On-loan Blues keeper Henry Gray has been named Braintree Town’s Young Player of the Season.

Gray, 20, joined the Iron on loan in January and made 20 Vanarama National League appearances as the Essex side finished 17th in the table.

“What a season it’s been since coming into the team in January,” Gray wrote on Instagram. “This team on and off the pitch was an honour to be with and to be able to stay up for another year in the national league has been a great achievement for us.

“Thank you to all the fans who travelled home and away and to making me so welcome at the club, I’m hoping your mind has been changed since last season 🤣. It felt like a family at Braintree and I will never forget it. Thank you Braintree.”

New Zealand U20 international Gray joined Town in the summer of 2023 from New Zealand Central League side Waterside Karori following a trial at the end of the previous campaign. He was previously with A-League club Wellington Phoenix’s reserves.

Prior to making his move to Braintree, Mönchengladbach-born Gray trained with the Blues’ first-team squad having signed a new contract at Portman Road.

In October 2023, Gray, who had a spell on loan with Chelmsford in the second half of 2023/24, spent time training with the All Whites senior squad at a training camp in Spain. He was also named as an alternate for the New Zealand party taking part in the Paris Olympics last summer without being called into the squad.

Photo: Matchday Images

MaySixth added 08:54 - May 7 Congratulations - great achievement considering joined in January and influential in keeping Braintree up. Maybe an EFL loan next season on the cards. Finlay Barbrook did very well at Sutton and Jokubas Mazionis at Woking also. Both suffered injuries which meant they didn't finish the season but they both made an excellent impression.
2

MaySixth added 08:55 - May 7 Fair to add also that Rochdale really like Leon Ayinde - they finished 4th and he will feature in their play-off chase for promotion.
1

WeWereZombies added 20:06 - May 7 Mönchengladbach-born Gray ! Ein Handschuhmann...
1

warfarinman69 added 22:52 - May 8 He's done well. Don't underestimate the standard of that league. There are some really good players, full time pros at Vanarama League levels. He's almost certainly close to L2 or even lower L1 level. In some ways L2 will be easier for him.
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls