Ray Kennedy – A Gentle Giant Remembered
Mar 24th, 2015 by 'holic
The international break is well and truly upon us. No real football for another eleven days as I type, and then Liverpool come to the Grove for a match that could have a massive bearing on the end of season placings. So I thought I would look at some of the players who wore the colours of both clubs down the years.
I have already written a piece about one, Geoff Strong, an idol of the very young me, on the occasion of his passing just under a couple of years ago. He was a success at both clubs and is still revered by those who saw him in North London and on Merseyside today.
Ironically the next big name to make that move north was another who hailed from the north-east, who featured as a striker for us, but like Geoff would show more versatility at Anfield. Rejected by the famous Sir Stanley Matthews at Port Vale, Ray Kennedy was working in a sweet factory and playing amateur football with New Hartley Juniors when Arsenal signed him in May 1968, turning professional six months later.
Ray got his first team baptism as a substitute in a European Fairs Cup tie at Glentoran in September 1969, but it was his second appearance, also as a substitute, that would set the tone for what was to follow. In the first leg of the Final of the same competition the Gunners were three goals down to an excellent Anderlecht team on their own patch. The eighteen year old was summoned from the bench and scored a memorable goal to give us a glimmer of hope for the second-leg, which of course was to provide our first trophy for seventeen years.
At the start of the following season young Ray must have wondered how many opportunities he would get from the bench. Arsenal had John Radford, George Graham, and Charlie George to score goals. He didn’t even feature for the opening league fixture at Goodison where Arsenal battled to a 2-2 draw, but as he scored Charlie George collided with goalkeeper Gordon West and broke his ankle. Two nights later Ray got his first start alongside Radford in a goalless draw against West Ham United at Upton Park.
From small acorns, as they say. After that blank sheet the partnership of Radford and Kennedy would terrorise top flight defences. Ray opened his account with the only goal of the game at home to Huddersfield, notched his second in a 2-1 win at Burnley, and then went on an astonishing run for one so inexperienced. Nine goals in eight games included his first hat-trick in a 4-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest.
Ever present bar the opening day, Ray went on to play in 63 of the Gunners 64 competitive matches, scoring a remarkable 26 goals. Not bad for a teenager. Enhancing his reputation as a scorer of big goals it was Ray, who else, who climbed to head home the goal that won Arsenal the first leg of the double at White Hart Lane. Five days later he added to his medal collection as Liverpool were beaten at Wembley.
Quite remarkable was the young man’s all round ability. Not just a powerful header of goals he, like Raddy, was a wonderful outlet. A target man who, like his partner, withstood weekly clatterings into the back of his calves and ankles, so often deemed legitimate at that time. He could finish with both feet too, and brought his colleagues into play with tidy distribution.
Ray remained Raddy’s preferred strike partner in the following seasons, but gradually a little inconsistency crept into his performances, and for a very good reason as we were to find out much later. In 1971/72 he made another 55 appearances and scored 19 more goals. He was just a substitute as the team lost the Centenary FA Cup Final to Leeds. The following season he scored 11 times in just 42 appearances although ever-present in the second half of the season.
Ironically in his final season in Arsenal colours he played in each and every one of a fading powers 46 matches. His haul of 13 goals made him joint top scorer with Alan Ball. It was still something of a surprise though that Liverpool paid £180,000 for Ray in July 1974 (contrary to popular belief he was not Bill Shankly’s last signing). Bob Paisley had spotted something in Ray and, unable to fit him into an attack that already featured Toshack and Keegan, he converted him into a left-sided midfielder with responsibility to create as well as score goals.
Ten major honours came Ray’s way in six years at Anfield, plus seventeen caps for England. He usually got an appreciative hand on his return to Highbury. As at Arsenal though there were days when he found motivation difficult. They were coming more often. Ray moved on to Swansea under his old team-mate Toshack in 1982, but there was to be an unfortunate parting of the ways when the Swans manager was critical of Ray’s contribution.
A final season at Hartlepool seemed a harsh way for such an accomplished player to bow out. However just a couple of years later the big man was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and the increasing inconsistency he had displayed became completely understandable.
