Leeds United’s Harry Gray scored a hat-trick for the U-21 team against Scunthorpe United in the National League Cup last night.
Leeds United have every reason to be excited about Harry Gray’s future, given that he is the highest potential academy product since his brother Archie Gray came through a few years back.
Harry is part of the Gray family dynasty. He is the grandson of Frank Gray and the great-nephew of the legendary Eddie Gray, who was in tears as Harry made his debut at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
The 16-year-old has only made one senior appearance for the Whites. Gray came on for his competitive senior debut the day they sealed their promotion back to the Premier League with a 6-0 hammering of Stoke City.
Harry Gray competes for the ball during Port Vale v Leeds United U21 - Vertu Trophy
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Harry Gray scores Scunthorpe United hat-trick to match Jonny Howson
Gray paid tribute to Patrick Bamford recently after he left the club. Bamford is confident Gray’s Leeds future is bright from what he saw in training. In many ways, it is in his blood.
Leeds’ academy has declined in recent years but Gray is the shining light currently, which has been exemplified plenty of times recently. Firstly, after Gray was nominated for awards at U-21 level already.
In seven games for the U-21 team, the 16-year-old has seven goals and two assists already. That includes the fact Gray scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United last night.
The opposition also featured a familiar name, as former Leeds academy graduate Tyler Denton took to the field against his former club. He was joined on the pitch by Jonny Howson on Tuesday night.
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What’s more interesting is the fact Howson got to face Scunthorpe again. He has played them five times in his career now. He was sent off for two yellow cards in a 3-2 win back in 2009 at Elland Road.
That side featured Ben Parker, who was on co-commentary for LUTV last night, and also fellow academy product Fabian Delph. However that was not Howson’s most famous appearance for Leeds against the Iron.
Last night was the first fixture of any kind between the two clubs since 2011. It was also the first at Glanford Park since 2010. Howson has fond memories of the game, given it was the first and only hat-trick of his career when Gray was aged just two.
Leeds romped to a 4-1 win, with Howson scoring a 15-minute (and perfect) hat-trick. Gray’s hat-trick is the first for an academy player for Leeds in a ‘senior’ game since that day, and he was fittingly sharing a pitch with Howson.
It may not have been a perfect hat-trick, but his free-kick and all-round display was excellent. Football and the universe often works in mysterious ways, and the hat-trick was the first by a Leeds player since Howson came in to help develop and protect Gray.
Leeds United duo Daniel Farke and Harry Gray
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Harry Gray’s Leeds contract situation explained
It’s a unique coaching role for Howson, but he will be delighted at Gray’s display last night as a fellow academy product and someone who played alongside his father Andy briefly as well.
There has been interest in Leeds’ young striker from Spurs. However, it is said that Gray remains happy at Leeds despite Spurs links emerging.
It’s also known that Harry recently signed a new scholarship at Leeds this summer, but he has not yet turned 17. That is why Gray could join brother Archie at Tottenham.
Graeme Bailey is confident Gray will pen professional Leeds terms. His birthday is in just three weeks’ time when he can. For now, he can enjoy playing alongside his Scunthorpe hat-trick sharing teammate in Howson.
Howson wants to be a manager one day and Gray could yet be calling him gaffer rather than teammate one day in the near future, especially if Howson goes full-time into coaching and not a player-coach role.