From Yorkshire to Nepal: Simon Grayson Takes on Himalayan Football Challenge as Former Clubs Clash in FA Cup
Simon Grayson, the former Preston North End manager and Aston Villa player, is embarking on a new adventure 4,500 miles away from familiar territory as two of his former clubs prepare to battle for an FA Cup semi-final spot.
"The scariest thing they've mentioned is going to Everest base camp, which is a two-hour helicopter ride away," Grayson tells BBC Sport from Kathmandu. "I'm not one for seeking thrills or anything like that."
The 55-year-old Yorkshireman, who has four promotions on his managerial resume and is approaching 800 games as a manager, has taken charge of Lalitpur City for the 2025 Nepal Super League season, which kicks off this Saturday. It's a significant career shift for a man who last managed in England with League One Fleetwood before being dismissed in November 2021.
His decision to manage in Nepal came after an 18-month stint with Bengaluru in the Indian Super League. Before making the move, Grayson sought advice from fellow Yorkshireman and former England cricketer Darren Gough.
"Darren had been there to do some commentary and said Kathmandu, where I'm based, is a great place," Grayson explains. "Hopefully I will come out of the experience a better person and a better coach. I don't want to look back in years to come and have regrets about why I didn't try something. I'm here for a life experience."
Despite his adventurous career move, Grayson admits he's not naturally drawn to thrill-seeking. "I travelled in a cable car to meet the owners of my new club in a hotel in the mountains," he recounts. "I wasn't looking forward to getting in a cable car and I didn't particularly enjoy it."
While Grayson adapts to life in Nepal—experiencing the colorful Holi festival just three days after his arrival and admiring the breathtaking Himalayan views—he remains focused on the job at hand. Lalitpur City are the defending champions in the seven-team Nepal Super League, where crowds of up to 15,000 are expected at matches.
His international squad includes players from Martinique, Haiti, Bhutan, Senegal, and Palestine. "They'll have to adapt to my Yorkshire accent," Grayson jokes, while noting how he's been impressed by the warmth of the locals and the stunning surroundings of Nepal's capital.
As Grayson builds his new team in Nepal, he'll be watching closely as Preston and Aston Villa face off in the FA Cup quarter-final at Deepdale this Sunday. "My heart wants Preston to win but I also had two great years as a player at Villa as well," he admits.
During his tenure at Preston between 2013 and 2017, Grayson guided the club from League One to the Championship, where they have remained since. "I loved my time at Preston," he recalls. "I had nothing but good times there and won promotion in front of around 50,000 fans at Wembley by beating Swindon 4-0 in the play-off final."
Meanwhile, Aston Villa, where Grayson played alongside stars like Dwight Yorke, Stan Collymore, and Gareth Southgate from 1997-1999, are enjoying a remarkable season under Unai Emery. Currently competing for Champions League places in the Premier League and set to face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals, Villa haven't won a major trophy since their 1996 League Cup triumph.
"I have been so impressed with what he [Emery] has done," Grayson says. "No disrespect to Preston, but winning the FA Cup could be a big opportunity for Villa this season. Villa are a huge club and they will look at this game as an opportunity towards getting to the final and winning silverware. I'm intrigued as to how this tie is going to go."
Despite the five hours and 45 minutes time difference, Grayson plans to watch the early kickoff between his former clubs. "Had it been later I'd have missed it—we've got training the next morning!" he notes, as he continues his own journey in the spectacular Himalayan region.
The Nepal Super League season runs for just four weeks, concluding with a playoff final on April 26—coinciding with the FA Cup semi-final weekend. By then, either Preston or Villa could be preparing for a trip to Wembley, while Grayson hopes to be celebrating success of his own with Lalitpur City in his unexpected Asian adventure.
