From the moment Demarai Gray had a close call with a helicopter blade at Leicester City’s PA Awards, one thing was clear: fate had bigger plans for him. The football gods weren’t done. Not even close.
Born in England with deep Jamaican roots, Gray is one of football’s underrated gems. Most don’t realize he was part of Jamie Vardy’s fearless crew that lifted Leicester City’s historic 2015–16 Premier League title.
This is the story of Demarai Gray, or simply “Gray”, the Jamaican baller with jet-like speed and jaw-dropping flair.
In this article, you’ll discover everything. From his early days and family background to his rise through the ranks. From personal moments off the pitch to big-time plays on it.
Sure, fans know his blistering pace and tricky feet. But not many have taken a deep dive into the life of this Everton speedster. Until now.
Let’s get into it — the full journey of Demarai Gray, football’s smooth operator with a Caribbean soul.
The Making of Demarai Gray: The Forgotten Star of Leicester’s Fairy-Tale Season. Image Credit: Instagram/demarai/
Inside Gray’s Childhood – Early Life and Family Background:
His full name? Demarai Remelle Gray. Born on June 28th, 1996, right in the heart of Birmingham, UK. But his roots? All Jamaican.
Both his parents trace back to the vibrant island, and it’s no surprise he chose to honour his heritage by repping his Caribbean motherland.
Gray grew up in a middle-class home, surrounded by British-Jamaican culture, vibrant, proud, and full of rhythm. The same vibe is shared by other ballers like Raheem Sterling, Theo Walcott, and Kyle Walker.
He wasn’t alone in the house — Gray had his little sister to grow up with. They were close. He went to Frankley High School, where his love for football really kicked off. Whether it was school hours or after class, you’d find Gray with a ball at his feet.
Early football activities paid dividends as they led to a career.
Early Career Life:
Before his time with Frankley High School, Demarai Gray began playing with his town’s local youth team, Cadbury Athletic’s junior teams.
He made an impression with the club, which led to him winning a scholarship opportunity with Birmingham Academy.
Gray joined the Blues’ academy as an under-11. Down the line, he met and became friends with Nathan Redmond, whom he once regarded as the biggest influence on his youth career.
Road to Fame:
The bubbly, calm, and happy Gray continued his football scholarship until 2012. His performance in the next season (2013-2014) earned him the club’s Academy Player of the Season award.
From his football scholarship days to winning the Academy Player of the Season award in 2013-2014, Demarai Gray’s journey to stardom is marked by determination and skill.
That season also witnessed Gray getting a promotion to Birmingham’s first team, where he started competing to become a regular starter.
Rise to Fame:
While in the Birmingham first team, Gray started competing for the first-team role with former United rejectee Federico Macheda.
It was a healthy competition that saw Gray edging out Macheda and making Macheda leave the club.
This was a time when the Birmingham club’s management had the belief that he was showing increased maturity.
Gray broke records the following season, 2014-2015, which saw him winning three trophies, namely;
Football League Young Player for the month of December 2014, Birmingham City Goal, and Player of the 2014-2015 Season.
Gray’s clinical finishing and ability to cover in defence didn’t go unnoticed by the then Premier League trophy chasers Leicester City, who activated his release clause.
He made his big move to the Premier League champions on January 4th, 2016. He played his part in helping the team lift the historic title that season. That’s a massive achievement on Demarai Gray’s Premier League résumé — one that fans don’t talk about nearly enough!
Not many football fans are aware that Demarai Gray is a Premier League champion.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Untold Facts:
In the concluding section of Demarai Gray’s Bio, we’ll unveil truths you might not know about him. Without further ado, let’s begin.
The Day Demarai Gray Cheated Death:
Did you know?… Demarai Gray once cheated death after he had a close shave with the blade of a helicopter on a trip to Leicester City’s PA Awards.
Due to the force of the blade winds, the British Jamaican was pulled as he almost walked into the helicopter’s tail rotor blades.
The quick intervention of the Helicopter staff member helped prevent a fatal accident. Watch the video incident.
He once inhaled a Lethal Hippy Crack:
The event happened after a Leicester Premier League defeat to Everton. It was the moment the Birmingham-born footballer filmed himself inhaling a potentially lethal nitrous oxide, known as ‘hippy crack‘.
Demarai Gray films himself inhaling Hippy Crack (Credit to Mirror)
After taking a hit of the substance, Gray made a risky move — he shared the video on Snapchat. While getting high might be legal, British anti-drug agencies have raised serious concerns. They warn that inhaling the gas cuts off oxygen to the brain — and yes, it can be deadly.
LifeStyle:
Getting to know Demarai Gray’s lifestyle off the pitch surely helps build up a complete picture of him.
According to the Mirror, Premier League winner Demarai Gray celebrated his title with a black Lamborghini.
He isn’t the type of footballer who lives the Lavish Lifestyle easily noticeable by a handful of pretty impressive cars and duplexes.
Personal Life:
Although you must have read about his crack wrongdoing and helicopter safety mistakes.
But getting to know Demarai Gray’s personal life would help you get a complete picture of him. Before we proceed, let s ask the question.
What kind of characteristics come to your mind when you think of the modern-day professional footballer?
You might think of a flamboyant personality. But Demarai Gray is a warm-hearted person who loves to invest his time and money in making the world a better place.
Do you know that Demarai Gray has a great personality?
Gray has always been heavily involved in charity work. He is among those who raise money for children’s hospitals and love to visit the sick. It’s only a matter of time before he becomes a UNICEF UK ambassador.
Fact Check:
Thanks for taking the time to read our take on Demarai Gray’s story. We always aim to keep things accurate and fair in everything we write. If you enjoyed this one, you’ll love reading about Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dwight McNeil.
Spotted something we missed? If there’s anything in Gray’s bio that seems off or needs updating, drop us a comment below. We welcome your feedback and promise to treat your input with respect. Thanks again for being here.