Today Ray lives, not surprisingly, a quiet life with his family. His drug regime is constantly being changed to try to ease the symptoms of his disease. In his book, “A Ray Of Hope” the big man recalls noticing the tremors in his Arsenal days. On one occasion he couldn’t fasten his shirt buttons, but the symptoms came and went so he ignored them. That he went on to play at such a high level as the condition developed is a credit to his character, his strength, and his determination.
Thanks Ray, for helping to make my teenage years such a blast. Watching you and Raddy in full cry will always, I hope, stay fresh in the forefront of the memory. The Mickeys thought you could play a bit too.
73 Responses to “Ray Kennedy – A Gentle Giant Remembered”
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Bam
Second. A legitimate target. At least I’m second to a decent opponent.
63 of 64 games in the season !
Outrageous
And he was kicked hard in every single one of them too anicoll5.
We used 16 players all season…
I am far too young to remember him but I read about him in a book
Too young, you say? You have done well for yourself. That huge paper round must have instilled a work ethic in you, neighbour. 😉
Great post. No one does the nostalgia posts better. Thank you.
Used only 16 players??? Don’t tell BTM. He will think we had an injury crisis even in those days.
Liverpol fan here – remember Ray with great affection. Scored an away goal at Bayern to win a European Cup semi Final and acted like he’d scored in a game at Melwood. What a man, what a player!
You share a moniker with a top one of ours zico. Thank you for dropping by.
Great reminiscence of a great player, ‘Holic. A few of those games bring back some memories.
Don’t they just, Ned. 70-71, this kid scoring so often, and we were battering teams for fun in the first half of the season, then the tension of the second half.
Feck, that was a much better side than everyone gives them credit for. Awesome. They still make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Superb piece, Holic.
The view in that photograph was exactly the one I had that night – right behind the goal to see Ray climb to head in the title clincher. It all got a bit lively then but what a night.
We had some rare treats with that night and the Fairs Cup win at Highbury.
We were even allowed to wave our scarves, BtM ! 😉
Thanks, holic. I love to learn about the Arsenal, and there are damn few better at writing about it. We are lucky to have your memories flow so clearly through your pen.
I think that I was one of his biggest fans even when he left to play for Liverpool. Was heartbroken to learn of his health problems. But I will remember him as one of the best.
Cheers for that H! Brilliant stuff.
Mr Goonerholic, I’ve been meaning to reply to many of your great articles and that day is here, and I’ve also never seen the great Ray Kennedy play!! I didn’t get to see ARSENAL FC play until 1977-78 season, ARSENAL Vs Chelsea and naturally I was hooked on AFC ever since and being only thirteen years of age I went with a school mate and stood in the North Bank for the first time unaware of even what a London Derby was let alone who Ray Kennedy was. Actually I could swear I was more concerned about getting out of avenal rd without being beaten by either the police or football supporters as I really didn’t know anything about the football culture. But after getting over the scary scene of grown adults going mental at the football I stood in the North Bank nearly every match until (1980)and my education began and other older Arsenal fans would mention RAY KENNEDY’s name with respect and a little dam ( why did we sell em) if my faded memory is right. He is one of those ARSENAL legends you wished you could of seen because people spoke so highly of him!! Thanks for listening to my rambles of joy even if they are vague after soooo many years. I love your work Mr Goonerholic, thanks again.
‘Holic@11:
Wilson
Rice
Storey
McLintock
Simpson
McNab
Armstrong
Graham
George
Kennedy
Radford
Not too bad, at all.
+
Kelly
Marinello
Nelson
Roberts
Sammels
available as subs plus Barnett, the reserve keeper, who didn’t get a competitive game all season.
Top man, top post.
Holics, beware of identity theft. 😉
Zico is a bin dipper!! Finally the truth comes out!! 🙂
Great and lovely post H. When I stared watching football he was already at Anfield. But I was drawn to watch and admire him as an ex-arsenal player. Bizarre that he only played 17 times for England
Super post and it helps so much to read about our players. Of course i was not even born to see him play but have read a lot about him and this article reiterates what i have read.
Interlull is absolutely boring and even the world cup of cricket is at its final stages, nothing beats watching The Arsenal play.
If any cricket fans here then i do hope they got to watch the game yesterday and more so AB Devilliers the South African captain in the end. The man who gave it all in the end was crying like a kid. Just proves that sports is the ultimate emotional roller-coaster.
