RIP Ray Charnley 1935 - 2009

Sad news regarding another Shrimp's legend passing away so soon after former skipper Jack Keen's death last month. Ray was a free scoring centre-forward with superb aerial prowess who went on to play for Blackpool, PNE, Wrexham , Bradford Park Avenue and England, picking up a single cap in a game versus the French in October, 1962.

A well loved figure on the terraces of Christie who will be sadly missed.

Ray in action for Blackpool

Extract from Ray's biography in the Morecambe FC book: 'Light at The End of The Tunnel: A Potted History of Morecambe FC' [ISBN-13: 978-0954625122]

Charnley, Ray: 1954-57 and 1970-72. Centre-Forward 137+3 (36+1 cup) apps; 76 (22 cup) goals. A local lad who went on to play for England, Ray's story is a real local hero tale.

Born on May 29, 1935 Ray, who had failed to impress in a trial at Preston North End,joined Morecambe from Bolton-le-Sands for just £15 in September 1954. His debut was a 2-5 away defeat at Lancaster City in a Combination Cup game on September 29, 1954 but things got much better from there.

He had three excellent seasons at Christie Park and scored regularly. In the 1956/57season he scored 31 league goals in 37 apps and also added 12 cup goals in 15 games, helping the Shrimps to reach the Combination Cup final where they lost to Horwich.

Shortly after that game he was signed by Blackpool for £750 in May 1957 and became a Bloomfield Road favourite. He was Blackpool's top scorer for seven out of the next 10 seasons, the best being in 1961/62 with 30 goals.

His eye for goal saw him earn his one and only England cap on October 3, 1962 in a 1-1 draw against France at Hillsborough in a game watched by a crowd of 35,380.

In December 1967 after scoring 193 goals in 363 league games for Blackpool Ray joined Preston North End where he scored 4 times in 23 games.

He then moved to Wrexham in July 1968 before ending his Football League career at Bradford Park Avenue in January 1969 where he scored 15 goals in 59 games.

Ray returned to Christie Park in 1970 under Ron Clayton who was sacked after a 3-1 home defeat by Stafford Rangers on August 15, 1970. When Ken Waterhouse returned as manager in December 1970 Ray did not fit in with his plans and although he only made 24 league starts he still finished the season as top scorer with 13 goals.

He was released after 14 games of the 1971/72 season with his last game being on Good Friday, 1972 when he scored in a 3-0 home win over Chorley.