Wikipedia

Ray Graydon

Raymond Jack Graydon(born 21 July 1947) is an English formerfootballerandmanager.In a 16-year professional career in theEnglish Football LeagueandNorth American Soccer Leaguehe scored 139 goals in 484 league and cup appearances.

Ray Graydon
Personal information
Full name Raymond Jack Graydon[1]
Date of birth (1947-07-21)21 July 1947(age 77)[1]
Place of birth Bristol,England[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1971 Bristol Rovers 133 (33)
1971–1977 Aston Villa 193 (68)
1977–1978 Coventry City 20 (5)
1978 Washington Diplomats 26 (4)
1978–1981 Oxford United 42 (10)
Total 414 (120)
International career
1965–1966 England Youth
Managerial career
1998–2002 Walsall
2002–2004 Bristol Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Awinger,he began his career at hometown clubBristol Roversin 1965 and scored 38 goals from 155 league and cup competitions in a six-season stay. He was sold on toAston Villafor £50,000 in July 1971 and went on to help Villa to winpromotionout of theThird Divisionas champions in 1971–72 and then out of theSecond Divisionin 1974–75. He scored the only goal of the1975 League Cup finaland won theLeague Cupfor a second time in1977.He was also nominated for the Second DivisionPFA Team of the Yearin 1974–75 and featured on the losing side in the1972 FA Charity Shield.He was sold on toCoventry Cityfor a fee of £35,000 in 1977 and then moved to the United States to play for theWashington Diplomatsin 1978, where he picked up a runners-up medal for the1978 President's Cup Football Tournament.Later, he returned to England to play forOxford Unitedand retired in 1981.

GraydoncoachedatSouthampton,Oxford United,Watford,Queens Park RangersandPort Vale,before he was appointed manager ofWalsallin May 1998. He led the club to promotion out of the Second Division in 1998–99 before repeating the feat via theplay-offsin 2001. He lost his job in January 2002 and was appointed Bristol Rovers manager two months later. He was sacked in January 2004 and later briefly servedLeicester Cityas a first-team coach. In July 2009, Walsall fans voted to honour him with a star on theBirmingham Walk of Stars.

Playing career

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Bristol Rovers

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Graydon was born inBristoland began his career with his hometown team,Bristol Rovers,making eightThird Divisionappearances underBert Tannin the1965–66season. He featured three times in the1966–67season before scoring one goal in 13 appearances in the1967–68campaign.Fred Fordtook charge at theMemorial Stadiumfor the1968–69season, and Graydon scored nine goals from 36 appearances as the "Pirates" posted a 16th-place finish. Under newmanagerBill Dodgin Sr.,the "Gas" finished third in the1969–70campaign, with Graydon contributing 14 goals from 43 matches. Rovers slipped to sixth place in1970–71,with Graydon again scoring 14 goals from 52 appearances.

Aston Villa

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In July 1971,Graydon secured a £50,000 move toAston Villa,withcaptainBrian Godfreyalso moving in the opposite direction.[3][4]He missed just one of Villa's 46 league games in the1971–72season, scoring 14 goals as the club secured the Third Division title with a five-point margin overBrighton & Hove Albion.[5]Derby CountyandLeeds Uniteddeclined the chance to play in the1972 FA Charity Shield,so Villa accepted the invitation to playManchester CityatVilla Park,losing the match 1–0 following apenaltyfromFrancis Lee.Gradyon went on to score ten goals from 37 appearances during the1972–73campaign, helpingVic Crowe's side to a third-place finish in theSecond Division.He then scored eight goals from 26 matches in the1973–74season, as Villa dropped to 14th-place.