Oh its us versus the aussies tomorrow, come on india.
Beautiful piece there, H. Amongst your finest.
Heh, zico finally comes out. No wonder you’re in exile, pal. So that’s where you are when you’re not at a home game?
Another history lesson from a wonderful teacher. Thanks ever so much for taking the time Holic.
Afraid the Kennedy era was just a touch before my time but I never cease to marvel at the depth of knowledge, affection and pride in the club. That sense of community is as prevalent in the bar too.
Holic
Thankyou for this portrait of a real favourite of mine. Ray and I are of similar age but he was a slightly better player than me and illuminated many matches especially in the Double season.
What strikes me from your portrait is the amount of games he played on poor pitches with tackles from behind not only allowed but encouraged. How tough were those guys!?
He and Raddy were great mates off the pitch and it showed on the pitch too. It did make us a bit of a long ball side though.
I have great memories of him especially that sweet left foot but one in particular is a brace of goals that he scored in a 2-0 win against Chelsea at Highbury. They had beaten us 3-0 the season before at home and I remember him coming on in that game as a substitute. How things changed ! I remember that game because my girlfriend and I went to a wedding reception of some friends that evening and almost everybody there was a fanatical Chelsea fan. It was a lovely feeling.
Ray had incredible touch for a big man and moved very successfully into midfield at Anfield. He was a great loss to the club but that typified the dog days of Bertie Mee’s reign where the club lost its way under Bobby Campbell, the worst Arsenal coach I can remember.
Thanks for the memories again this is an excellent piece
Newsflash : Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel will serve a three-match ban after an independent FA disciplinary panel rejected his appeal against a violent conduct charge.
I forgot to say great piece by the way Mr ‘H.
The piece got me to thinking though. Back in Ray Kennedy’s day you had him and John at Highbury. Around the league you had Chivers, Osgood, Clarke, Mick Jones, Mick Channon, Jeff Astle, Joe Royle and plenty of other good English strikers churned out by some hidden production line to fill the First Division with goal scorers and the England team with men who were proud to wear the shirt.
And now we have Harry Kane !
I rarely catch or try to catch TalkShite but I do have a passing regard for Colin Murray’s programme. I heard a snatch of it today which made me hoot with the sort of laughter you only get when listening to a deluded Spud. He phoned in to say that as Bale was unhappy at Real , The Swampies have first option on resigning him. He then extrapolated to this being an opportunity to unite the two most exciting talents in British football- Bale and Harry Kane ( one of their own). It struck me both were Arsenal. Fans through choice when young.
He then speculated on a potential fee. He thought Real would take £ 60 million and Bale would crawl back to the Lane where he enjoyed such relentless success.
To be fair the panel of people in the programme gave him a hard time but the interest.ting thing was his failure to factor in the impact on the Spuds of building a new ground both in terms of costs, impact on transfer budgets, having to play in Milton Keynes and player retention, and all this from a club that isn’t successful anyway. It really will be a huge challenge for the Mickeys and them to rebuild their ground and it underlines what a huge and potentially unfair advantage was given to West Ham when they were given the Olympic Stadium at a peppercorn rent. Will Pochettino or Rogers be prepared to operate in such a constrained environment ? Certainly the Simian One will not be returning to them anytime soon even if it goes even more pear- shaped at Madrid.
Thank you ‘holic for a great write-up on Ray Kennedy.
BB. Skrtel gets 3 games for emulating his captain? What will the FA think up next? 😉
Ha! Denmark 3 USA 2 in a friendly on three goals from guess who?
TGSTEL !
Bring back Poldi!
😀
@bt8b
Actually Pool are probably more dangerous without them.. and Skrtel is an accident that finally happened! Wouldn’t want either of them taking out any of our players at this crucial time in the season. So I guess am glad that they’re out!
More news : Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
Lukas Podolski, he scores when he wants!
You wonder how tough were those guys back in the day, Ttg (#24). I wonder if the mud baths they played on didn’t have something to do with it. Tacklers going through a player from behind may get an ankle full on, but if that ankle slips away in the mud then the impact is a lot less than if the ankle is held by studs gripping the ‘perfect’ surfaces matches are played on today.
