Arsenal youth team
player Greg Oates was originally approached to play at Highbury
whilst at under-12 status. Hailing from Maldon, Essex, he instead
opted to spend time with local sides Norwich and Ipswich before
eventually succumbing to the lure of the Gunners and signed on schoolboy
terms with them at the age of 14.
Greg returned to Essex in January 2002 joining Colchester United
on trial. He was accompanied by other Highbury youth products with
John Halls and Graham Barrett joining Colchester on loan. Returning
to Highbury, Greg then joined Sheffield Wednesday on trial in March
2002. A similar trial was embarked upon with Leyton Orient at the
end of March 2002. Greg was next spotted playing for Margate in
a pre-season friendly against Dover (The Non League Paper
4th August 2002)
Greg was called up for the England National Game XI (the semi-professional
international side) for their 11 February 2003 friendly against
Belgium. He spent five years with Margate.
By 2013, Greg was with Stanway Rovers. He had played for Billericay
and Chelmsford City