Ray Williams

Raymond Williams (born 30 August 1946) is an English former footballer who played as a striker.

Starting his career at Stoke City, he did not make a first-team appearance and so moved on to Stafford Rangers, and also worked as a teacher. He helped Rangers to lift the FA Trophy in 1972 and to top the Northern Premier League in 1971–72 before he returned to the Football League with Port Vale in July 1972. He scored 40 goals in 194 appearances for the club over the next five years and was given the club's Player of the Year award in 1972–73. He returned to the non-League scene with Northwich Victoria in March 1977. He was appointed as the club's manager the following year. He achieved massive success with the club, winning the Cheshire Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup twice, the Alliance Premier League Cup once, and also picking up runner-up medals in the Northern Premier League, Northern Premier League Challenge Cup, and Cheshire Senior Cup. He returned to Port Vale in 1980 and worked there as a chief scout until 2011. He worked as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke for several years.

Career Stafford Rangers Williams played youth team football for Stoke City before joining non-League Stafford Rangers under manager Roy Chapman. He helped the club lift the FA Trophy in 1972 as they defeated Barnet 3–0 at Wembley. His 47 goals also helped the club to the Northern Premier League title in 1971–72. finally, In the same year, the club beat Stoke City in the Staffordshire Senior Cup final to complete a non-League treble.

Port Vale He was signed by Port Vale in July 1972 for a £3,000 fee. He soon slotted into Gordon Lee's Third Division side. With 11 goals in 49 games in 1972–73, he was the club's joint-top scorer, along with Sammy Morgan. Vale finished in sixth place, four points shy of second. The team continued the run until a fifth round defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park. He then took up a scouting role at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but after making up with Vale he once again became chief scout there. He is credited with discovering talents such as Robbie Earle, Mark Bright and Ian Taylor. He lost his job again in the 2002–03 season after the club entered Administration; though he later was re-hired once finances were more stable. The club announced that his contract would not be renewed beyond June 2011, partly due to Williams' decision to back prospective investor Mo Chaudry over existing chairman Bill Bratt.

He qualified as a Mathematics teacher, and taught at Berry Hill High School during his Stafford Rangers days.

He worked as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke for several years.

Personal life Williams married medical practitioner Linda and had three children. He worked his treatment at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire around his commitments to Port Vale. He underwent radiotherapy treatment through the summer of 2010, and was given the all-clear in September 2010.

Career statistics

Honours Individual Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year: 1972–73

Stafford Rangers Northern Premier League: 1971–72 FA Trophy: 1971–72 Staffordshire Senior Cup: 1971-72

Northwich Victoria Northern Premier League second-place promotion: 1976–77 Cheshire Senior Cup: 1977 & 1979; runner-up: 1978 Staffordshire Senior Cup: 1979 & 1980 Northern Premier League Challenge Cup runner-up: 1979 Alliance Premier League Cup runner-up: 1980