – so maybe that’s why he put me there.

“The modern-day full-back has to get up and down.

“You’re a defender, but you have a license to attack. It’s a reason why it was easier to break through at full-back. It’s why I got signed for Palace as a right-back.”

Imray was a regular in Simpson’s squad as a 16-year-old, helping the Clarets fight for three points in the National League South.

He said: “Being around men and playing with them is so different to playing with your own age group.

“It builds your character. There are people there fighting for their livelihoods – they have kids to feed. It sounds old school, but they will do anything to win.

“You can pick up so many things from playing with men. I was very nervous playing in front of fans at such a young age. I made my debut at Concord away and I played really well in that game.”

The switch to right wing-back saw Imray’s career progress quickly.

He made 21 first-team appearances before signing for Palace’s academy.

So why, at 17, did it feel like the right time to finally step into a professional academy?

He said: “When you’re at non-league and a club like Palace come in for you – they had been in the Premier League for so many years and you grow up watching the likes of Wilfried Zaha – you can’t really say no.

“You don’t know when you’re going to get that opportunity again. It was something I had to grasp with both hands.

“When you go to an academy, you improve different aspects of your game.

“Technically and with communication especially – it has put me in a great position to have a good career. It took a while for me to get used to.

“I have always wanted to be a professional footballer. Coming in every day, training every day and trying to get to where you want to be in your career – it’s excellent.”

Last season was a real breakout campaign for Imray.

He registered nine goals and 11 assists in 36 appearances for Palace’s U21s last season and spent time with Oliver Glasner’s first team, heading out to Marbella with the Europa League-winning manager for the mid-season training camp.

He also played a crucial role in helping Darren Powell’s side lift the Premier League International Cup following a 1-0 final win over PSV Jong at Selhurst Park.

Imray has instantly become a hit with Bromley, newly-promoted to League Two. He picked up an impressive assist in the 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon earlier this month.

“It was the next step in my career – going on loan and playing men’s football again,” said Imray.

“I heard about Bromley’s interest two weeks before I came here. I was eager as soon as I heard.

“I love playing for a manager like him. The gaffer showed us tweets at the start of the season from people saying Bromley are going straight back down.

“It shows to everyone to write us off at our own peril. We’re here and we’re not just here to stay up. We are here to push one even further.

“With the group that we have got. I feel we can get the play-offs and go back up again.”

PICTURES: EDMUND BOYDEN