Just a thought.
Öskar
He should have tried waiting tables in one of those Mediterranean countries where five minutes is like a jiffy for a waiter to bring your drinks.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32025127
A couple of years ago they said he might sign for Arsenal. Not a bad player, Ashley Williams.
‘Holic – Great article. So great that you have even appeared on .com’s Best of the Blogs!
Thanks H. I will echo the sentiments of the bar by saying how good these pieces are and how much they add to this, already great, drinking hole.
Oskar @32- I imagine that did help prevent long-term injuries on the scale we see them now.
Another thought is that part of the perceived toughness of these guys, especially compared to their modern counterparts, is that they didn’t make much of these challenges. I think it is worth noting that as they were not going to get decisions from refs all the histrionics served no purpose. Some of the modern lot are still tough buggers but they act like whinging children as the refs have made it in their interest to do so by being so consistently swayed by play-acting. I’m not suggesting the modern lot are seriously tough like players like Ray Kennedy were, mind.
So much has changed. We must remember our past as a club and these are great memories. But for us fans too young to see them in the flesh the chance to see players like Ray has gone. Which is a shame and adds extra value to these first-hand accounts. It is a different game now.
Thanks all for your kind comments.
Good news Pete, I hadn’t seen that. Cheers.
Cheers ‘H.
Ray Kennedy my childhood favourite by a country mile – as I imagine he would have been for many around my age. Bloke broke my little 9 year old heart fully six years before Chippy left in ’80.
Sadly, Ray has, at least to some extent, faded from the Arsenal collective consciousness in a way that many other stars of that Double year haven’t – partly I suppose because there were just too many subsequent goals for Liverpool (each one a small dagger to my heart), and partly, and far more seriously, because his dreadful illness impacts on his ability to travel and maintain any kind of profile.
Despite his medal-laden years with Liverpool, he never had a bad word for Arsenal. Asked by the author of the book you mention which Club he preferred, Ray replied that “Liverpool were the best team, Arsenal were the best Club”. That may not have been the reply the Liverpool-supporting Doctor was anticipating, so kudos to him for including it.
Your article prompted me to do a google search of him just to see if there was any more recent news of how he was doing. Apparently he was at the ‘Arshavin’ 4-4 game at Anfield six years ago. The Liverpool fans held up placards detailing a red and white 5 at the Kop, whilst the Arsenal fans did the same with a yellow and blue 10 at our end, a show of mutual respect and admiration that prompted an unplanned walk onto the Anfield turf by Ray.
The photograph of the above event shows an old man acknowledging the cheers. Time is a bastard, his illness far more so, but in my mind’s eye, Ray will always be the tall youthful sideburn-clad centre-forward, of the hammer left foot and bullet header, crashing one in off the underside of Tottenham’s bar.
Ray Kennedy, childhood hero, here’s hoping you have many more good days than bad.
Do they pay you for lifting an entire blog, H?
You should slap in an invoice. 75p a word or £1000, whichever is the greater 😉
Superb post maestro!
I love it when you and other, may I say “old”, Gooners share their memories from a time I wasn’t even born. Top drawer stuff that is and of a value that none could match with money. ( though they should try as Cynic points out above 🙂 )
Thank you and all others who share that passion for the greatest of all clubs!
Payment Cynic?
Are you mad? 😉
Nobody pays for this stuff mate. Apart from me, obviously.
Tabs,
I echo your good wishes to Ray.
I had a chat about Ray with Bob Wilson about three years ago. The Double team are still enormously close but obviously Ray cannot attend functions and sadly I believe I heard that ‘ Stan ‘ Simpson is struggling with dementia. What a couple of left feet those two boys had!
I got the impression Ray ‘s condition was not good but had plateaued and he has not deteriorated significantly in recent years although I think he has been wheelchair bound for many years. I think you are quite right that his illness has affected his profile. He was a massive part of the Double season and beyond and was a mighty player for us. He should be regarded as one of our finest strikers. Legend material
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head tabs (again) for the reason that RK10 hasn’t the Arsenal legend profile he deserves. Those high profile yeas at Anfield do obscure his great years at THOF when looking back from the 21st century. i do love his response when asked which club he preferred. Top class.
