Ray Deakin

[Herts Clarets]

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Remembering Ray Deakin, skipper for both the Orient game in 1987 and the Sherpa Van final at Wembley in 1988. His leadership guided us through the darkest period in the history of our club. Ray died on this day in 2008 aged just 49. RIP Ray

[Steve1956]

Whoosh....RIP Ray.

[Jenny55]

Thanks for posting this. RIP Ray, died far too young. Who could forget the Whooosh chant from the longside whenever he put his left boot through the ball. Looking at the photo his boots did look rather worn!
Slight correction reqd though, he passed away in 2008.

[Steve1956]

Thanks for posting this. RIP Ray, died far too young. Who could forget the Whooosh chant from the longside whenever he put his left boot through the ball. Looking at the photo his boots did look rather worn!
Slight correction reqd though, he passed away in 2008.

Well spotted was the club really that poor we could not shod our players in decent kit?

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[Dark Cloud]

He was a whole hearted player who quite obviously was't the most talented we've ever had, hence him being skipper when we had probably the worst team we've had in our history and certainly the worst I've ever seen, BUT after he retired he lived in Crawshawbooth for quite a while and I had the pleasure of running into him a number of times and he was a really lovely, gentle bloke.

[ClaretTony]

Well spotted was the club really that poor we could not shod our players in decent kit?



20201224_104038.jpg

Never mind the boots, we'd no actual kit that season. Jim Thomson had taken over as commercial manager, at the time the top job at the club away from the playing side, and he was bailed out by Peter Noble in getting us some kit.

[elwaclaret]

Whoosh may have started as an insult but became a unifying call to arms for a Club in dire straights. A team captain who led by giving it everything for the team himself. I was like many shocked and upset when he passed. He left the club as he acted without fanfare or fuss and took the Billy Ingram path to life after football... even driving his team mates around in the team bus . No one from the time will forget the change in his expression from hurt when Whoosh started... to his pride when he realised it was a wave of love from the terraces. RIP Ray God bless.

[Steve1956]

Could you imagine giving a pair of boots like that to one of today's pink boot wearing pansies...I cant wear those it will hurt my toes when I kick the ball!!

Shout out for the second man in the original pic
RiP Ian Britton

[Jenny55]

He was a whole hearted player who quite obviously was't the most talented we've ever had, hence him being skipper when we had probably the worst team we've had in our history and certainly the worst I've ever seen, BUT after he retired he lived in Crawshawbooth for quite a while and I had the pleasure of running into him a number of times and he was a really lovely, gentle bloke.

I also met him near his home. It was just past the Neville mansion on that estate on the left. I spent several minutes chatting with him. Yes he was a lovely humble man. So sad he died so young. RIP..... again, Ray. Will be raising a glass to him tomorrow. Gone but not forgotten.

[ClaretTony]

One year after that photo was taken we played Wolves at Wembley in the Sherpa Van Trophy and it is hard to believe that four players who played in that game have all left us.

Mark Kendal 2008 - aged 49
Ray Deakin 2008 - aged 49
Paul Comstive 2013 - aged 52
Ian Britton 2016 - aged 61

[Steve1956]

Never mind the boots, we'd no actual kit that season. Jim Thomson had taken over as commercial manager, at the time the top job at the club away from the playing side, and he was bailed out by Peter Noble in getting us some kit.

We were really going to go to the wall then if we had lost the Orient game then!!

[Jenny55]

One year after that photo was taken we played Wolves at Wembley in the Sherpa Van Trophy and it is hard to believe that four players who played in that game have all left us.

Mark Kendal 2008 - aged 49
Ray Deakin 2008 - aged 49
Paul Comstive 2013 - aged 52
Ian Britton 2016 - aged 61

It is hard to believe, and very sad.

[beddie]

He gave his all for our club. Tragic to lose him so young. Thank you Ray. God bless you.

[Hibsclaret]

Quite remarkable those ages of the 4 that have passed. Particularly as ex pro footballers they would have spent most of their earlier life as well above average in terms of fitness. Just shows we are only here for a visit and best to remember that as much as possible in our everyday lives...particularly this year

[Aclaret]

God bless them all.

[elwaclaret]

We were really going to go to the wall then if we had lost the Orient game then!!

