Raymond Bailey

Raymond Reginald Bailey (born 16 May 1944) is an English former cricketer and footballer. He was born in Bedford, Bedfordshire, where he was educated and proved himself a sporting all rounder by captaining his school rugby team and playing in goal for the Bedfordshire Schools football team.

Cricket As a cricketer, Bailey was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium and who could on occasion play as a wicket-keeper. He made his debut in county cricket for Bedfordshire against Staffordshire in the 1963 Minor Counties Championship. In 1964, he made his first-class debut for Northamptonshire in the 1964 County Championship against Kent. The following season, Bailey made his List A debut against Gloucestershire in the 1965 Gillette Cup. A capable bowler, Bailey played 48 first-class matches for Northamptonshire between 1964 and 1972. Despite being a respectable performer with the ball, Bailey made infrequent appearances in first-class cricket for the county, making no more than 10 appearances in a season. His debut season was perhaps his most successful, with him taking 17 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 16.05, with 3 five wicket hauls. This season saw his best bowling figures, 5/25 against Hampshire. In his second season for Northamptonshire, Bailey was selected to play for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Yorkshire at Lord's, with him taking 3 wickets in the match.

The beginning of his career saw the introduction and onset of List A cricket. He began making regular appearances in this format for Northamptonshire in the 3rd season of the John Player League. He made a total of 38 appearances in limited-overs cricket for the county, with his last match coming against Sussex in the 1973 John Player League. It was for Northamptonshire that he took his only five wicket haul in List A cricket, taking 6/22 against Hampshire in the 1972 John Player League, a season in which he took 25 wickets at an average of 15.16, the only season in which he took more than 8 wickets. His 6/22 is the fourth best innings bowling figures for Northamptonshire in List A cricket. He left Northamptonshire at the end of the 1973 season.

He joined Buckinghamshire in 1975, making his debut for the county against Bedfordshire in the Minor Counties Championship. He played Minor counties cricket for Buckinghamshire from 1975 to 1980, making 46 Minor Counties Championship appearances. where Hayward had been appointed manager. after which he left Gillingham at the end of that season. While at Gillingham, he had played 178 matches and scored 10 goals.

A move to Southern League side Romford followed in December 1971, before moves to Hitchin Town and Dunstable Town. Following the end of his playing career, Bailey had a spell in charge of Milton Keynes City.