Ray: Richard (Dick)

1905-1907 (Leeds City Player Details)

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Born: Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire: 04-02-1876

Debut: v Bradford City (a): 02-09-1905

Height & Weight: Unknown

Dick Ray was a very large influence over the Football of the City of Leeds. He was Leeds City’s first Captain and had two spells as Manager of Leeds United. A native of the Potteries he began his football career with local club Audley, before joining Macclesfield in 1893. He moved to Burslem Port Vale a year later, in May 1894, and scored once in twenty-nine League games and also played one F.A. Cup match. He made his League debut for them in a 1-0 victory over Walsall Town Swifts on 1st September 1894. He was a solid performer for the Valiants, however, he failed to turn up for one match after misreading a train timetable and was fined five shillings for his trouble. He departed in the summer of 1895 for Second Division Crewe Alexandra but did not make the first team before signing for Second Division Manchester City in May 1896. He had a successful four years at Maine Road, scoring three goals in eighty-three League games and featuring in six F.A. Cup ties. He won a Second Division Championship medal with City in 1898-99. He played with Non-League Macclesfield from 1900 before rejoining Second Division Manchester City in September 1902, but left for Coventry City before making a first team appearance. He joined Second Division Stockport County in 1903, making thirty-four League and two F.A. Cup appearances in the one season at Edgeley Park. In 1904 he joined Second Division Chesterfield Town and played thirty-one League and three F.A. Cup games. After Gilbert Gillies, his manager at Chesterfield, was appointed as Leeds City's first manager in March 1905, Ray followed him to Elland Road, in July 1905. Leeds City had just been elected to the Second Division and Ray played at Left Back in the club’s first-ever Football League appearance at Valley Parade in September 1905. He was a dependable full back, and even captained the side before leaving the club when the board declined to renew Gillies' contract in March 1908. He played thirty-eight League and six F.A. Cup games while at Elland Road. He finished his professional football days with Midland League Huddersfield Town and there he retired from playing in 1912. He served in the RASC during World War I, but remained close to Leeds City, however, and was invited to become a member of the original committee that was elected to 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 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 in July 1927. He steered Leeds back to the First Division at the first attempt in 1927-28. He then guided the club to fifth place in the top flight in 1929-30, which was 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 in mid-table. Leeds now had the all England International half back line of Willis Edwards, Ernie Hart and Wilf Copping. When Copping was sold to Arsenal, the loss of such a key player had a large impact, and in 1934-35, Leeds finished eighteenth. Ray resigned on 5th March 1935, 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 Football League at Ibrox Stadium in February 1934. After Ray left Elland Road, 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 sixty-two 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. Ray was an all-round sportsman and played for Laisterdyke in the Bradford Cricket League. He died in Leeds on 29th December 1952.