Dick Ray
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Ray was a professional
footballer and manager. He became a manager for Leeds United
, Doncaster Rovers
and Bradford City
.
in 1893, before moving to Burslem Port Vale
a year later. He was a solid performer for the club, however failed to turn up for one match after misreading a train timetable, being fined five shillings for his trouble, he departed in the summer of 1895.
Over the next few years he played for Manchester City
, Stockport County
, Chesterfield
and Leeds City. After Gilbert Gillies, his manager at Chesterfield, was appointed as Leeds City's first manager in March 1905, Ray followed him to Elland Road
. He was a dependable left back, and even captained the side before leaving the club when the board declined not to renew Gillies' contract in March 1908.
during World War I
. He remained close to Leeds City however, and was invited to become a member of the original committee that was elected too manage the new Leeds United
following City's expulsion from the League in October 1919. He then became the first Leeds United manager, running the club for part of their 1919–20 Midland League campaign.
New Leeds United chairman Hilton Crowther
went back to his old club Huddersfield Town
to recruit Arthur Fairclough as manager in February 1920. Ray became Fairclough's assistant for a while, eventually leaving Elland Road
in June 1923 to take over at Doncaster Rovers when they were elected to the old Third Division (North). Ray never got them above a mid table finish, but when Fairclough resigned following Leeds United's relegation to Division Two at the end of 1926-27, the Leeds board recalled Ray as manager.
Ray steered Leeds back 2 the First Division at the first attempt in 1927–28, and then guided the club to 5th place in 1929–30 – their best placing until the arrival of Don Revie
. However, the club was relegated the following season. Leeds were immediately promoted back to the First Division in 1931–32, and enjoyed two seasons at mid-table.
Leeds now had the England international
half back line of Willis Edwards
, Ernest Hart
and Wilf Copping
, but in 1934 Copping was sold to Arsenal
. The loss of such a key player had a large impact, and in 1934–35, Leeds finished 4th. Ray resigned on 5 March 1938, with Leeds flirting once more with relegation.
The Football League
recognised Ray's achievements by appointing him the first manager of a League representative team, for the 2–2 draw with the Scottish League
at Ibrox
in February 1938.
, he became Bradford City
manager in April 1935. They avoided relegation from Division Two at the end of that season, but were relegated in 1937. Ray left the club a year later when he was relieved of responsibility for team selection.
He was then 62 and spent some time as chief scout for Millwall
, but was out of football two years later, spending his time running a garage business and billiard clubs.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer and manager. He became a manager for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
.
Playing career
Ray was born in the Potteries town of Newcastle under Lyme on February 4, 1876, and began his footballing career with local club Audley, before joining MacclesfieldMacclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
in 1893, before moving to Burslem Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
a year later. He was a solid performer for the club, however failed to turn up for one match after misreading a train timetable, being fined five shillings for his trouble, he departed in the summer of 1895.
Over the next few years he played for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
and Leeds City. After Gilbert Gillies, his manager at Chesterfield, was appointed as Leeds City's first manager in March 1905, Ray followed him to Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
. He was a dependable left back, and even captained the side before leaving the club when the board declined not to renew Gillies' contract in March 1908.
Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers
Ray retired from playing in 1912 and then served in the RASCRASC
RASC may be:* Reconfigurable Application-Specific Computing, a specialized reconfigurable computer for high-performance computing* Research and Advocacy Standing Committee, part of the Singapore Children's Society...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He remained close to Leeds City however, and was invited to become a member of the original committee that was elected too manage the new Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
following City's expulsion from the League in October 1919. He then became the first Leeds United manager, running the club for part of their 1919–20 Midland League campaign.
New Leeds United chairman Hilton Crowther
Hilton Crowther
John Hilton Crowther was the chairman of Huddersfield Town and, subsequently, Leeds United. He was an extremely wealthy woollen mill owner; along with his four brothers, he owned the Milnsbridge Woollen Mill in Huddersfield....
went back to his old club Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
to recruit Arthur Fairclough as manager in February 1920. Ray became Fairclough's assistant for a while, eventually leaving Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
in June 1923 to take over at Doncaster Rovers when they were elected to the old Third Division (North). Ray never got them above a mid table finish, but when Fairclough resigned following Leeds United's relegation to Division Two at the end of 1926-27, the Leeds board recalled Ray as manager.
Ray steered Leeds back 2 the First Division at the first attempt in 1927–28, and then guided the club to 5th place in 1929–30 – their best placing until the arrival of Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
. However, the club was relegated the following season. Leeds were immediately promoted back to the First Division in 1931–32, and enjoyed two seasons at mid-table.
Leeds now had the England international
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
half back line of Willis Edwards
Willis Edwards
Willis Edwards was an English former professional football player and manager.-Biography:Willis Edwards was born in the mining village of Newton, North East Derbyshire, not far from Chesterfield and Alfreton...
, Ernest Hart
Ernest Hart
Ernest Arthur "Ernie" Hart was a long-serving British football player for Leeds United, Mansfield Town, Tunbridge Wells Rangers and the England national team in the 1930s.-Football career:...
and Wilf Copping
Wilf Copping
Wilfred "Wilf" Copping was an English footballer who played for Leeds United, Arsenal and the England national team.-Leeds United:...
, but in 1934 Copping was sold to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. The loss of such a key player had a large impact, and in 1934–35, Leeds finished 4th. Ray resigned on 5 March 1938, with Leeds flirting once more with relegation.
The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
recognised Ray's achievements by appointing him the first manager of a League representative team, for the 2–2 draw with the Scottish League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
in February 1938.
Bradford City and beyond
After Ray left Elland RoadElland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, he became Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
manager in April 1935. They avoided relegation from Division Two at the end of that season, but were relegated in 1937. Ray left the club a year later when he was relieved of responsibility for team selection.
He was then 62 and spent some time as chief scout for Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, but was out of football two years later, spending his time running a garage business and billiard clubs.