Archie Gray (footballer, born 2006)
Archie James Francis Gray (born 12 March 2006) is an English professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Leeds United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Archie James Francis Gray[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 March 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Durham, England[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Leeds United | ||
| Number | 63 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014– | Leeds United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021– | Leeds United | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2022 | England U16 | 7 | (0) |
| 2022– | England U17 | 5 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:21, 22 March 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:06, 18 May 2023 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Born in Durham, Gray joined Leeds United at under-9 level.[2][3] He progressed rapidly through the academy, and an agreement had to be met between Leeds United and Gray's school, the St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate, for Gray to miss classes in order to train with the first team, at the request of then-manager Marcelo Bielsa.[3]
On 18 December 2021, Gray was named on the bench for a Premier League game against Arsenal.[3] Had he featured, he would've broken the record for Leeds United's youngest player, set in 1962 by Peter Lorimer.[3] He made the bench a further five times in the 2021–22 season, but did not feature.[4]
He signed a two-year scholarship deal with Leeds United in September 2022.[5] He is tipped to become a future Leeds United first team player.[6]
Having injured his ankle in pre-season, been struck with a virus before a EFL League Cup tie against Barnsley, and fracturing his toe after stubbing it on a door at home, Gray has been unable to make his professional debut for Leeds United.[3][7]
International career
Gray has represented England at under-16 and under-17 level.[2] He remains eligible to represent Scotland.[8]
On 17 May 2023, Gray was named in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[9]
Personal life
He is the son of Andy Gray, the grandson of Frank Gray, and the grand-nephew of Eddie Gray, all of whom played for Leeds United and represented Scotland at international level.[3] His brother, Harry, also plays for the Leeds United academy.[3]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 2 November 2022[4]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leeds United U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
- Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References
- "Updated squad lists for 2022/23 Premier League". Premier League. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- Archie Gray at WorldFootball.net
- Hay, Phil (26 August 2022). "Archie Gray: 16 years old, GCSEs freshly in hand and part of the Leeds first team". theathletic.com. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- Archie Gray at Soccerway
- Barrett, Thomas (16 September 2022). "Harrogate's Archie Gray signs scholarship with Leeds United". thestrayferret.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- Jones, Oliver (1 October 2022). "Leeds United evening headlines as Archie Gray set to be 'massive player' for Whites". leeds-live.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- Rayner, Stuart (2 October 2022). "Archie Gray's latest Leeds United injury no laughing matter but teenage midfielder should be back soon". yorkshirepost.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- Berry, Gavin (14 April 2022). "Who is Archie Gray? The Leeds United wonderkid from Scottish football royalty making his name with ENGLAND". dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- "England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 18 May 2023.