John Ray

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

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. Before this, he worked as a club secretary at Cramlington Town FC. He was there for a long time when the club started and helped build the foundation of the club. There is a statue of him outside the Cramlington Town Arena in Cramlington. 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.

Following his solitary appearance, he went out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers alongside fellow youth product Ian Vasey 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.