Paul Raynor (footballer, born 1957)

Paul Raynor (3 September 1957, in Chester – 20 November 2010) was a professional footballer who played as a full back. He spent his entire professional career with hometown club Chester City, where he made 200 Football League appearances in two spells.

Paul Raynor
Personal information
Full name Paul Edward Raynor
Date of birth (1957-09-03)3 September 1957
Place of birth Chester, England
Date of death 20 November 2010(2010-11-20) (aged 53)
Place of death Derby, Derbyshire, England
Position(s) Full Back
Youth career
1973–1975 Chester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1982 Chester City 197 (9)
1982–1983 Oswestry Town
1983 Chester City 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

Raynor was a product of Chester's youth set-up, signing professional forms in September 1975. Earlier in the year he had made his first-team debut for the club in a Welsh Cup tie against Oswestry Town, with his second appearance also coming in the same competition against Cardiff City in April 1976.[1]

His Football League debut arrived in a 2–1 win at Crystal Palace on 4 September 1976, one of 17 league appearances he made during the 1976–77 season. The following campaign, saw him become a regular by making 34 league appearances, a figure that rose to 37 in each of the next two campaigns. He scored his first goal away to Chesterfield in November 1978, the only one of his 10 first-team strikes (nine in the league) for the club that did not come from the penalty spot.[2] He remained a regular before leaving the club after relegation to Division Four in 1982, with the majority of his appearances having been in the number 2 shirt.[3]

Raynor played for non-league side Oswestry Town He was with them for only a couple of months in 1982 then joined Swindon town in 1983 for a spell then in 1984 he rejoined Chester on non-contract terms [4] ahead of the 1983–84 season. He played three league matches and a League Cup tie at the start of the season but did not play again.

He then joined the Cheshire Constabulary until he died suddenly on Saturday 20 November 2010 following a protracted illness.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997. pp. stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  2. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997. pp. stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  3. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997. pp. stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  4. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997. p. 99. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  5. ^ Paul Raynor 1957-2010