Stern test for Harrogate as Leeds run out winners in pre-season clashNo ‘stroll in the park’ for Leeds United clash, says Harrogate bossHarrogate’s Archie Gray set to leave Leeds United in £40 million dealHarrogate Town announce Leeds United fixtureHarrogate’s Archie Gray wins EFL Championship Young Player of the Season

Harrogate’s Archie Gray has won EFL Championship Young Player of the Season at the EFL awards.

The former St John Fisher’s Catholic High School pupil and Leeds United midfielder made his debut in the club’s opening game against Cardiff City at Elland Road in August.

Since then, Gray, 18, has been a regular name on the team sheet for United this season playing at both right back and central midfield. He has made 46 appearances for the club across all competitions this season.

In January, he signed a new contract with the Whites until 2028.

The youngster picked up the award at the EFL Awards 2024, which was held at a ceremony in London.

On winning the award, Gray said:

“I’m honoured to win this award, having heard the previous names that have won it. I’ve just got to stay humble and keep on working hard because I’ve come a long way. I’ve gained a lot of experience and learned a lot of new things along the way.

“I trusted my ability but I’ve been lucky with the teammates and manager that I’ve got. Since I’ve come in when I was 15, my teammates have all been really helpful with me. Especially this season, Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu when I’ve been moving to right-back and teaching me a lot of things and analysing things with me after the game.”

Read more:

Gray completed his GCSEs at St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate in 2022.

He signed his first professional contract with Leeds United in March last year.

He is the great-nephew of Leeds legend, and Kirkby Overblow resident, Eddie Gray.

Leeds United footballer banned from driving after speeding in Harrogate

Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson has been banned from driving after speeding in Harrogate.

Aaronson, 23, of Victoria Avenue, was caught speeding at 37 miles per hour in a Mercedes-AMG on the A6040 Knaresborough Road near the Stray on March 12, 2023. The speed limit for the road is 30 mph.

He admitted the offence in September last year.

A hearing was held at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning, but Aaronson was not present.

Magistrates ordered the United States international to pay a £666 fine, £266 surcharge and £90 in court costs.

Aaronson already had 10 points on his licence, which was endorsed with a further three points and he was disqualified from driving for six months.

Read more:

The 23-year-old is currently on loan at German side Union Berlin from Leeds United.

He joined the club on July 9, 2023, after the Whites’ relegation from the Premier League.

Aaronson made 36 appearances for Leeds last season and scored one goal.

He joined United from Red bull Salzburg in May 2022 for a reported £25 million fee.

Leeds United footballer accused of speeding in Harrogate

Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen is to appear before court in January charged with speeding in Harrogate.

Kristensen, 26, of North Park Road in Harrogate, is alleged to have been speeding in excess of 30mph on the A6040 Knaresborough Road near the Stray in a Bentley Continental on February 19 this year.

A hearing was held at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning, but Kristensen was not present.

Magistrates adjourned the case until January 23, 2024, and ordered the 26-year-old to appear in person.

Kristensen, who is a Denmark international, is currently playing for Italian side AS Roma on loan from Leeds. 

He joined the club in July after the Whites’ relegation from the Premier League.

Kristensen made 26 appearances for Leeds last season and scored three goals.

He joined United from Red Bull Salzberg in July 2022 for an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of £10 million.

Read more:

 

Ripon man to run four ultra-marathons in memory of father

A Ripon man will run 224 kilometres in November in memory of his father.

Former Ripon Grammar School pupil Harry Cleary, 25, will aim to complete four ultra-marathons, which are each 56km.

The first three will be in London and the fourth and final leg will begin in Ilkley and end inside Elland Road Stadium — which he described as “a lifelong dream for a Leeds United fan”.

Mr Cleary’s father died this year after a long-term struggle with alcoholism and mental health.

Harry said:

“As a young man, watching the male figurehead in your life pass away as a shell of the man he once was, is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’m determined that won’t happen to me.

“My dad was a very proud man who struggled to accept and discuss his emotions, and instead, leaned on the vices of life.

“The distance represents the 56 years of my dad’s turbulent, but incredibly impactful life.”

Harry Cleary, pictured at the front, taking part in a race.

Following his father’s death, Mr Cleary took up running as a coping mechanism and found it has been “invaluable” to his own mental health.

“As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety for several years, I have sought these physical outlets as healthy coping mechanisms.