I remember having conversations with you (CT) and Peter Noble in the market at the time... the reason we still wore Spall shirts was because we could not pay the outstanding bills for kits supplied. No one would touch us which inspired Frank Casper and Joyce Pickles to set up as kit suppliers.

[ClaretTony]

which inspired Frank Casper and Joyce Pickles to set up as kit suppliers.

Not sure that was the case. That came a few years later and Joyce had been involved in similar things before. Wasn't it the 1999/2000 when we got the first kit from them?

[elwaclaret]

Not sure that was the case. That came a few years later and Joyce had been involved in similar things before. Wasn't it the 1999/2000 when we got the first kit from them?

Sure I remember FC telling me in an interview I did when he came back as manager, that the Spall fiasco led to their first conversations, as you will remember (better than me no doubt) JP was charged with marketing (or rather re-marketing) a deeply troubled Brand BFC, that had a terrible reputation for non payment and kit suppliers naturally were extremely nervous of dealing with the club.

[ClaretTony]

Sure I remember FC telling me in an interview I did when he came back as manager, that the Spall fiasco led to their first conversations, as you will remember (better than me no doubt) JP was charged with marketing (or rather re-marketing) a deeply troubled Brand BFC, that had a terrible reputation for non payment and kit suppliers naturally were extremely nervous of dealing with the club.

Neither Frank Casper nor Joyce Pickles were at the club at the time though when that happened.

[elwaclaret]

Neither Frank Casper nor Joyce Pickles were at the club at the time though when that happened.

Quite right, but the problems remained; memory fails me but was it Ellesse (as modelled by SDmk1) that followed Spall; but the problems remained. Pretty sure that was the way FC put it anyway. I have the dictaphone recording somewhere, but I’m not sure which box it will be in after so many years and house moves, may even still be at my mum and dads as that is where I was living.

[elwaclaret]

One thing that has just jumped into my mind was the other side of FC manager, I was sat with Mick Doc in the breeze block office on Gawthorpe when FC rang him and turned the phone red hot over a players discipline in training, cannot remember which player now... except it was not SDmk1 as he came in while I was there and kept smiling at me embarrassed that I was hearing the language being exchanged. Happy memories of a sad time.

[Targetman]

Ray was indeed a lovely, pleasant man. He lived in Crawshawbooth whilst he was captain of the Clarets.

He had no aires or graces, he was a down to earth scouser who liked to have a pint or two after a game in the Black Dog in Crawshawbooth.
He also liked his snooker and used to play occasionally in the village's Conservative Club.
He once told me that he liked going to that club because the members there always respected his privacy, he said he could go for a pint and a game of snooker with a couple of friends without having any hassle regarding the team's struggles at that time.

During the 80's we were playing Torquay in the play-offs, 1st leg away, we only received around 300/400 tickets and I had missed out on one along with my mate.
A few days before the game I was at home in the shower, my wife appeared and told me to hurry up and get downstairs as there was someone here to see me.

So hastily got dried and dressed and went downstairs, to my amazement Burnley's captain was sat in my lounge with a brew in one hand and 2 Torquay tickets in the other hand.

Seems he had been talking with a mutual friend who mentioned that I hadn't been able to get a ticket.
Ray knew that I followed the Clarets away to most games and so he had taken the trouble to find my address and turned up on my doorstep with his 2 complimentaries for myself and my mate.

What a star! And having a brew with the Burnley skipper in my front room, it was like having all my Christmas's all at once.
Something I will never forget!

RIP Ray.

[randomclaret2]

Never mind the boots, we'd no actual kit that season. Jim Thomson had taken over as commercial manager, at the time the top job at the club away from the playing side, and he was bailed out by Peter Noble in getting us some kit.

At least we were locally owned

[RogerBest]

Quite right, but the problems remained; memory fails me but was it Ellesse (as modelled by SDmk1) that followed Spall; but the problems remained. Pretty sure that was the way FC put it anyway. I have the dictaphone recording somewhere, but I’m not sure which box it will be in after so many years and house moves, may even still be at my mum and dads as that is where I was living.

The shirt after Spall was Ellgren. The first shirt I saw us play in.

[elwaclaret]

The shirt after Spall was Ellgren. The first shirt I saw us play in.

Quite right, remembered the E lol

[ClaretTony]

At least we were locally owned

John Gilbraith probably was the main shareholder at the time. Not sure what happened to him but given the kit chat, he was the funder I think for the company set up by Joyce & Frank some years later.

