George Ray
Ray with Crewe Alexandra in 2018
Personal information
Full name George Edward Ray[1]
Date of birth (1993-10-13) 13 October 1993[2]
Place of birth Warrington, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Barrow
Number 5
Youth career
2004–2011 Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2019 Crewe Alexandra 137 (5)
2012 → Leek Town (loan) 12 (1)
2019–2021 Tranmere Rovers 26 (1)
2021–2022 Exeter City 19 (1)
2022 → Leyton Orient (loan) 9 (0)
2022– Barrow 52 (3)
International career‡
2013–2014 Wales U21 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:56, 25 November 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:21, 5 September 2014 (UTC)[3]

George Edward Ray (born 13 October 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Barrow. Born in England, he has represented Wales at youth level.

Ray started his professional career at Crewe Alexandra and made his first-team debut in the 2013 Football League Trophy Final, becoming the first player to make his professional debut in a cup final held at Wembley.

Club career

Crewe Alexandra

Ray came through the Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy to sign professional forms in 2011.[4] He was loaned out to Northern Premier League side Leek Town in the 2011–12 season.[4] He made his senior debut for the "Railwaymen" at Wembley Stadium on 7 April 2013, in the Football League Trophy final victory over Southend United[5] – the first player to make his professional debut in a Wembley cup final.[6] On 11 February 2014, Ray signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal at Crewe Alexandra.[6]

In March 2017, Ray revealed that he had considered leaving Crewe, declaring "the first six months (of the current season) were the worst times of my career," but was now playing for a new contract under Crewe's new manager. David Artell had replaced Steve Davis in January 2017 and he recalled Ray to the first team and then made him team captain following an injury to Danny Hollands in February 2017.[7] On 9 May 2017, Crewe announced that Ray had been offered a new contract by the club,[8] and in June 2017 he signed a two-year deal running to June 2019.[9]

Ray suffered a back injury at the end of the 2016-2017 season that required prolonged treatment[10] and kept him out of first-team action until early 2018. He made his first appearance of the season at Lincoln City on 24 February 2018.[11] On 5 May 2018, Ray appeared in a Crewe starting 11 who were all Crewe Academy graduates, one of two players (with Ben Garratt) to feature both times this has been achieved.[12] At the end of the 2018-19 season, he declined a new deal and was set to leave the club.[13]

Tranmere Rovers

On 24 June 2019, Ray signed a two-year deal with League One side Tranmere Rovers, becoming Micky Mellon's first signing of the season.[14] He made his debut in an opening day loss to Rochdale.[15] He scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy tie against Aston Villa U21 on 8 October 2019.[16]

Exeter City

On 28 June 2021, Ray joined League Two side Exeter City on a free transfer following his release from Tranmere Rovers.[17] He made his debut on the opening day of the season, helping his new side keep a clean sheet in a goalless draw with Bradford City.[18] He scored his first goal for the club on 27 November 2021, in a 1–1 draw with Rochdale.[19]

Leyton Orient (loan)

On 31 January 2022, Ray joined League Two Leyton Orient on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[20]

Barrow

On 27 June 2022, Ray joined League Two club Barrow on a two-year deal having had his Exeter contract terminated by mutual consent.[21][22]

International career

Ray was called up to the Wales under-21 side in March 2013, at the age of 19.[23]

Career statistics

As of 28 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leek Town (loan) 2011–12[24] NPL Division One North 12100—1[lower-alpha 1]1132
Crewe Alexandra 2012–13[25] League One 4000001[lower-alpha 2]050
2013–14[26] 90001000100
2014–15[27] 352002000372
2015–16[28] 22010101[lower-alpha 2]0250
2016–17[29] League Two 23100202[lower-alpha 2]0271
2017–18[30] 120000000120
2018–19[31] 32210003[lower-alpha 2]0362
Total 13752060701525
Tranmere Rovers 2019–20[32] League One 15010104[lower-alpha 2]1211
2020–21[33] League Two 11110006[lower-alpha 2]0181
Total 2612010101392
Exeter City 2021–22[34] League Two 191301000231
Leyton Orient (loan) 2021–22[34] League Two 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Barrow 2022–23[35] League Two 36010003[lower-alpha 2]0400
2023–24[36] League Two 143101010173
Career total 25311909022229313

Honours

Crewe Alexandra

Tranmere Rovers

References

  1. ↑ "Notification of shirt numbers: Tranmere Rovers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 71. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 "George Ray". 11v11. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "UEFA Under 21 Matches / Gemau Ryngwladol UEFA Dan 21 v. Lithuania & San Marino" (PDF). FAW. 4 October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Profile". crewealex.net. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  5. 1 2 Osborne, Chris (7 April 2013). "Crewe 2–0 Southend". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 "George Ray Signs New Deal". Crewe Alexandra FC. 11 February 2014.
  7. ↑ Morse, Peter (28 March 2017). "Crewe Alex: 'I wanted out – but now I'd love to stay' – George Ray". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  8. ↑ Crewe Alexandra Retained List 2017, CreweAlex.net. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "George Ray Signs New Crewe Contract". CreweAlex.net. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "George Ray: Crewe Alexandra defender steps up rehab after back fracture". BBC Sport. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Lincoln City 1-4 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Crewe Alexandra 2-1 Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  13. ↑ Morse, Peter (7 May 2019). "Crewe Alex: Ben Garratt released and George Ray to exit as retained list announced". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  14. ↑ "George Ray: Tranmere Rovers sign Crewe Alexandra captain on a two-year deal". BBC Sport. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  15. ↑ "Tranmere 2-3 Rochdale". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "Tranmere 2-1 Aston Villa U21". tranmererovers.co.uk. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "✍️ George Ray signs for Exeter City". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "Exeter City 0–0 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Rochdale 1–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "GEORGE RAY SIGNS FOR THE O'S". www.leytonorient.com. 31 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "✍️ George Ray departs". www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  22. ↑ "Barrow Land Centre Back Ray". www.barrowafc.com. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  23. ↑ Smith, Peter (18 March 2013). "Crewe Alex starlet gets Wales Under-21s call-up". The Sentinel. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  24. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2011/2012 for Leek Town". Leek Town F.C. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  26. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  27. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  28. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  29. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  30. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  31. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  32. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  33. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  34. 1 2 "Games played by George Ray in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  36. ↑ "Games played by George Ray in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  37. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (14 March 2021). "Sunderland 1–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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