New Zealand U-20 goalkeeper Henry Gray has made an impressive start to his loan spell with English club Chelmsford City, keeping a third clean sheet in a row.
Gray (18) has yet to concede a goal for City in the National League South having started in the side’s festive season wins against Torquay United (2-0) and a double over local rivals Braintree Town (3-0 and 3-0).
In the latest win, on January 2, 2024 (NZT), Chelmsford played most of the match with 10 men after a red card, and Gray kept his side in the game with an excellent save after a corner.
Watch Henry Gray’s save
Gray’s next match will be his biggest test — an away match on Sunday January 7 (NZT) against third-placed Worthing who have the best attacking record in the 24-club competition, averaging more than two goals a game.
Gray is under contract to English Championship club Ipswich Town but the club have loaned him to injury-hit Chelmsford who play in the sixth-tier National League South.
He made his debut for Chelmsford in the Essex Senior Cup on December 12, and despite saving a penalty in a shootout, the side was knocked out by Redbridge.
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Gray joined Ipswich Town from Central League club Waterside Karori.
He became the sixth New Zealander to play for Ipswich Town, following Lee Norfolk (1994-97) and All Whites defender Tommy Smith (2007-18), and loan players Rory Fallon (2010-11), Chris Wood (2015) and Monty Patterson (2016-18).
Gray won the Golden Gloves award when playing for New Zealand at the 2022 OFC U-19 Championship in Tahiti, which the side won to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Argentina.
Main photo: Henry Gray … impressive start to his loan spell at Chelmsford City. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
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