[tiger76]

Ray was indeed a lovely, pleasant man. He lived in Crawshawbooth whilst he was captain of the Clarets.

He had no aires or graces, he was a down to earth scouser who liked to have a pint or two after a game in the Black Dog in Crawshawbooth.
He also liked his snooker and used to play occasionally in the village's Conservative Club.
He once told me that he liked going to that club because the members there always respected his privacy, he said he could go for a pint and a game of snooker with a couple of friends without having any hassle regarding the team's struggles at that time.

During the 80's we were playing Torquay in the play-offs, 1st leg away, we only received around 300/400 tickets and I had missed out on one along with my mate.
A few days before the game I was at home in the shower, my wife appeared and told me to hurry up and get downstairs as there was someone here to see me.

So hastily got dried and dressed and went downstairs, to my amazement Burnley's captain was sat in my lounge with a brew in one hand and 2 Torquay tickets in the other hand.

Seems he had been talking with a mutual friend who mentioned that I hadn't been able to get a ticket.
Ray knew that I followed the Clarets away to most games and so he had taken the trouble to find my address and turned up on my doorstep with his 2 complimentaries for myself and my mate.

What a star! And having a brew with the Burnley skipper in my front room, it was like having all my Christmas's all at once.
Something I will never forget!

RIP Ray.

Great anecdote Targetman, sums up Ray to a tee, just one slight correction the play-off defeat to Torquay you mention was in the 90/91 season, the campaign before we romped to the Division 4 title.

Just looked up the standings and we actually finished 7 points clear of Torquay, but they prevailed when it counted, still we got there in the end, even if we had to wait another 12 months.

Already 12 years since Whoosh Deakin left us. RIP Ray you'll always be remembered for the Orient game, and of course the SVT final.

[Steve1956]

Great anecdote Targetman, sums up Ray to a tee, just one slight correction the play-off defeat to Torquay you mention was in the 90/91 season, the campaign before we romped to the Division 4 title.

Just looked up the standings and we actually finished 7 points clear of Torquay, but they prevailed when it counted, still we got there in the end, even if we had to wait another 12 months.

Already 12 years since Whoosh Deakin left us. RIP Ray you'll always be remembered for the Orient game, and of course the SVT final.

12 years which would make him 61 a mere whipper snapper still, some people really are taken well before their time Whoosh was certainly one of em.

[groove]

The shirt after Spall was Ellgren. The first shirt I saw us play in.

No, the kits manufacturer after Spall was a company called EN-S. Their logo was simply a capital E with a horizontal line above it. We only wore it for one season, 87-88, the season we went to Wembley. Reverted back to Spall for the season after that, then to Ellgren. The EN-S kits were terrible, with some having badges and some not, and some having the manufacturer logo on the wrong side. Tranmere had both home and away identical kits to ours, but played in white at home and Claret away.

[ClaretTony]

No, the kits manufacturer after Spell was a company called EN-S. Their logo was simply a captain E with a horizontal line above it. We only wore it for one season, 87-88, the season we went to Wembley. Reverted back to Spell for the season after that, then to Ellgren.

That’s spot on and we only ever had one Ellgren kit which we wore in two seasons 1989/90 & 1990/91 and then I think it was Ribéro.

This is the Ellgren kit

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[Bin Ont Turf]

I always see that photo and think, yes, Britton was focused

Do or die!

Peace be with them all

[Jenny55]

That’s spot on and we only ever had one Ellgren kit which we wore in two seasons 1989/90 & 1990/91 and then I think it was Ribéro.

This is the Ellgren kit


0FC2AF1D-19CA-4B5E-9A1C-73FA8E95B854.jpeg

This kit reminds me of Super Johnny Francis. Oh that second leg at Plymouth. Good times.

[tim_noone]

One year after that photo was taken we played Wolves at Wembley in the Sherpa Van Trophy and it is hard to believe that four players who played in that game have all left us.

Mark Kendal 2008 - aged 49
Ray Deakin 2008 - aged 49
Paul Comstive 2013 - aged 52
Ian Britton 2016 - aged 61

Wow I never knew about Paul Comstive passing. God bless em all. To young. Deakin was made for Burnley.

[bfcjg]

Ben Mee reminds me of Ray Deakin, Mee obviously a far better footballer but the attitude, leadership, no nonsense approach are so similar.

