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Ray Crawford |
Born:
Portsmouth, England, 13/7/1936 
Full Name: Raymond Crawford
Position: Centre Forward
1st spell:
Town debut: Swansea City 2-4 (A) Division 2 4/10/1958
Final Town game: Everton 0-0 (H) Division 1 14/9/1963
2nd spell:
Town debut: Bolton Wanderers 1-3 (A) Division 2 12/3/1966
Final Town game: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 (A) Division 1 1/3/1969
Status: Retired
Full Name: Raymond Crawford
Position: Centre Forward
1st spell:
Town debut: Swansea City 2-4 (A) Division 2 4/10/1958
Final Town game: Everton 0-0 (H) Division 1 14/9/1963
2nd spell:
Town debut: Bolton Wanderers 1-3 (A) Division 2 12/3/1966
Final Town game: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 (A) Division 1 1/3/1969
Status: Retired
Club Appearance Record
| League |
Cup/ Play-offs |
Total | Other 1st Team |
Reserves | Youth/Third | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 1958-59 | 30 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 33 | 26 | 3 | 3 | |||||
| 1959-60 | 36 | 18 | 1 | 37 | 18 | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| 1960-61 | 42 | 40 | 2 | 44 | 40 | 4 | 7 | ||||||
| 1961-62 | 41 | 33 | 9 | 4 | 50 | 37 | 8 | 9 | |||||
| 1962-63 | 42 | 25 | 7 | 8 | 49 | 33 | 6 | 7 | |||||
| 1963-64 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |||||||
| 1965-66 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 1966-67 | 42 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 48 | 25 | 1 | ||||||
| 1967-68 | 39 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 42 | 21 | 3 | 3 | |||||
| 1968-69 | 30 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 32 | 17 | |||||||
| Totals | 320 | 204 | 33 | 23 | 353 | 227 | 33 | 35 | |||||
Career Appearance Record
| Club | Date Signed | Date Left | Fee | League | Cup/ Play-offs | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| Portsmouth | December 1954 | September 1958 | Juniors | 19 | 9 | - | - | - | - |
| Ipswich Town | September 1958 | September 1963 | £5,000 | See Above | |||||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | September 1963 | January 1965 | £55,000 | 57 | 39 | - | - | - | - |
| West Bromwich Albion | January 1965 | March 1966 | - | 14 | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| Ipswich Town | March 1966 | March 1969 | £30,000 | See Above | |||||
| Charlton Athletic | March 1969 | - | - | 21 | 7 | - | - | - | - |
| Kettering Town | - | June 1970 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Colchester United | June 1970 | - | - | 45 | 24 | - | - | - | - |
To view Ray Crawford's international record click here.
News of ITFC people past & present
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Your comments
| I went to school with one of his boys at St pancreas in whitton, missed the bus home so he took me home instead.Knew he was a famous footballer but to me he was a normal nice bloke Mark Foley 10-01-2012 |
| Colin Evans : I'm sure Ray would like to hear from you.
Ralph has his mobile number (see email address in Ralph's comments this page)
Adrian adrian 01-05-2011 |
| At the age of 13 I watched Ray play against Manchester City in Ipswich's first home game of the 1961-62 season. City had recently sold Denis Law to Torino but his replacement Peter Dobing scored twice late in the match to clinch a 4-2 win. As that followed a 4-3 defeat for Ipswich at Burnley we Northerners arrogantly dismissed Ramsey's side, believing they would quickly return to the second division. We were soon eating humble pie.
Ray Crawford was my type of player. He worked hard and scored lots of goals. From everything I've read about him he was a good man, as well as a fine footballer.