“I want to show men the importance of talking and asking for help if they need it.”

He is raising money for men’s mental health charity Movember and has set a target of £5,000.

The charity hosts an annual event which involves growing a moustache for the month of November. It aims to raise awareness and de-stigmatise male health issues, including suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

It won’t be the first time Mr Cleary has punished his body for the charity. Over the last three years, he has walked from the Scottish border to Newcastle in 32 hours and walked the 140km-length of Hadrian’s Wall — both on no sleep.

He added:

“I think about my dad every day, and I hope he’ll be looking down with pride as I complete these ultra-marathons to stop men like him dying far too young.

“I know I’ll be completing all my ultra-marathons with my dad.

“We’re marching on together, dad.”

Mr Cleary’s London runs will take place on Saturday, November 4, 11 and 18, and his Yorkshire leg will be on Sunday, November 26.

He told the Stray Ferret anyone is welcome to run with him and those interested should contact him on Facebook.

Read more:

 

Son of Leeds United legend raises funds to beat his own cancer

A father-of-five from Harrogate has launched a campaign to raise funds for his own medical treatment after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. 

Stuart Gray, whose father is Leeds United legend Eddie Gray, has stage four cholangiocarcinoma – a cancer that forms in the bile ducts. He has been told that by the time this cancer begins to show symptoms, it is usually too advanced for surgery, which is currently the only known cure. 

Complicating the situation, he has also been diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver disease with no known cure, which doctors believe was a likely contributing factor in the development of the cancer. 

Writing on the GoFundMe page set up by his brother Nick, Stuart said: 

“The severity of my illness means that doctors expect my life expectancy to be significantly reduced. However, treatments are available for the cholangiocarcinoma that can prolong life expectancy, and in some rare cases even cure this terrible disease, and I am determined to do everything I can to fight it with everything I have.” 

By Friday afternoon – just a few days after launch – Stuart, 49, had already raised over £30,000 of his £100,000 goal. 

In an update posted today, Stuart said: 

“To all the people who have donated and sent messages and good wishes, I want to say how deeply thankful I am to each and every one of you. It means the world to me and my family to see the support we have. Love Stuart x” 

Some of the treatments for Stuart’s illness are widely available on the NHS, but some of the newer and more experimental treatments are less readily available and very costly. 

In addition, Stuart’s treatment could include biopsies and testing, CT, MRI scans and X-rays, the fitting of stents to relieve pain, alternative wellbeing therapies, and travel and accommodation costs when seeing consultants in London or abroad. 

Stuart said: 

“Unfortunately, time is not on my side, and to wait for approval of these various experimental treatments, and then for the treatments to be administered by the NHS, will likely take years. Accessing these drugs and treatments privately is costly and can be difficult. 

“My family and I will be posting regular updates along the way and will be partaking in various fundraising efforts to help pay for any treatment that may be needed in the coming months and, God willing, years. 

“Any help or support you can offer during this process would be appreciated more than you will ever know.” 

Stuart will also donate a percentage of the funds raised to AMMF, the cholangiocarcinoma charity. He added: 

“If/when treatment is no longer needed, for whatever reason, all of the surplus funds will also go to the AMMF.”

Like his father and his famous uncle, Frankie Gray, Stuart is also a former footballer, having played for various clubs including Celtic and Reading, as well as making seven appearance for Scotland at under-21 level.

Read more:

 

Harrogate’s Archie Gray could be in line for Leeds United debut

Harrogate’s Archie Gray could be in line for his senior Leeds United debut.

Leeds are set to take on Cardiff City in their EFL Championship opening match at Elland Road at 2.30pm today.

Gray has been involved in all of the club’s pre-season fixtures in preparation for the new season.

The 17-year-old could feature in central midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu, who he partnered with in Leeds’ final friendly against Hearts last Sunday.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of the opening game, Leeds manager Daniel Farke sought to relieve pressure on the youngster amid his first team prospects.

He said:

“I don’t like to praise young lads too early. I’ve spoken about his development. 

“I’m happy with him. But before he has played the proper amount of games I’m not willing to sing the high praise of Archie Gray because I don’t think it’s healthy.”

Gray completed his GCSEs at St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate last year.

He signed his first professional contract with Leeds United in March this year.

He is also great-nephew of Leeds legend, and Kirkby Overblow resident, Eddie Gray.

Read more: