Quick Facts
LibraBiography
George Edward Ray (born 13 October 1993) is an English-born Welsh professional footballer currently on the books of League One side Tranmere Rovers, as a centre-half. He 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 Wembley cup final.
Club career
Crewe Alexandra
Ray came through the Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy to sign professional forms in 2011. He was loaned out to Northern Premier League side Leek Town in the 2011–12 season. 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 – the first player to make his professional debut in a Wembley cup final. On 11 February 2014, Ray signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal at Crewe Alexandra.
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. On 9 May 2017, Crewe announced that Ray had been offered a new contract by the club, and in June 2017 he signed a two-year deal running to June 2019.
Ray suffered a back injury at the end of the 2016-2017 season that required prolonged treatment 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. 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. At the end of the 2018-19 season, he declined a new deal and was set to leave the club.
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. He made his debut in an opening day loss to Rochdale. He scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy tie against Aston Villa U21 on 8 October 2019.
International career
Ray was called up to the Wales under-21 side in March 2013, at the age of 19.
Career statistics
- As of match played 4 January 2020.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leek Town (loan) | 2011–12 | NPL Division One North | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 13 | 2 | |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2012–13 | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013–14 | League One | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2014–15 | League One | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| 2015–16 | League One | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2016–17 | League Two | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| 2017–18 | League Two | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | League Two | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 2 | |
| Crewe total | 137 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 152 | 5 | ||
| Tranmere Rovers | 2019–20 | League One | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 1 |
| Career total | 162 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 183 | 8 | ||
Honours
- with Crewe Alexandra
- Football League Trophy winner: 2013