The world of football is a difficult one to break into. Just 1-2% of academy players make it all the way to the professional ranks, and those that do can suffer from injuries, loss of form, and new players always emerging to take their place.
With that in mind, it makes the achievements of the Gray family all the more incredible.
Andy Gray made 490 football league appearances, scoring 108 goals, and playing twice for Scotland. His dad, Frank, played more than 300 times for Leeds United, notching up 32 Scotland caps, while his uncle Eddie is considered a legend for the Whites, playing 454 times for the club.
The talent hasn’t just stopped with those two generations either. The third generation has started just as impressively, with Archie Gray recently signing for Tottenham Hotspur after a breakout, fantastic season at Elland Road, and his younger brother Harry impressing in the Leeds United academy at a similar rate of knots.
There is clearly something about the Gray family that seems to be gleaning success. It’s time to delve into the detail; firstly, when did Andy realise that his talent could take him all the way to the professional footballing ranks?
“Football was something that I always wanted to do,” he says.
“I was around it with my dad and my uncle from a young age obviously, so I was constantly playing football in the garden; playing with my dad, going round to my uncle’s house, playing with cousins, so for as long as I can remember it was all I ever wanted to do.
“I signed schoolboy forms for Leeds at 14, so I suppose it became a bit more definitive around my early teens.
“You never know you’re going to make it, do you? I don’t think you ever know in any sport until you play that first game, or play a game that means something. You don’t ever know until you actually step on the field as a professional.”

The journeys of Archie and Harry

The introduction of academies means that footballers are now spotted at an earlier age than when it happened for Andy. This was very much the case for Archie and Harry, whose skill has been evident for a long time.
“From very early on, they had talent at football, especially with Harry. I think when he was one or two before he could walk, he was trying to kick a ball, so they’ve both been around football from a really young age. When I started, we didn’t have the academy system, but with Harry and Archie, they’re scouting kids at five and six years old. Harry was about five when he went into Leeds United and Archie was about six.”
That is the starting point for what promises to be a long and positive career, which could easily lead to them playing for the national team. But which one? One of the intriguing quirks of the Gray family is that Archie and Harry both qualify to play football for Scotland as well as England. So which nation tends to get the better hand within the family?
“There’s a lot of England and Scotland banter within the family. Harry’s a mad Scotland fan and we went to Germany v Scotland at the Euros. I think generally most people in the family support Scotland although all the kids, including me, have been born in England so it’s strange. Archie has played for England, he supports Scotland to an extent but obviously wants England to do well. There’s not many England fans in the family apart from the in-laws, but there’s a bit of that banter when Scotland play England.”

Does their success in football translate into golf?

Football is clearly the sport where the family has made their name, but as with a lot of elite-level sportspeople, that ability often transcends into other sports. So where does their golf level lie?
“We’re all on a pretty similar level when it comes to golf. My dad has been down to about six or seven, I think Eddie has been pretty similar. The lowest handicap I’ve been is about eight. Archie hits the ball really well but as yet doesn’t practice enough; it’s all natural at the minute. If he got some lessons, he’d be pretty decent.
“I try to play once a week and would love to play more. I like just being out with the fresh air, taking your mind off things. Obviously, when you’re playing well, there’s nothing better, but I’ve also felt a lot of the times on a golf course when you’re not playing so well, you’d rather not be there, but that’s the competitive edge I suppose.”

Competitive or relaxed?

With so much success in the family, it begs the question of whether the family is relaxed with each other when it comes to sport, or if that competitive element is present.
Andy’s answer is comprehensive.
“We’re a million per cent competitive. It always has been with me and my dad, playing golf, with my uncle, cousins, playing tennis, or head tennis, keepie-uppies in the garden, whatever. There have been numerous arguments on Sunday afternoons with competitions and all sorts. All of us are very competitive.”
That competitive aspect has clearly led to continued success within the family, which looks set to continue long into the future.