John Ray (footballer)

John Walter Ray (born 21 November 1968) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League as a defender for Colchester United.

John Ray
Personal information
Full name John Walter Ray[1]
Date of birth (1968-11-21) 21 November 1968[1]
Place of birth Newmarket, England[1]
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1988 Colchester United 1 (0)
1988 → Wycombe Wanderers (loan)
Aveley
Barking
Billericay Town
Ford United
Grays Athletic
1998–2000 Romford 70 (2)
Tilbury
Total 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Newmarket, Ray was a regular in the Colchester United youth teams and reserves, and was offered a short-term professional contract with the option of a further year towards the end of his apprenticeship with the club in the 1987–88 season after impressing manager Roger Brown. Having sat on the substitutes bench for a number of games, Ray finally played his one and only Football League game on 30 January 1988, as a substitute for Tony English, where he handled the ball to concede a penalty and allow Scarborough to score their third in a 3–1 defeat for Colchester at the McCain Stadium.[2][3][4]

Following his solitary appearance, he went out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers alongside fellow youth product Scott Young before he was released by Colchester on his return. He subsequently joined a host of Essex-based non-league clubs, including Aveley, Barking, Billericay Town, Ford United, Grays Athletic, Romford and Tilbury.[2]

References
  1. "Colchester United – Player profile". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  2. Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  3. "Colchester United – Match details – Scarborough 3–1 Colchester Utd". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  4. "COLCHESTER UNITED:1950/51–1989/90 & 1992/93–2011/12". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
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