Henry Gray: Admirer of Aaron Ramsdale - ready to show that New Zealand can produce stars
There are few figureheads for goalkeepers playing in New Zealand. Only a few shot-stoppers have made the jump to Europe, and the few that did play in the lower divisions. The most promising example is Stefan Marinovic, who played for SV Wehen Wiesbaden and SpVgg Unterhaching before continuing his career with the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS and now plays in Israel. In Henry Gray, a New Zealand-based goalkeeper talent is now attempting to forge a new path.
Gray was born in Mönchengladbach to English parents—his father was stationed in Germany with the British Army. The family then moved to New Zealand when he was still a child, and it was there that the talent that is now 17 years of age became obvious. “Everyone sees the perfect goalkeeper differently,” Gray said in an interview with Transfermarkt. “Personally, I think that keepers of our generation have to be good on the ball. Despite being a good shot-stopper, that is my best attribute. I don’t think I have one major weakness, but I try to work on every aspect as a young goalkeeper. I always try to get tips from the top goalkeeper coaches I work together with.”
As is often the case in Australia and New Zealand; Gray was transferred back and forward between several clubs. Gray bounced between Lower Hutt City AFC and Waterside Karori AFC before joining A-League side Wellington Phoenix in November 2021. But Gray struggled for first-team minutes and was transferred back to Waterside Karori.
However, the young talent does not see the time with Wellington as a wasted opportunity. “Of course, I expected more from my time with the club,” Gray said. “But I am also grateful for the six months I got to work with [goalkeeper coach] Paul Gothard and improve myself to a level that was far more than I thought possible. I am also grateful to have worked within a professional setup. Even now, I train with the Central Coast Mariners with Miguel Miranda, who previously worked with goalkeepers like Ederson or Jan Oblak.”
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The development of the young goalkeeper over the last few years has not bypassed New Zealand Football. Gray did not concede a goal in his four starts at the OFC U19 Championship last September, helping his team win the title. Even though the Cook Islands (8-0), Solomon Islands (9-0), Fiji (3-0) and Tahiti (2-0) are not exactly world powers in football, Gray described the games as a great experience that motivated him to achieve more. “I want to make it to the senior squad,” Gray said. “That has been my dream since I have been a kid. I just have to keep working hard because I am certain that I am not far away. The 2024 Olympics and the 2026 World Cup are on my list.”
Henry Gray: “I love watching Aaron Ramsdale”
Gray’s club ambitions are also very high. “My goal is to always play at the highest level,” Gray said. “I want to show that New Zealand can produce talented players and make it to a top league like the Premier League. I am a big Arsenal fan, and I love watching Aaron Ramsdale. Currently, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
Another option is Germany, the country he was born in and where Manuel Neuer, another role model, plays. “When I was a kid, I always supported the German national team, and I wanted to be just like him,” Gray said when asked about Neuer. “I would love to one day play in the Bundesliga. The quality of the game is very high there, and it would be like a dream come true to pay there.”
From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2005. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.
- Date of birth/Age:
- Mar 29, 2005 (19)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Ipswich Town U21
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2025
- Position:
- Goalkeeper
- Market Value:
- €125k
- Total Market Value:
- €1.26m
- Competition:
- National League - Central
- Position:
- 4.
- Manager:
- Tomás Godoy Fouquet
- Squad size:
- 30
- Latest Transfer:
- Lachlan Candy