“He’s an absolute machine”: Patrick Bamford Reveals His Message to Archie Gray Following His Move to Tottenham
This week, former Leeds United prospect Archie Gray celebrated a significant milestone in his young career by playing the full 90 minutes in Tottenham's 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City.
Archie Gray, an 18-year-old talent, has only seen limited Premier League action for Tottenham Hotspur but has become a regular presence in cup competitions under manager Ange Postecoglou.
Gray has played every minute of Spurs’ Europa League and Carabao Cup campaigns so far, showcasing his endurance and potential on the European stage.
Gray joined Tottenham this summer in a £30 million transfer, after a promising stint at Leeds United’s Thorp Arch academy.
He is the latest member of a remarkable family dynasty at Leeds, following his father Andy, grandfather Frank, and great uncle Eddie—all notable players for the club.
Given his strong Leeds roots, fans of the Yorkshire club are keen to monitor his progress at Spurs and were pleased to hear about his immediate impact.
Former Leeds teammate Patrick Bamford has also been tracking Gray’s progress and recently discussed his fitness prowess on his podcast, My Mate’s A Footballer.
“The epitome of a fit midfielder is Archie Gray,” Bamford remarked, describing him as “an absolute machine.”
He shared an anecdote about Gray’s arrival at Tottenham, where Gray initially wondered if he could handle the club’s intense training demands.
However, in a VO2 max test—an exercise to measure maximum oxygen uptake under strenuous running—Gray shattered the previous record, impressing Tottenham staff.
“Whatever the record was beforehand, he absolutely smashed it. Afterwards, they were like, yeah, I don’t think fitness is going to be an issue,” Bamford added.
Gray’s impressive physical fitness and stamina may come as little surprise to Leeds fans who watched him last season, where he missed only three of the club’s 55 matches and logged an impressive 4,286 minutes.
This extensive experience, especially under former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa, likely played a significant role in developing his high endurance and conditioning.
Bielsa’s rigorous training routines, known for pushing players to their limits, helped prepare Gray for the demands of professional football at a young age.
Gray’s dedication earned him a spot in Leeds’ first-team squad when he was just 15, making the bench against Arsenal in December 2021.
Now an England under-21 international, Gray’s robust fitness and tactical discipline make him an asset for Tottenham.
His experiences at Leeds have clearly shaped him into one of the fittest players at Spurs, giving him an edge as he navigates his new role in top-flight football.