Ttg – Yep heard the same about Stan from Frank McLintock a couple of years ago. Dreadful news. Good to hear that Ray’s condition has plateaued and I share your view of his Arsenal status in the grand scheme of things.
Getting himself sent off in a league cup tie for Liverpool one year at Highbury, and treading on the ball to enable Talbot to finally finish the semi final marathon – once an Arsenal man … 😉
Baff – Cheers Sir. A great reply from Ray indeed.
Holic
You do us a great service in bringing to life the legends of our club. For the oldies it rekindles marvellous memories and for the younger people it underlines what a great tradition our great club has.
We remark cynically about DNA in relation to those who have deserted us ( Kennedy’s situation was quite different to Van Payslip or Fabregas in that he did not agitate for a move and Arsenal accepted a bid for him) but some of the names we have been recalling over the past few months, Geordie, Jon Sammels , Ray and the other members of the Double team we have mentioned really have supplied the DNA. I was very pleased to see the 125th celebration a few seasons ago when young Ches went out of his way to greet and acknowledge Bob Wilson. It showed a respect that did him great credit. Talking to Charlie George on a stadium tour he told me that he literally didn’t know and hadn’t spoken to the current team and they wouldn’t have a clue who he was. Charlie George I ask you!! Well they bloody well should.
I can’t imagine Holics in twenty five years time recalling their conversations with players of this era. It’s a very different world now.
Nice exchange above, Tabs and ttg.
Every conversation I have about The Arsenal still is set against the context of that ’71 Double side.
So many great players – not, maybe, in a technical sense when compared to the players of today, but great in terms of character, strengrh and committment. First among them for me were Radford and Kennedy, almost a single entity but that’s the order in which the pair were always referred to. My other personal favourites, without naming the whole team, were McLintock, Simpson and Geordie Armstrong who quite simply cannot be omitted.
I loved that team. Loved them from an often freezing North Bank terrace that bore no resemblance to the luxury in which we sit today. Loved them whilst enjoying the old Highbury catering facilites of the day – actually a line bloke walking the terraces selling “Peanuts – tanner a bag”, in the tanner’s final year before being doomed by decimalisation.
There was a connection with those players that cannot be felt with today’s pampered, security protected super stars. Those players had served apprenticeships which involved sweeping out the changing rooms, cleaning the senior players boots and living in a single room in a house with an Arsenal sourced landlady. Public transport was often the order of the day, not the Range Rovers and Porsche Cayennes favoured by today’s millionaire reserves.
Nostalgia certainly ain’t what it used to be. What hasn’t changed is the first image that instantly comes to mind whenever I think back to that wonderful team.
For all the hundreds of games I saw at Highbury, my number one memory is always of a night at White Hart Lane. Standing right behind the goal, I watched as Kennedy climbed and headed home the goal to win us the League Championship.
It was utter mayhem. Flying down the terrace. Jumping – was it dancing ? – into the arms of fellow fans, never seen before or since.
We’d won the League and we’d won it at Tottenham.
Cheers, Ray.
What impresses me most about these nostalgia pieces is the vivid memories they clearly summon up for many here. I remember all the names, and can occasionally recall specific matches from Kennedy’s era, but rarely in much detail since I only saw them in blurry black and white on a CRT screen about the size of a shoe box. This was in Australia which didn’t have colour TV at that time. I can however remember games I was present at a decade earlier before I left England in much greater detail.
And that, Trev, is the real difference between being present at the match and watching it on TV. I may have supported the team longer but I have no doubt you and ‘holic and Ttg and others have enjoyed a much richer experience overall. And worth every penny it has cost you. 😉
Öskar
Trev@45: You trigger a particular memory from only a few years later when someone near me shouted out to Liam Brady, ‘Oi, Brady, if you played any deeper, you’d be selling peanuts on the North Bank.’
Trev
Lovely memories except that I got locked out at White Hart Lane! But I got to Wembley on the Saturday right behind the goal that Charlie George shot in , I knew as soon as he hit it that Clemence was beaten. What is a memory like that worth?
Great stuff Trev.
TTG @ 48
I was also locked out of the swamp and was also right behind the same goal at Wembley.
What is German for doppleganger again?
