London Football Awards winner Archie's incredible season to date

What an impressive season Archie Gray has had thus far.

After swapping the white strip of Leeds for our famous lilywhite shirt in the summer, Archie has not looked back as his rise in the game continues at a canter - and on Thursday night, he earned his first significant individual accolade as a Spurs player - the London Football Awards' Men's Young Player of the Year!

A star for the Yorkshire side last season as they attempted to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking following their 2023 relegation, the versatile and athletic youngster shone in what was his maiden campaign in professional football.

Thrust in from the off by then new Leeds manager Daniel Farke, the then 17-year-old Archie played all bar three of the White's 55 games that campaign, including 90 minutes at Wembley as his former side narrowly lost the Champions Play-Off Final to Southampton. He was earlier named the EFL's Young Player of the Year for 2023/24.

His performances at such a high level and at such a young age naturally saw him earn admirers from the Premier League and in July, he decided to move to north London and sign contract with us which will run until the summer of 2030.

The Premier League, of course, is a considerable step up from the Championship - something that Archie was well aware of but keen to take on. That was clear from day one.

"I was a part of the first team at Leeds since I was about 14 or 15 years old, I’ve seen men’s football for almost three or four years now so I know what it takes – not to be at this level, I’m going to learn that – but I’ve seen what’s needed just to be very mature and be a very good professional and ultimately a good player," he said to us in his first ever interview as a Spurs player.

"There’s loads of things I’ve got to learn, but I think parts of the Premier League will suit me more than elements of the Championship did and, like I said, I think I’m ready for it. The fitness side of it suits my game so much and the technical aspect of it I think really suits me as well, but there’s loads of things I need to start learning. Obviously it’s a different league and I need to get ready for that but I’m hoping that I’ll be able to learn really quickly and perform at my best every day.”

Watch - Archie Gray's first interview as a Spurs player

He made his first appearance in a Spurs shirt just over two weeks later as he stepped out at Tynescastle in our pre-season friendly against Heart of Midlothian. That game, with all of our senior central defenders on international duty, he featured at centre-back - a position which he revealed, in an interview with SPURSPLAY after the game, that he had never played before.

In saying that, you wouldn't have known it given the composed and accomplished performance he put in as we ran out 5-1 winners in Edinburgh. It was a position and a responsibility he was keen to take on. He was more than grateful to just get the opportunity to play and saw it as a valuable learning experience.

"I wasn't expecting to play centre-back, but I honestly, I'm just really grateful for, the opportunity to play and learn different positions," he smiled after his first appearance in lilywhite. "I said this last year in an interview, but I don't really care where I play. I'm 18 years old and I need need to learn the game and, honestly, anywhere the coach puts me, I'm just happy to learn the game and have great team0 mates around me to teach me things about the game."

The teenager went on to start all bar one of our pre-season matches before making his Premier League bow in our 2024/25 season opener at Leicester City in August.

Stepping off the bench at the King Power Stadium in the 78th minute, the former Leeds man was assigned Legacy Number 886, cementing his place in our history books.

Watch - Archie's pre-season highlights

From that moment, Archie had to bide his time for his opportunity in lilywhite. While you could now certainly describe the youngster as a regular fixture in our side, the man from Durham had to show patience in his first few months as a Spurs player.

Cameo appearances came in the Premier League but it wasn't until 18 September that he made his full debut for the Club as we travelled to Coventry City in the Carabao Cup third round. He played at right-back that night and played the full 90 minutes.

He resumed those responsibilities a week later as he made his European debut, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in the same position as we ran out 3-0 winners over Qarabag in the Europa League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It wasn't a bad way to start his life in European football, especially considering the centre-back closest to him - Radu Dragusin - was shown a red card with 82 minutes of the game still to be played!

Despite being just 18 years of age, he went on to start each of our Europa League league phase matches, playing the full 90 minutes in each. And, to just further highlight his versatility, he played three of them at left-back, three at centre-back and two at right-back as we finished fourth.

Incredibly, it wasn't until December that Archie made his full Premier League debut. That first start in England's top flight came at right back and at the Vitality Stadium as we endured an extremely frustrating night on the south coast, falling 1-0 to AFC Bournemouth.

Despite the result, that opportunity was the break that the youngster was hoping for. He might have been back on the bench for the next game as Chelsea made the trip to N17 but, as our injury issues mounted, he returned to the starting XI for our next Premier League match as we made the trip to Southampton where he played the full 90 minutes as we earned our first win and clean sheet for four games.

And that was the start of a run of nine consecutive starts in the league and 17 in all competitions and he played the entire 90 minutes in each of them.

The numbers back that up. In terms of the Premier League, he's attempted just 19 tackles in 20 appearances. Whereas he has made 34 clearances and 11 blocks (the fourth highest in the squad).

Then there are his on the ball numbers. In the highlights within this story, you'll see just how string he is as a dribbler, not just a good runner with the ball, his close control is also impressive. Meanwhile, his passing numbers are also exceptional. Only Pedro Porro and James Maddison have managed to play more passes than Archie this term.

Being thrust in at the deep end at the tender age of 18, it would have been understandable if there had been difficult moments for the England Under-21 man but, given the step up, the unfamiliar position and the sheer intensity and relentlessness which has framed our last few months, the youngster has taken the challenge head on.

While it was an opportunity for him, he has not shirked the responsibility and has dealt with the pressure magnificently. He has demonstrated quality - and, strangely, experience - well beyond his years. And, crucially, the test is something he has clearly enjoyed tackling - quite literally - and it will certainly benefit him - and us - in the years ahead.

Speaking to us midway through that run of games, Archie disclosed, "I've enjoyed a different challenge. There's been a few games which I need to learn from where I've not been too good in but I'll learn from them and take it forward. I think it has been a good experience for me and one I will definitely learn from. I've enjoyed playing a different position and I'm grateful for it.

"Obviously, I'm learning a lot. Football is always ups and downs, no matter what league you're in, no matter what level and its been the same this year."

And now, all that hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and learning is paying off ten fold as he looks comfortable and composed at the top of the English game and on the European stage.

Impressing both on and off the pitch with his maturity and professionalism, he is a real credit to himself.

To win the Men's Young Player of the Year award at Thursday night's London Football Awards symbolises the strides he has made in his short time so far in north London and in the Premier League.

He has quickly immersed himself within life at the Club and England's top flight to a point where he is performing at an outstanding level - and now you can't help but look forward and hope his stars just continues to rise.