[agreenwood]

Drove coaches for extra money. He drove the bus that took my junior school class to the Zoo in the late 80s.

Different times.

[ClaretTony]

Drove coaches for extra money. He drove the bus that took my junior school class to the Zoo in the late 80s.

Different times.

Junior school in the late 80s? Will you stop making me feel bloody old?

[Burnleyareback2]

Not sure that was the case. That came a few years later and Joyce had been involved in similar things before. Wasn't it the 1999/2000 when we got the first kit from them?

Tony, is the story correct that I heard Joyce Pickles company owned the rights to merchandise and basically all the extra sales of flags and strips for Wembley didn’t benefit the club financially?

[Burnleyareback2]

I’d love to hear what he thought about the club over the last few years.

RIP

[beddie]

Mark Kendal 2008 - aged 49
Ray Deakin 2008 - aged 49
Paul Comstive 2013 - aged 52
Ian Britton 2016 - aged 61
[/quote]

Very sad, they were all so young. Out of that group I only met one of them, I was scouting for the club at the time, I'd promised one of the local clubs near me that BFC would enter an under 10s side at their annual football weekend, Big Vince who occasionally took our meetings was sorting it for me and agreed to bring some under 10s, accompanying him was Ian Britton, what a great guy he was, full of laughter and constantly cracking jokes, Ian is someone I'll always remember, very fondly.

[ClaretTony]

Tony, is the story correct that I heard Joyce Pickles company owned the rights to merchandise and basically all the extra sales of flags and strips for Wembley didn’t benefit the club financially?

Yes, the club shop at the time was hers.

[Dy1geo]

Although we were playing in the lowest league for someone like myself who only started watching mid 80’s they were good times with honest pro’s like Deakin which culminated in the Mullen promotion year which for me was the most enjoyable of our promotions.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

Time passes so quickly. RIP Ray

As a footnote I was there the day he was christened Wooshie, it was an away game at Carlisle, funny at the time, but looking back completely out of order, it must have completely destroyed him hearing his own fans (and it was a very good following) shout WHOOOOSSHHHH every time he got the ball

[Quicknick]

I remember in the mid-90s, he was on the Turf to do the half-time draw. As he walked out, the WHOOSH! chant went up. He visibly reddened. He clearly didn't like it.

[Vegas Claret]

Time passes so quickly. RIP Ray

As a footnote I was there the day he was christened Wooshie, it was an away game at Carlisle, funny at the time, but looking back completely out of order, it must have completely destroyed him hearing his own fans (and it was a very good following) shout WHOOOOSSHHHH every time he got the ball

I was there that day too, I remember him laughing a good few times when he launched it, I think (more hope) he took it in good spirit

[Herts Clarets]

I remember in the mid-90s, he was on the Turf to do the half-time draw. As he walked out, the WHOOSH! chant went up. He visibly reddened. He clearly didn't like it.

Ray was in my bar before the game when he did the draw. He wasn't around for long and it was really busy in the run up to kick off so I didn't get the chance to say too much. I think at the time he was working for a chemicals company in sales and had no involvement with football.

[Boss Hogg]

The Whoosh actually became more of an iconic chant of affection instead of a criticism. Ray Deakin completely turned it around in my opinion and look how fondly he is remembered now. He was an important part of our history in a time when footballers were just normal down to earth people.

[Herts Clarets]

The Whoosh actually became more of an iconic chant of affection instead of a criticism. Ray Deakin completely turned it around in my opinion and look how fondly he is remembered now. He was an important part of our history in a time when footballers were just normal down to earth people.

If we had 11 players that had the ability and commitment of Ray Deakin in 1987, we would never have found ourselves in the position we did. Him, Taffy, Ian Britton and Neil Grewcock were the 4 players that got us through and started the climb back. Sadly 2 of the 4 are no longer with us.

[ClaretTony]

If we had 11 players that had the ability and commitment of Ray Deakin in 1987, we would never have found ourselves in the position we did. Him, Taffy, Ian Britton and Neil Grewcock were the 4 players that got us through and started the climb back. Sadly 2 of the 4 are no longer with us.

And Peter Hampton was in that team. He left us recently.

[fidelcastro]

Some selective memories on here, or maybe it's just the nicer posters who remember Deakin more affectionately, but I can remember his name being booed every time it was read out for quite a long period during the late eighties. I always thought it was OTT.