"There's more" - Harry Gray on Leeds United stories, family dynasty and declaration about loan spells
Young Leeds United striker Harry Gray is now in his second loan spell away from the club - this time with Sheffield Wednesday.
Young Leeds United striker Harry Gray didn’t have much choice when it came to football.
In his own words, it’s all he knew.
But that’s more than fine for the 17-year-old Whites youngster who is loving life doing what he knows best and particularly enjoying the responsibility and expectation of being out on loan.
Gray, younger brother of Tottenham’s fellow United Academy graduate Archie, is now nearly three months into his second loan spell away from Leeds, this time with League One promotion chasers Sheffield Wednesday.
Having followed Archie by progressing through the Academy and then on to the fringes of the first team, Harry got his first loan move in January as he joined Rotherham United until the end of the season.
The striker made 20 appearances for the Millers whose season ultimately ended in relegation to League Two, the Leeds striker in at the deep end in a team battling for survival and also people’s jobs.
Coming from a family steeped in footballing and Leeds United history, Harry, who is currently away with England’s under-19s, says there was never much doubt or even choice about being anything other than a footballer.
The teenager now has lots of responsibility on his plate as a loan player - now at a club chasing promotion back to the Championship - and the young Leeds striker says he is relishing the expectation of being out on loan and ultimately regular football.
Speaking in an interview with England’s official website alongside brother Archie, Gray reflected on his footballing journey so far - and of course his footballing family of dad Andy, great uncle Eddie and grandad Frank.
“Every time I see them, they’re telling me stories,” said the young striker.
“I went to quite a few clubs before I was nine, then signed at Leeds at nine. I’ve since been on loan twice.
“It’s all I know. There wasn’t really any other choice!”
“It’s all I know. There wasn’t really any other choice! Every day is football, football, football. That’s what I love doing.
“I played with Archie once in the under-13s [at Leeds] – that was quite cool.
“He was under-16s and I was under-13s and we played against Leicester. That’s the only time.
“We got lucky because at the age groups at Leeds, you play the same teams at the same venue so my dad would drive us both there and watch the first half of either of our games and the second half of the other.”
“There’s more expectation and I enjoy that”
As Archie now tackles his third season as a Spurs player - Harry is approaching his fourth month with Wednesday whom he joined on a season long loan at the start of July.
The young striker has already made six appearances for the Owls, meaning 26 have now been amassed across his two loan spells so far.
“I loved it last year at Rotherham,” said Gray.
“It was tough but I was playing every game. It’s competitive, you’re playing for people’s jobs and it means more to people. There’s more expectation and I enjoy that.”