AfterRon Saunderssucceeded Crowe as manager in June 1974, Graydon managed to score 11 goals in the first 12 league matches of the1974–75season.[3]The "Villans" then overcameEverton,Crewe Alexandra,Hartlepool United,Colchester UnitedandChesterto reach the1975 League Cup finalatWembley Stadium.[3]They facedNorwich Cityin the final, and Graydon scored the only goal of the game on 79 minutes, converting a penalty won byChris Nicholl;his penalty was saved byKevin Keelan,but Graydon managed to score from therebound.[6][3]He finished the season as the club's top-scorer, claiming 27 goals from 50 appearances, as Villa securedpromotionas the division's runners-up. He was named on the Second DivisionPFA Team of the Year,alongside teammateJohn Gidman.[7]

Graydon again finished as the club's top-scorer in1975–76,scoring 14 goals from 44 appearances as Villa posted a 16th-place finish in theFirst Division.He then scored seven goals from 23 matches in the1976–77campaign, helping the club to a fourth-place finish, and he also picked up a secondLeague Cupwinner's medal. Villa beat Manchester City,Norwich City,Wrexham,MillwallandQueens Park Rangers,before facing Everton inthe final.Graydon was unable to play in the Wembley final or thereplayatHillsborough Stadiumdue to injury but was able to make the starting eleven for the second replay atOld Trafford.[6]Again the teams took the game intoextra time,beforeBrian Littlescored the winning goal for a 3–2 victory. At the end of the season, Saunders accepted an offer for Graydon fromLeicester City,though the move fell through after the player met Leicester managerFrank McLintock.[5]

"I was given permission to get to the middle or to the near post and that is where a lot of my goals came from – from being in the box. It sounds so simple. But it took a lot work and everyone in the team had to know their jobs and the runs each of us were going to make. Now I can look back on some wonderful memories. I joined Villa in the Third Division and we went up three, two one. I then won two League Cup finals. It was fairytale stuff and I loved every minute."

— Graydon, speaking in November 2017, reflecting on his time inBirmingham.[6]

Later career

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Graydon joinedCoventry Cityfor the1977–78season for a fee of £35,000.[8]Although in and out of the side, he still made a significant contribution to what would be one of the most exciting campaigns in the club's 34-year top-flight history. ManagerGordon Milneplayed the whole season with a 4–2–4formationwith Graydon andTommy Hutchisonplaying as out-and-out wingers. The side also boastedMick Ferguson,Ian Wallace,Terry Yorath,Graham Oakey,Bobby McDonaldandJim Blyth.[9]

The "Sky Blues" finished sixth in the First Division and Graydon leftHighfield Roadat the end of the season and thereafter had a spell in theNorth American Soccer Leaguewith theWashington Diplomats.[2]The Diplomats finished behind theNew York Cosmosin the Eastern Division of the National Conference in the1978season, but qualified for the play-offs, where they were beaten by thePortland Timbers.Graydon scored four goals from 26 NASL games.[2]The club also competed in the1978 President's Cup Football Tournament,finishing as runners-up toSouth Koreaafter a 6–2 defeat in the final at theSeoul Stadium.

He joinedOxford Unitedin November 1978, scoring five goals from 19 matches in the1978–79season as the "U's" posted an 11th-place finish in the Third Division under the stewardship ofMick Brown.Bill Aspreythen took United to a 17th-place finish, with Graydon contributing five goals from 19 games in1979–80.The1980–81season was to prove his final one as a player, as he made only one start in theFA Cupand threesubstituteappearances in the league.

Coaching career

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After retiring as a player, Graydon worked as acoachatSouthamptonalongsideDave Merrington,and as assistant toMaurice EvansatOxford United,most notably helping Oxford to the1986 League Cup.[10]He went on to become theyouth teamcoach atWatford.[11]He led them to victory in theFA Youth Cupin 1988–89, with a 2–1 victory overManchester City;his team includedDavid Jamesas goalkeeper.[12]He was given the opportunity to manageWalsallin 1989, but turned it down, with the job instead going toJohn Barnwell.[12]He also went on to work as a youth team coach atQueens Park Rangers.[13]He spent the1997–98season assistingJohn RudgeatPort Vale,helping to steer the "Valiants" away from the First Divisionrelegationzone.[13]

