Middleton Ray Image 1 Chesterfield 1948

Description

The Boldons, County Durham born goalkeeper Ray Middleton began his football career with Ditchburn Sports and played for Washington Chemical Works and Boldon Colliery Welfare in 1935, and Washington Church Institute and North Shields in 1936, before signing for Second Division club Chesterfield in October 1937, making his Football League debut against Blackburn Rovers in September 1938, holding his place in The Spireites’ side for the rest of the season. However the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 severely interrupted his career, After the War he returned to Saltergate and was an ever present for five successive seasons once peacetime football resumed. He was rewarded with 5 England B caps in 1950,

The Spireites’ relegation in 1951 saw him leave the club to move to top-flight Derby County that June after 265 matches for Chesterfield, where he made 120 appearances for The Rams over the next three seasons, being an ever present for his sixth successive season in 1951-52. Released by Derby in the 1954 close season he moved to non-league Boston United as a player-manager, even leading the club to a famous 6-1 win over former club Derby in the FA Cup.

He attracted the attention of Hartlepools United who appointed him as their manager in May 1957. He began promisingly with a 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley although his record proved mediocre and after a 5-1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers in October 1959 he left the club the following month. Middleton returned to Boston, initially for a spell as manager before taking up the post of secretary. He held this position until his death in 1977.

His older brother Matt Middleton was also a goalkeeper who played both sides of the War for Southport, Sunderland, Plymouth Argyle, Bradford City and York City,