Ray Byrom

Raymond Byrom (2 January 1935 – 6 January 2020) was an English professional footballer who played as an outside left in the Football League.

Ray Byrom

Personal information
Full name	Raymond Byrom[1]
Date of birth	2 January 1935[1]
Place of birth	Blackburn, England
Date of death	6 January 2020 (aged 85)[2]
Place of death	Blackburn, England
Position(s)	Outside left
Youth career
1953–1954	Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1956–1958	Accrington Stanley	9	(1)
1958–1960	Bradford (Park Avenue)	70	(14)
	Accrington Stanley
Total		79	(15)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, Byrom started his career in the reserve side at hometown club Blackburn Rovers before signing for Football League Third Division North side Accrington Stanley in January 1956.[2][3] He spent two years at Accrington and was part of the side that gained promotion to the Third Division in 1957, however he only made eleven games in all competitions. In December 1958, he signed for Fourth Division side Bradford (Park Avenue), following manager Walter Galbraith to the West Yorkshire club.[2] He played in seventy league games for Bradford before sustaining a broken leg in a fixture in August 1960, which eventually finished his career.[3]

Personal life

He settled in nearby Oswaldtwistle and following his retirement from professional football, Byrom started working for a motor supplies company in Blackburn before setting up his own business in 1972, Ray's Garage Supplies, with his wife Agnes.[2] His son, Alan, also played for Accrington Stanley in non-league, as did his grandson, Joel, who featured for them in League Two.[2] He died on 6 January 2020 following a short spell in hospital.[2]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Accrington Stanley	1957–58	Third Division North	4	1	2	1	6	2
	1958–59	Third Division	5	0	0	0	5	0
	Total		9	1	2	1	11	2
Bradford (Park Avenue)	1958–59	Fourth Division	22	6	0	0	22	6
	1959–60	Fourth Division	46	8	3	0	49	8
	1960–61	Fourth Division	2	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		70	14	3	0	73	14
Career total			79	15	5	1	84	16

References

1. "Ray Byrom". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
2. Athey, Neil (10 January 2020). "Ex-Accrington Stanley player and founder of garage supplies firm Ray Byrom dies". The Citizen. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
3. Macpherson, Jon (21 April 2017). "Sports stars Raymond and Agnes Byrom to celebrate Diamond Wedding". Lancs Live. Retrieved 11 January 2020.