Walsall

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ReplacingJan Sørensenas Walsall manager in May 1998, Graydon led Walsall to promotion out of the Second Division as runners-up behindFulhamin1998–99.Fulham chairmanMohamed Al-Fayedhad given managerKevin Keegan£12 million to spend on Fulham, whereas Graydon spent only £30,000 to bring inGillinghamdefenderRichard Green.[13]Manchester City andReadinghad also spent millions, yet finished behind the "Saddlers".[13]Walsall had been slated as one of the bookies' favourites for relegation before the season began, having finished in 19th-place in1997–98and selling French starsRoger BoliandJean-François Péron.[13][14]Within theLeague Managers Association,Graydon came behind onlyAlex Fergusonin the poll forManager of the Season.[14]He stuck to a rigid 4–4–2 system, and picked up 12 away wins operating a counter-attacking system.[13]His best signing proved to be midfielderDarren Wrack,who came on afree transferfromGrimsby Townand went on to be voted onto thePFA Team of the Year.[13]He also brought in left-backNeil Pointonand strikerAndy Rammell.[14]He maintained strict discipline, stressing that "fitness is absolutely vital".[13]

"Lots of people would come in here and kick the desk because they didn't have money to spend. I knew the position and accepted what the chairman told me: that he'd make cash available if he had it. In fact, I've made him £270,000 because I've sold two at £150,000 each."

— Graydon achieved huge success at theBescot Stadiumon a small budget.[13]

He could not keep the club in the First Division, as they were relegated at the end of the1999–2000season, finishing three points adrift of safety. He was named asSecond Division Manager of the Monthfor August 2000.[15]In the2000–01season, Graydon led Walsall to a fourth-place finish and then to theSecond Division play-off finalat theMillennium Stadium– defeating Reading 3–2 after extra time to regain promotion to the First Division at the first attempt. Instead of celebrating immediately, Graydon embraced Reading managerAlan Pardewand shook the hand of each Reading player, including former Walsall captain,Adi Viveash.[16]His second spell in the First Division was just as unsuccessful as the first. After a dismal performance in the JanuaryBlack Country derbywithWest Bromwich Albion,Graydon was sacked.[17][18]His successor,Colin Lee,kept Walsall up at the end of the2001–02season.

Bristol Rovers

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On 25 April 2002, Graydon returned to his hometown club to manage Bristol Rovers, who had finished second-from-bottom of theEnglish Football Leaguein2001–02,warning that "if you have a sick patient then surgery is required and, in this instance, I have to administer that surgery."[19]The following day he published his retained list, releasing 13 players from the club.[20]He led Rovers to a 20th-place finish in the Third Division in2002–03,before he was sacked in January 2004, with the club then in 12th-place and fans beginning to turn on him and his "negative football".[21][22][23]

Later career

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Since leaving Bristol Rovers, Graydon accompaniedHoward Wilkinsonto manage inChinaduring 2004.[14]In February 2006, Graydon was appointed as first-team coach atLeicester Cityby managerRob Kelly.[24]He left the club at the end of the2005–06season.[25]In July 2009, Walsall fans voted to honour him with a star on theBirmingham Walk of Starson Broad Street.[26]

Career statistics

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Playing statistics

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Source:[27]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bristol Rovers 1965–66 Third Division 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
1966–67 Third Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
1967–68 Third Division 12 1 0 0 1 0 13 1
1968–69 Third Division 28 6 7 3 1 0 36 9
1969–70 Third Division 40 13 2 1 1 0 43 14
1970–71 Third Division 42 13 3 0 7 1 52 14
Total 133 33 12 4 10 1 155 38
Aston Villa 1971–72 Third Division 45 14 1 0 6 1 52 15
1972–73 Second Division 32 9 1 0 4 1 37 10
1973–74 Second Division 23 8 2 0 1 0 26 8
1974–75 Second Division 37 19 3 2 10 6 50 27
1975–76 First Division 38 12 2 1 4 1 44 14
1976–77 First Division 18 6 1 0 4 1 23 7
Total 193 68 10 3 29 10 232 81
Coventry City 1977–78 First Division 20 5 1 0 3 1 24 6
Washington Diplomats[2] 1978 North American Soccer League 26 4 – – – – 26 4
Oxford United 1978–79 Third Division 18 5 1 0 0 0 19 5
1979–80 Third Division 21 5 1 0 2 0 24 5
1980–81 Third Division 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
Total 42 10 3 0 2 0 47 10
Career total 414 120 26 7 44 12 484 139

