Ray Middleton
Personal information
Date of birth (1919-09-06)6 September 1919
Place of birth The Boldons, England
Date of death 1977(1977-00-00) (aged 57–58)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
North Shields
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1938–1951 Chesterfield 250 (0)
1951–1954 Derby County 116 (0)
1954–1957 Boston United
Total 366 (0)
International career
1950 England B 4 (0)
Managerial career
1954–1957 Boston United (player-manager)
1957–1959 Hartlepools United
1960–1961 Boston United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ray Middleton (6 September 1919 – 1977) was an English football goalkeeper and manager, and brother of Matt Middleton.

Born in Boldon Colliery[1] Middleton began his career at North Shields where he attracted the attentions of Chesterfield who signed him for £50.[2] He established himself as first choice keeper but saw his career interrupted by World War II, remaining in the area to work as a miner during the conflict.[2] Highly rated as a player despite not playing top-flight football, he appeared four times for England B and, unusually given their Second Division status, played alongside clubmate Stanley Milburn in one fixture.[2] Off the pitch Middleton ran a grocer shop in Old Whittington and became involved in local Labour Party politics, even becoming the only active Football League player to serve as a Justice of the Peace.[2]

The Spireites' relegation in 1951 saw him leave the club to move to top-flight Derby County, where he made 115 appearances.[3] Released by the club in 1954 he moved to non-league Boston United as a player-manager, even leading the club to a famous 6–1 win over Derby in the FA Cup.[2]

He attracted the attention of Hartlepools United who appointed him as their manager in 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.[4]

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.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Quakers' debts throw up threepenny mystery | The Northern Echo Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ray Middleton
  3. ↑ B.J. Hugman, Rothmans Football League Players Records The Complete A-Z 1946-1981, 1981, p. 246
  4. ↑ Managerial record
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