As Leeds United ran riot against Stoke City – another ‘goal for you’ from four-goal Joel Piroe – the dream which united every single Elland Road regular finally became reality.
Leeds United will be a Premier League team next season. The sweet smell of champagne pervading the West Yorkshire air a bit of a giveaway.
And, hey, Daniel Farke did promise that promotion would be secured. He was ‘100 per cent’ certain, keeping his head when all of those around him were threatening to lose theirs.
When it comes to a potential return to West Yorkshire for Archie Gray, though, expectations are probably better kept at a minimum.
Because while Leeds were linked with a loan move for their £30 million academy graduate as recently as late-2024, the teenager’s emergence as one of the more dependable performers in a ramshackle Tottenham Hotspur side means this ship appears to have raised anchor and set sail, Premier League football or no Premier League football.
Leeds United fans doubt Archie Gray return from Tottenham
In response to one supporter wondering aloud on social media whether Gray could return to his old stomping ground, the feeling is that, while promotion certainly doesn’t harm their chances, it has merely been upgraded from ‘impossible’ to ‘improbable’.
“No”, one fan writes; brutal, yet straight to the point.
Another, meanwhile, is wary of falling into the same trap that has seen a fanbase pine for years on end for James Milner’s emotional homecoming. The Leeds-born former Liverpool, Manchester City and England midfielder is 39 years of age, now, yet there are those more emotionally-driven supporters who would still welcome the Brighton veteran back home.
“No, [Gray would] be another player like Milner. The fans can keep saying ‘come home’ for the next 20 years,” one realistic supporter explains.
“I don’t care about the history of players, whether they left on good or ‘not so good’ terms as long as they’re part of the best XI or a squad available to be able to win,” another elaborates. “It’s a points game so whatever it takes.
“To answer your question [about Gray returning]; Unsure, not bothered but unlikely!”
“Yeah [Gray could return] but towards the end of his career sadly.”
“Not until he’s 38,” one agrees.
“I’d love it but, unless we can get into Europe very quickly [unlikely], it won’t happen.”
Harry Gray following in Archie’s footsteps after Elland Road debut
In a measure of just how impressive Leeds’ recruitment has been over the last year or so, the question of whether Archie Gray would even command a place in Daniel Farke’s XI these days is suddenly one not so easily dismissed.
Jayden Bogle’s quite mesmerising performance in the 6-0 obliteration of Stoke City means the rampaging right-back is entering prime-Luke Ayling levels. The midfield pairing of Ao Tanaka and Ilya Gruev, meanwhile, is the rock-solid platform upon which an 89-goal Leeds side continue to sit atop.
“We’ve got a better right-back now,” one fan argues. “And [Gray] never really proved owt in midfield.”
At least, while Archie may be long gone, younger brother Harry continues to keep the old Gray family tradition going at Elland Road.
16-year-old Harry Gray capped a fabulous afternoon in Leeds with an impressive cameo off the bench.
While some have suggested that Harry Gray could actually exceed Archie’s Elland Road achievements – a claim that is often made when younger siblings burst onto the scene looking to emulate their elders – the feeling amongst the majority is that now is the time to live in the moment and put the past aside.
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