Managerial statistics

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Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L Win %
Walsall 5 May 1998 22 January 2002 199 79 49 71 039.7 [27][28]
Bristol Rovers 25 April 2002 16 January 2004 81 22 22 37 027.2 [27][28]
Total 280 101 71 108 036.1

Honours

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Pavement Plaque on Broad Street

Player

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Individual

Aston Villa

Washington Diplomats

Manager

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Individual

Walsall

References

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  1. ^abc"Ray Graydon".Barry Hugman's Footballers.Retrieved29 March2017.
  2. ^abcd"Ray Graydon".North American Soccer League Players.Retrieved13 December2015.
  3. ^abcd"Ray Graydon treasures his Aston Villa memories".Birmingham Mail.27 February 2010.Retrieved26 December2017.
  4. ^"ABOUT Ray Graydon".lerwill-life.org.uk.Retrieved26 December2017.
  5. ^abAbbott, Colin."Villan on the Spot: Ray Graydon".avfc.co.uk.Retrieved26 December2017.
  6. ^abcdefgMasi, Joseph (4 November 2017)."Big Interview: Ray Graydon's Aston Villa years brought Wembley joy".Shropshire Star.Retrieved26 December2017.
  7. ^abLynch, Tony (1995).The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes.Random House. p. 140.ISBN0-09-179135-9.
  8. ^"Ray Graydon joins up with CCFPA: Coventry City Former Players Association || CCFPA".ccfpa.co.uk.Retrieved26 December2017.
  9. ^"Ray Graydon up for the Saddlers on Saturday".Coventry City Former Players Association.Retrieved13 December2015.
  10. ^Fissler, Neil (26 August 2014)."Where Are They Now? Oxford United 1986 Milk Cup Winners".The Football League Paper.Retrieved13 December2015.
  11. ^"CONGRATULATIONS are about to be handed out to former Watford youth team Boss Ray Graydon, who won th".Watford Observer.29 May 1999.Retrieved26 December2017.
  12. ^ab"Exclusive - Ray Graydon Interview! | VitalFootball.co.uk".VitalFootball.co.uk.Retrieved26 December2017.
  13. ^abcdefghiShaw, Phil (20 April 1999)."Football: Graydon manages to inspire Walsall".The Independent.Retrieved26 December2017.
  14. ^abcde"Walsall 1998-99".When Saturday Comes.Retrieved13 December2015.
  15. ^ab"Manager of the Month".League Managers Association.Retrieved1 December2015.
  16. ^ab"Walsall break Reading hearts".BBC Sport.27 May 2001.Retrieved27 May2001.
  17. ^"Walsall sack Graydon".BBC Sport.22 January 2002.Retrieved22 January2002.
  18. ^"Empty glass, Blanc career, and Vacant job".Guardian.22 January 2002.Retrieved3 September2017.
  19. ^"Graydon new Rovers Boss".BBC Sport.25 April 2002.Retrieved25 April2002.
  20. ^"Graydon swings swift axe".BBC Sport.26 April 2002.Retrieved26 December2017.
  21. ^"Pirates part company with Graydon".BBC Sport.20 January 2004.Retrieved20 January2004.
  22. ^"Graydon shrugs off criticism".BBC Sport.20 October 2003.Retrieved26 December2017.
  23. ^"Graydon leaves Bristol Rovers".The Guardian.20 January 2004.Retrieved26 December2017.
  24. ^"Graydon joins Foxes coaching team".BBC Sport.20 February 2006.Retrieved26 December2017.
  25. ^"Miller appointed Leicester coach".BBC Sport.Retrieved13 December2015.
  26. ^Bradley, Steve (23 October 2012)."Ray Graydon scoops Broad Street Walk of Stars honour".Birmingham Mail.Retrieved13 December2015.
  27. ^abcRay Graydonat the English National Football Archive(subscription required)
  28. ^abRay Graydon management career statisticsatSoccerbase
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