Henry Gray (footballer)

Last updated

Henry Gray
Personal information
Full name Henry Merson Leonard Gray [1]
Date of birth (2005-03-29) 29 March 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth Mönchengladbach, Germany
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Harrogate Town
(on loan from Ipswich Town)
Youth career
2015–2021 Lower Hutt City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2021 Lower Hutt City 8 (0)
2021Waterside Karori (loan) 3 (0)
2021–2023 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 4 (0)
2022–2023Waterside Karori (loan) 9 (0)
2023– Ipswich Town 0 (0)
2023–2024Chelmsford City (loan) 22 (0)
2025Braintree Town (loan) 20 (0)
2025Braintree Town (loan) 0 (0)
2026–Harrogate Town (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2022– New Zealand U20 13 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:15, 27 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 05:22, 1 October 2025 (UTC)

Henry Merson Leonard Gray (born 29 March 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League Two club Harrogate Town, on loan from EFL Championship club Ipswich Town. Born in Germany, he is a youth international for New Zealand.

Contents

Club career

Gray was born in Germany to English parents, and moved to New Zealand at a young age. [2] He joined the youth academy of Lower Hutt City at the age of 10. In 2021 he began his senior career with Waterside Karori, before returning to Lower Hutt City's senior team. In 2021, he moved to Wellington Phoenix FC where he was assigned to their reserves in the New Zealand National League. [3] On 25 March 2022, he was promoted to Wellington Phoenix FC's senior team. [4]

On 16 May 2023, Gray transferred to the EFL Championship side Ipswich Town on a 2-year contract. [5] On 10 December 2023, he went on loan to Chelmsford City in the National League. [6] On 24 September 2024, he extended his contract with Ipswich Town until 2027. [7] On 6 January 2025, he returned to the National League again on loan with Braintree Town. [8] With 9 clean sheets in 20 matches, Gray was named Braintree Town's Player of the Season. [9] On 21 October 2025, Gray rejoined Braintree Town on loan ahead of their National League Cup match that evening. [10] However, later that week, he was recalled by Ipswich following an injury to goalkeeper Alex Palmer. [11]

On 12 January 2026, Gray joined League Two club Harrogate Town on loan until the end of the season. [12]

International career

New Zealand U20

Gray was part of the New Zealand U20s squad in their winning campaign at the 2022 OFC U-19 Championship, where he was named the goalkeeper of the tournament. He was also called up to the U20s for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. [13] He was one of the alternate players for the New Zealand men's national under-23 football team that was called up to the 2024 Summer Olympics. [14]

Gray was named as part of the 21-player New Zealand U20 squad for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup that took place in Chile from September to October 2025. [15] Gray made three appearances in the tournament, with New Zealand exiting after the conclusion of the group stage. [16] [17] [18]

New Zealand

Gray was called up to the senior New Zealand national team for a set of friendlies in October 2023. [19]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 October 2025 [20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lower Hutt City 2021 NZ National League 800080
Waterside Karori (loan) 2021 NZ National League300030
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2021 NZ National League300030
2022 100010
2023 000000
Total4000000040
Waterside Kaori (loan) 2022 NZ National League500050
Waterside Kaori (loan) 2023 NZ National League400040
Ipswich Town 2023–24 Championship 0000000000
2024–25 Premier League 0000000000
2025–26 Championship0000000000
Total0000000000
Chelmsford City (loan) 2024–25 National League South 2300000230
Braintree Town (loan) 2024–25 National League 200002 [a] 0220
Braintree Town (loan) 2025–26 National League00001 [a] 010
Harrogate Town (loan) 2025–26 League Two 000000
Career total670000030700
  1. 1 2 Appearances in National League Cup

Honours

International

New Zealand U20

Individual

References

  1. "2024/25 Updated Premier League squad lists". www.premierleague.com. 7 February 2025.
  2. "Henry Gray: Admirer of Aaron Ramsdale - ready to show that New Zealand can produce stars". www.transfermarkt.co.uk.
  3. "Phoenix academy on a roll". 11 January 2022.
  4. Phoenix, Wellington (24 March 2022). "New-look reserves ready for 2022 Central League".
  5. "New Zealand U-20s goalkeeper Henry Gray signs for Ipswich Town". 15 May 2023.
  6. "Rising New Zealand 'keeper goes out on loan to English club Chelmsford City". 9 December 2023.
  7. "'Delighted to sign a new deal' - Young Town keeper extends stay". Ipswich Star. 26 September 2024.
  8. "Ipswich Town send New Zealand U-20 'keeper Henry Gray out on loan". 5 January 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Young on loan Town keeper wins award at non-league club". Ipswich Star. 7 May 2025.
  10. "Braintree re-sign goalkeeper Gray on loan". www.bbc.co.uk. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  11. "Ipswich recall Gray following injury to Palmer". www.bbc.co.uk. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  12. "Harrogate sign Ipswich goalkeeper Gray". BBC. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  13. "Squad named for men's FIFA U-20 World Cup". nzfootball.co.nz. New Zealand Football. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  14. 1 2 "The Home of Football & Futsal | New Zealand Football". www.nzfootball.co.nz.
  15. "Squad Named for September's FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025". New Zealand Football. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  16. "Match Centre – Chile vs New Zealand". FIFA . Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  17. "Match Centre – Egypt vs New Zealand". FIFA . Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  18. "Match Centre – New Zealand vs Japan". FIFA . Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  19. "Young 'keeper in line to be included in All Whites squad for weekend match". 12 October 2023.
  20. "Henry Gray Stats | Soccerway". www.soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  21. "New Zealand win OFC U-19 Championship 2022 with 3-0 victory over Fiji". 25 September 2022.