Andre Gray

You had a difficult upbringing and were caught up in gang culture. How did you keep your feet on the ground when you achieved something that so many people dream about?

It was quite difficult but easy at the same time, the gang stuff was based on being young and stupid, not having a real motive behind it all but being from a different postcode. Leading up to going back into professional football it was all about making a living and doing things I shouldn’t of to try and do that. It was easy to leave all that behind when given the chance to make legit money and more money than I was illegally by doing something I loved and the only thing I really knew.

What was it that motivated you to switch up your mentality and chase your dreams in football?

A lot of factors played into it really, I think seeing it was possible to get back to playing professionally with others doing it gave me motivation swell as knowing what I was doing at the time I wasn’t going to be able to do and have the things I always dreamed of.

What would your message be to youngsters going down a difficult path?

You have to push yourself, and never ever give up, it might not always work out but there is something that you can always do, whatever your interests or dreams are, pursue them, always do something you love and just accept there is going to be hard times but understanding that it makes you better and stronger for when success does come.