Ray Wallace (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Raymond George "Ray" Wallace (born 2 October 1969 in Lewisham
) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League
and Premier League for Southampton
, Leeds United
, Swansea City, Reading
, Stoke City
and Hull City
, in the Scottish Football League
for Airdrieonians
, and in the League of Ireland
for Drogheda United. He was capped
for the England under-21 team
.
as an apprentice in 1986 along with his twin brother Rod
. Elder brother Danny
had already become an established member of the Southampton first team. In the early part of his career Ray Wallace was regarded as promising talent, if slightly lightweight, playing as right fullback or right defensive midfield.
On 22 October 1988, he made his Southampton debut, replacing Gerry Forrest
at The Dell
against Sheffield Wednesday alongside his two brothers; this was the first time three brothers had played in the same team in the Football League First Division
for 67 years. He was a virtual ever-present until September 1989, when he lost his place to Jason Dodd
through suspension, after which he played only once more for the Saints. While a Southampton player, he won four caps for the England under-21 team
.
signed Wallace and twin brother Rod in the same transaction, with Ray being valued at £100,000. Rod Wallace formed a successful strike partnership with Lee Chapman
, but Ray made only seven appearances for the club, and spent time on loan to Swansea City and Reading
.
on a free transfer. In his first season with Stoke, he played 20 League games, and spent a spell on loan to Hull City
. Over the next three seasons he rarely missed a game, shared the club's Player of the Season award (with Mark Prudhoe
) in 1995–96, and by the end of the 1998–99 season had made 179 League appearances.
Airdrieonians
(one game in the Scottish First Division
),
Altrincham
(one game in the Conference
, in which he was brought down for a penalty
from which Altrincham scored the only goal of the game),
Winsford United
,
League of Ireland
club Drogheda United,
and Witton Albion
.
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
) is an English former footballer who played in 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...
and Premier League for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, 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...
, Swansea City, Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, in the Scottish Football 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...
for Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
, and in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
for Drogheda United. He was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the England under-21 team
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
.
Southampton
Wallace signed for Southampton Football ClubSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
as an apprentice in 1986 along with his twin brother Rod
Rod Wallace
Rodney Seymour "Rod" Wallace is a retired English footballer.Wallace played predominantly as a striker or part of an attacking forward line. He started his career at Southampton in 1988 playing 128 league games scoring 45 goals. This form earned him a transfer to Leeds where he won the first...
. Elder brother Danny
Danny Wallace (footballer)
David Lloyd "Danny" Wallace is an English former footballer who played for Southampton, Manchester United, Millwall, Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers. He won one full cap for England. His football career was ended prematurely by the effects of multiple sclerosis.-Southampton:Wallace was born...
had already become an established member of the Southampton first team. In the early part of his career Ray Wallace was regarded as promising talent, if slightly lightweight, playing as right fullback or right defensive midfield.
On 22 October 1988, he made his Southampton debut, replacing Gerry Forrest
Gerry Forrest
Gerald "Gerry" Forrest is a retired English footballer who played at full-back for Rotherham United and Southampton.-Football career:...
at The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
against Sheffield Wednesday alongside his two brothers; this was the first time three brothers had played in the same team in the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for 67 years. He was a virtual ever-present until September 1989, when he lost his place to Jason Dodd
Jason Dodd
Jason Robert Dodd is an English former footballer and manager, who spent most of his playing career with Southampton, where he was briefly First-Team Coach...
through suspension, after which he played only once more for the Saints. While a Southampton player, he won four caps for the England under-21 team
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
.
Leeds United
In May 1991, Leeds UnitedLeeds 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...
signed Wallace and twin brother Rod in the same transaction, with Ray being valued at £100,000. Rod Wallace formed a successful strike partnership with Lee Chapman
Lee Chapman
Lee Chapman is an English former footballer who scored almost 200 first-team goals as a striker. He was best known for his spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United...
, but Ray made only seven appearances for the club, and spent time on loan to Swansea City and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
.
Stoke City
Before the 1994–95 season, Wallace joined Division One club Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on a free transfer. In his first season with Stoke, he played 20 League games, and spent a spell on loan to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
. Over the next three seasons he rarely missed a game, shared the club's Player of the Season award (with Mark Prudhoe
Mark Prudhoe
Mark Prudhoe is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for 17 different Football League clubs from his first club Sunderland to his last Macclesfield Town. His most successful spell in the game came at Darlington, where he picked up winner's medals for both the Football Conference...
) in 1995–96, and by the end of the 1998–99 season had made 179 League appearances.
Later career
He went on to play for clubs includingAirdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
(one game in the Scottish First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
),
Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
(one game in the Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, in which he was brought down for a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
from which Altrincham scored the only goal of the game),
Winsford United
Winsford United F.C.
Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...
,
League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
club Drogheda United,
and Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
.
External links
- Ray Wallace League stats at Neil Brown's site