I became a soccer writer but mainly in the North-West and never got the chance to interview Ray. As I'm now writing a book about the 'good old days' of football I would welcome the opportunity to chat to him if I could be put in contact with him. Thanks. colin evans 04-03-2011 |
| Ray was my coach at Brighton and Hove Albion when I was an apprentice and a young pro. Always had a great enthusiasm for the game and even in training atthe age of about 40 had a good touch and great eye for goal. Was great fun on our annual youth trips to tournaments to Holland or Germany. Was very modest in general but loved to remind everyone of his two goals for Colchester against the then mighty Leeds in the F.A. Cup. A really nice man. Steve Barrett 28-02-2011 |
| Played with Ray many years ago when he was in his 40's. Still the best player on the pitch , he had no airs or graces and was a pleasure to play with,Great company & loved to talk about football all day long. It was a great shame when he was moved on as pompey youth coach in the 70's as he had made many good players a lot better.Also gave a good grounding in how to be a pro and enjoy your game.A Top player and aTop man. Didn't realise how great a goalscorer Ray was all through his career until i read his blog! john.threapleton 06-01-2011 |
| Adrian. I have been contacted by a number of people that would like a copy of Ray`s book. If you could pass on Ray`s number to me I can pass it on to them. Ralph (prideofanglia@gmail.com) Ralph 05-07-2010 |
| I`ve been a Town fan since Ipswich 5 Newport 0 in 1956, inc running on the pitch when we won the League in 1962, so Ray was a great hero for me in my younger days. I have a picture getting his autograph outside the `chicken shed` dressing room in the 60s...which I was able to show to him when I met him in person about 12 years ago!(that story is in his `Curse of the Jungle Boy` book) I`ve kept in touch with him since then and recently dropped in to see him at his home in Porchester, nr Fareham. Though he`s too modest to know it, he`s still a legend, keeping fit ,active with the media and charities...and full of great memories of the Town (and Portsmouth) He thinks one or two people might remember him (more like tens of thousands as I told him!)and he would be pleased to hear from them, especially if they haven`t bought his excellent book yet; he has some last copies available at £5, all proceeds to charity. He is happy to be contacted on his mobile, but I`m reluctant to put this up on any public website (tens of thousands of callers??!). If you`d like to call him, please post on here with a contact point and I can pass it on his number to you. adrian 18-06-2010 |
| I would like to thank everyone for all the nice comments they have written. For all my friends and fans, I`ll be at the Town sports shop at Portman Road on 13th December before the Cardiff City game, with more copies of my book `Curse of the Jungle Boy` - a great Christmas present for anyone who still hasn`t got a copy yet! Remember all profits are going to charity. I`m hoping to be joined by Ted Phillips and other former Town players, so I`ll see you there. Ray Crawford 26-11-2008 |
| Although I have lived in Leicester since 1969 I was born in Ipswich and lived on the town`s chantry estate until 1969.
i grew up with the legend of Ray imparted by my grandad, dad and uncles all die hard town fans,
I was fortunate to see Ray in his second spell with the town both in the second division championship side of 1967/68 and the season that followed it in the top flight.
He remains for me the best English centre forward I have seen superb on the ground and in the air, quick, brave, strong, crafty, imaginative, brilliant positional sense and a very hard working team man.
Reading his lovely autobiography, "The Curse Of The Jungle Boy" Ray the man emerges as a deeply principled, positive and fine human being who has endured lifes hard knocks with an absence of bitterness.
God Bless you Ray they sure as hell don`t make `em like you in football anymore.
It has been the highlight of my lifetime watching the game to have that experience graced by your presence. Andy Betts 26-07-2008 |
| What can one say about Ray that has not already been said. A great player who was a role model and a fine human being, how different from a lot of of the prima donnas of todays game!! nick gower 20-07-2008 |
| Ray used to live across the road from my parents in Kempton Road in Ipswich. My Dad used to say that Ray would go shopping in the town centre before playing at Portman Road on a Saturday. How time have changed. Paul 22-04-2008 |
| my dad is a big fan of his and he is mentioned in rays new autobiography as being a football journalist and commenting on how good he was,and ray was complimentry on what my dad wrote.Does anyone know how i could contact Ray so that my dad can meet him again as a surprise,any help would be appreciated. john smith 20-04-2008 |
| Ray was the nicest man I ever met in football and would never have known that he had such a great influence on me as a youth player at Pompey when he was the youth manager in 1976 / 77.
I was lucky enough to play up front with him for a Pompey XI against Petersfield Town when I was 15 and he was about 41 and he was still a fantastc player. He even knocked me out of the way to volley in a cracking goal..! Although I did score later. He and Reg Tyrell (Chief Scout) had signed me up the previous week.
He he helped me a lot over the next season - he was really kind when it came to releasing me in 1977 and I will always remember that.
gary budinger 24-03-2008 |
| I have met Ray twice and agree with your other correspondent regarding the fact that he is one of life's gentlemen. In November 1997 we met at a reunion for town players held at the East Anglian Daily Times in Ipswich. A photo appeared in the Evening Star from the event of Ray, Roy Stephenson, my Dad (Jim Farthing) and me. I ordered a copy and had it framed for my Dad. Today (1 December 2007)I bought and had signed by Ray a copy of his new book [Curse of the Jungle Boy] and he dedicated To Jim - Happy Birthday, as it's my Dad's 81st on 7th Dec. Jim knew Ray from the outset at Ipswich as he was a 'home and away' die-hard, helping staff put the kit baskets on and off trains etc. Jim last spoke to Ray at Kenny Malcolm's funeral, but was not able to make the trip to meet Ray today although he will be thrilled when he sees the book and the picture that Ray allowed me to take of him signing it! Jim recounts the final game of the championship season speaking of how Ray left Sleeuwenhoek of Aston Villa in his wake!! Jim has always said to me that Ray would have had more England caps if he had been selfish in the Internationls he did play in, but of course we know that he could never be that! David Farthing 01-12-2007 |
| I am now 48 years old and have known Ray and his family since I was 14,what I could say about this man would fill a book.