UTA.
Cheers fellas and thanks again, Holic.
Heh ! @Ned. 🙂
Noosa, come now there can’t be another bloke as good looking as me( heavy irony). Isn’t life strange!
I’ve been to the FA Cup final to see us win seven times, missed the Chelsea game because Mrs TTG had a knee op and seen us lose twice plus the draw with Wednesday. That’s not a bad record and it’s better than the League Cup! ( won one , lost four)
Is it the loss of his place that us making Wojciech look so depressed or doesn’t he fancy driving a club Vauxhall Vectra?
http://www.europcar.co.uk/Arsenal
I too was turned away from WHL by the Police that Monday night having been driven there by a friend.We turned round listened to the game on the radio and celebrated the winning of the title in a pub in Cambridge.
Like ttg and NS I was at Wembley on that Saturday afternoon sitting on a bench on the 18 yard line, in line with Charlie’s strike. Never to be forgotten day, my one and only Cup Final. I live in hope that I might be lucky this year.
COYRs
Welbeck has been the outstanding England player tonight. His range of movement has been excellent. He is very much at home at international level
I’d just like to say that I too was locked out of the Swamp on that night back in, gasp, 1971. I didn’t make it to Wembley the following weekend, but I did overhear the following conversation on the top deck of the bus home:
“Here, if Arsenal win tonight and win the title, let’s go down the Holloway Road and smash a few windows.”
“Yeah, and if we don’t win, let’s go down the Holloway Road and smash a few windows.”
(Sigh) Simpler days, simpler pleasures.
Ned
You are the only man on earth who would know this but what is reckoned to be the most people ever locked out of an English league game? It must surely have been that night at the Swamp . I have never seen quite such a big crowd and frankly it was very frightening. It could have been a Hillsborough type situation outside the ground. As I recall it was completely out of control
I got in !
It was actually quite scary inside too. Someone was stabbed a few steps behind me when we scored. Luckily we outnumbered the Spuds by some way. Getting out afterwards was pretty horrendous too.
The bad side of a great night.
I was also locked out of that game. I didn’t actually go, but as the gates were locked I was still technically locked out, even though I was at home watching Coronation Street, followed by Alias Smith and Jones. With me mum.
It still counts 🙂
NBN posted a wonderful video of this chap doing a rap about tea a while back. I have seen some of his videos since and they are all good fun. This one has the most tenuous Arsenal link in that the last line rings true.
I hope it makes some of you smile and it is a much better tune than the interlullaby… Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkF_XpA5P48
bla de bla
best of the blogs
hol
too bloody right
and
long over bastardin due
a haven for gooners gunners nutters and all nosey etcs
.
Howdy all
by the way
🙂
been on the gargle
been told shouldn’t
been counters eh
yup
stupid oul fucker
had a big fuckin dollop of a shite day
.
I hope ye all had a better one
.
and
.
fuckin hurry the fuckin fuck up the rubble
.
closely
Effin agus blindin
Half a block o cheddar
In a pot noodle
I hate visitors
he’ll not shit fer a fortnight
.
eejit
Ornamental beard ownin cunt
Better to get locked out of WHL than locked in, Ttg. 😉
Öskar
Excellent article agan, you spoil us, ‘holic sir. Some top notch posts in the drinks too.
Kennedy just before my time as a gunner, saw him play for the opposition a number of times though, was always urged to show respect from those around me on the terraces.
Half a block o cheddar
In a pot noodle
I hope that was a curry noodle, any other flavour with cheddar would be disgusting.
Heh, czech national team just shown how to not take a free kick..
Excellent read — the main post and so many of the comments. Illuminating and educational to the modern era gooners like me.
Danny is injured and apparently Rambo came off injured after helping Wales with a 3-0 win over Israel. 🙁
And now comes the dreaded friendlies for most teams while Mesut travels to Georgia for a qualifier. Can Giroud, Kos, Santi at least pull out of the friendlies?
Poor old Aaron but yet again it’s a generation of British Gooners who aren’t able to pay more than four or five matches in a row. Wilshere, Ox, Welbeck apparently and now Ramsey are injured and Theo will beas soon as he starts playing regularly again. It’s sad but it’s also a bit pathetic
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