Posted July 17, 2026 09:31
· last edited July 17, 2026 11:08
Henry Gray (Ipswich Town FC | England) [On loan - Wellington Phoenix]
https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/top-young-keeper-rejoins-the-nix/Men’s goalkeepers (from left to right) Eamonn McCarron, Henry Gray and Alby Kelly-Heald pose for a photo with Phoenix head of goalkeeping Paul Gothard (left) and women’s goalkeeper coach Nick Stanton (right). Photo: Kaleb Anderson/Wellington Phoenix.
Gray will join Alby Kelly-Heald and Eamonn McCarron as the men’s first team goalkeepers.
“Henry will add real competition for our ‘keepers and we’ve got a young goalkeeping cohort, but under some brilliant, top class guidance from Paul Gothard, who has a reputation of bringing young goalkeepers on.
“We’ve got three goalkeepers who will be scrapping really hard for that number one jersey.
“They’ll compete, they’ll push each over hard on a daily basis and when you have competition for places like that it brings the best out of everyone.”
Henry Gray is looking forward to reuniting with Greenacre.
“I worked with Greeny at the FIFA U-20 World Cup last September and I loved every single minute of it,” Gray said.
“I left the academy almost as soon as he joined as head coach of the men’s reserves, but I got to work with him properly at the World Cup and all the matches leading up to the tournament.
“I had such a good time training under Greeny and I’m looking forward to playing under him for a full season.”
Gray was convinced to make the move back to the Phoenix after learning Paul Gothard was returning as head of goalkeeping.
“When I found out Goffy was coming back it was a no brainer to come to Wellington on loan and play a season here.
“He’s very respected. I’ve worked under him for such a long time. He was my main goalkeeper coach growing up and he’s pretty much my dad in that department.
“He got me to where I am today and I’ve gone away and worked with some people in England that are excellent goalkeeper coaches, but being able to work with Goffy again is perfect.”
He believes the time he spent with the first team in Sydney as a 16-year-old was the making of him.
“It was quite surreal when I found out I was going over. I was just planning to have Christmas with my family and then that changed quite quickly as Oli [Sail] got injured.
“I got over there and after a couple of weeks I settled down and got along with all the lads really well.
“That season was a big one for me working with Goffy day-in, day-out as I was able to touch up a lot of aspects of my game.
“If I could do that season all over again I’d do it in a heartbeat because it was one of my favourite seasons playing football.”
Henry Gray is the 16th men’s player contracted to the Wellington Phoenix for the 2026-27 Isuzu UTE A-League season with further squad announcements to be made in the coming weeks.
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coochieeedited July 17, 2026 11:08
https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/top-young-keeper-rejoins-the-nix/Men’s goalkeepers (from left to right) Eamonn McCarron, Henry Gray and Alby Kelly-Heald pose for a photo with Phoenix head of goalkeeping Paul Gothard (left) and women’s goalkeeper coach Nick Stanton (right). Photo: Kaleb Anderson/Wellington Phoenix.
Gray will join Alby Kelly-Heald and Eamonn McCarron as the men’s first team goalkeepers.
“Henry will add real competition for our ‘keepers and we’ve got a young goalkeeping cohort, but under some brilliant, top class guidance from Paul Gothard, who has a reputation of bringing young goalkeepers on.
“We’ve got three goalkeepers who will be scrapping really hard for that number one jersey.
“They’ll compete, they’ll push each over hard on a daily basis and when you have competition for places like that it brings the best out of everyone.”
Henry Gray is looking forward to reuniting with Greenacre.
“I worked with Greeny at the FIFA U-20 World Cup last September and I loved every single minute of it,” Gray said.
“I left the academy almost as soon as he joined as head coach of the men’s reserves, but I got to work with him properly at the World Cup and all the matches leading up to the tournament.
“I had such a good time training under Greeny and I’m looking forward to playing under him for a full season.”
Gray was convinced to make the move back to the Phoenix after learning Paul Gothard was returning as head of goalkeeping.
“When I found out Goffy was coming back it was a no brainer to come to Wellington on loan and play a season here.
“He’s very respected. I’ve worked under him for such a long time. He was my main goalkeeper coach growing up and he’s pretty much my dad in that department.
“He got me to where I am today and I’ve gone away and worked with some people in England that are excellent goalkeeper coaches, but being able to work with Goffy again is perfect.”
He believes the time he spent with the first team in Sydney as a 16-year-old was the making of him.
“It was quite surreal when I found out I was going over. I was just planning to have Christmas with my family and then that changed quite quickly as Oli [Sail] got injured.
“I got over there and after a couple of weeks I settled down and got along with all the lads really well.
“That season was a big one for me working with Goffy day-in, day-out as I was able to touch up a lot of aspects of my game.
“If I could do that season all over again I’d do it in a heartbeat because it was one of my favourite seasons playing football.”
Henry Gray is the 16th men’s player contracted to the Wellington Phoenix for the 2026-27 Isuzu UTE A-League season with further squad announcements to be made in the coming weeks.