For me Ray is the best person I have ever met in football,nothing is to much trouble for him and he has time for everybody no matter who they are.
Ray for me was one of the most under talked about footballers of his time and being a was not his motive but just had fun playing the game and achieving great success.
If the great Sir alf had not become England Manager I would have expected Ray to have achieved more England Caps.
In his time he was up there with the greats such as Jimmy Greaves,Geoff hurst and Roger Hunt only but a few to mention.
From a personal point of view he was a great inspiration to myself as I was progressing in football and would always tell it me straight,he was only a phone call away if I needed a chat which even after 34 years we chat quite often about football.
Ray if you were playing today you would be worth a fortune and you would still have time for everybody I thank you personally for knowing you and hope are friendship continues for a very long time,your a great person and great family man and good Husband to your wife Carol and first Wife Eileen (RIP)
I hope that this book for a great course is a great success and all will enjoy the read.
Peter De-Sisto 28-11-2007 |
| i have supported and followed the town since the mid fifties without doubt as i keep telling my grandchildren ray crawford is still my favourite player of all time his goal scoring record will never be approached and he is held in such high esteem in suffolk he is a legend and such a important figure in so many great itfc teams. brian smith 04-09-2007 |
| I worked in the office at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club during the 70`s, when Ray was the coach. My daughter Julie went to school at Kings Manor in Shoreham By Sea with Ray`s daughter Jane and we became friends with the family, Eileen Ray`s wife, and two other daughters Suzanne and (I think) Lisa. Last time I saw Ray he was playing in a charity match on Lancing Beach Green, and I believe he and his wife had another child. The Manager of B & H Albion at that time was Pat Saward, who has unfortunately died, a lovely man, and like Ray a true gentleman, I believe Pat Saward went to live and work in Dubai. My daughter Julie`s husband used to work for United Biscuits, and on one occasion he met and spoke to Ray who I think was then also working as a rep for a food company. I would love to be able to get in touch with Ray and family to see how they are.I am still in touch also, with one of my oldest friends Rhoda Maling, who was Pat Saward`s secretary, and I have known her since I was fifteen and a half! I am now 72 but do remember the good times at the Goldstone Ground in Hove. Brighton and Hove Albion are still awaiting the decision whether or not they can have a new stadium built in Falmer, until they do, they will not achieve the large gates needed in order to purchase good players. Here`s hoping the decision will be the right one!! Brenda Street 04-05-2007 |
| One of two former England internationals (the other being Mark Chamberlain) to have managed Hampshire side Fareham Town! Anorak 02-02-2007 |
| Ray Crawford became the first ever player to score a hat-trick in four major club competitions when he netted three times in Colchester United’s 3-0 win against non-league Ringmer in the FA Cup 1st Round in November 1970. He hit five against Floriana for Town in the European Cup (September 1962), four for Town against Southampton in the League Cup (September 1967), and recorded the first of eight league hat-tricks for the Blue’s against Brighton in November 1958. In the FA Cup 5th Round, three months after the Ringmer game, Crawford scored two of the goals that famously saw The U’s beat Leeds 3-2. Anorak 04-01-2007 |
| Ray Crawford - what a great guy - I lived across the road from him and played with his daughter Suzanne - great times they were in the hot 70s.
My Dad worked at Pompey as a steward [ JIM SCARROTT ] and my Dad and Ray would talk football - gobble de gook to us females Im afriad.
Ray was always a gentleman and full of smiles - and he still is. He lives in Portsmouth and my family are still in contact with him.
Nice to see such cheesy photos of him are still about .
Regards
Julie Brutnell [ Nee SCARROTT ] Julie Brutnell [ Nee Scarrott ] 17-07-2006 |
| As a kid, my Dad would stand in the east stand, and me and my mates Jeremy Dalton and Robert? would sneek off into the south stand, was it called Rothmans? I wonder? Any way, we used to shout out get a goal Ray, on the corners, up he`d go and nod it in. He would always acknowledge the crowd with a thumbs up and a big smile. Nice guy.
Thanks Ray. Ian 11-09-2004 |
| PLAYED A CRACKING GAME FOR COLCHESTER UNITED AGAINST LEEDS UNITED. PAUL SKELLETT 23-02-2004 |
| My dad was in the army with Ray and played in goal against him (inter-division). At the moment that is all I know. I will try to find out more and get back to you. Regards Phil Watson 31-01-2004 |
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Reference
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