Ray Pointer – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Forward

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Cramlington, Northumberland

Date Of Birth

October 10, 1936

Date Of Death

January 26, 2016 (79)

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

1.0

Per Game

Minutes

2822

88.2

Per Game

Goals

0.4

Per Game

Assists

Per Game

Prior to the First Division days it was unusual for Coventry City to sign international players, especially England internationals. In December 1965 however Jimmy Hill signed Ray Pointer, the ‘blond bombshell’ who had terrorised First Division defences with Burnley less than five years previously and won three England caps in 1961.

In 1965 Ray left Turf Moor for Second Division Bury for £8,000. In 270 appearances in Claret he had scored 133 goals, the second highest in the club’s history. He rediscovered his form at Gigg Lane, alongside a youngster called Colin Bell and scored 17 goals in 19 games including five in a 6-1 win over Rotherham. His form persuaded Jimmy Hill to splash £20,000 on the blond striker – a move which caused a rumpus amongst Bury’s supporters. City’s promotion push was stuttering through lack of goals with George Hudson losing form, Ken Hale looking a spent force and Bobby Gould still too raw. Pointer’s arrival had the desired effect, he scored on his debut, a 1-1 draw at Norwich and a hat-trick in a 5-1 New Years Day win over Preston. His form, 11 goals in 19 games, convinced Hill that the fan’s idol Hudson was dispensable, and ‘The Hud’ was controversially sold to Northampton.

Ray however did not feature in Hill’s long term plans and after promotion was missed by a whisker he invested £55,000 on Ian Gibson and Pointer’s days were numbered. He played just seven early-season games in the promotion season and in January 1967 he was part of an exchange deal with Portsmouth that brought Brian Lewis to Highfield Road. Soon after joining Pompey he was converted to a midfield player and went on to play 165 games, scoring 31 goals in seven seasons at Fratton Park. At the age of 37 he played for non-league Waterlooville before hanging up his boots.

He took up coaching, first at Blackpool under his old Burnley boss Harry Potts, then back at Burnley and later at Bury under former Burnley legends Martin Dobson & Frank Casper. He later ran a shop in Blackpool where he lived in retirement.

Hat tricks (1)
1965-66
1 January 1966 v Preston North End (H)