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About Bob 70-71

- Know any others ??! Let me know and I'll include them on this page.

July 2000

Ray Wilson (West Bromwich Albion) Very special thanks to Andy Woolfenden who writes

Bob,

I have some information exchange on Ray Wilson - former left back for West Bromwich Albion in the late sixties and seventies.

Ray is my boss at work and I have been trying to find information on the web about his footballing exploits which he keeps telling me about. As yet to no avail. I have found your site, and hence wish to exchange info on the said former Scotalnd Under 23 International.

Ray is now working as Director of National Accounts for Finelist Group. Finelist Group is the UK's largest distributor of motor components and associated products into the UK Automotive Aftermarket. Ray heads up a team of senior account managers including myself, who are ultimately responsible for the groups largest customers. A£40 million pounds worth.
He still lives in Sutton Coldfield with his wife. He is an avid golfer, claiming a handicap of 5!, and an armchair supporter of Falkirk football club.

I hope this info. is of interest.

I would appreciate any info on Ray, especially with regard to his disciplinary record!!

thanks

Can anyone help with the disciplinary record ? If so let me know and I'll forward it on ... Thanks again Andy.

There is now a picture of Ray to be seen in the team photo of West Bromwich in 1969.

Bruce Rioch (Aston Villa) The following career summary appears at Wigan Athletic Official Web Site

Date of Birth: 6 September 1947

Clubs as Player: Luton Town, Aston Villa, Derby County, Everton, Torquay Utd
Clubs as Manager: Torquay United, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal, Norwich City

Bruce Rioch was appointed on Monday, 26 June 2000 as the new Latics manager and replaced John Benson who retired from management himself and moved upstairs into an advisory role. John Benson had just spent one season at the helm and only just missed out on getting promotion to the First Division because of a late Gillingham comeback in extra time of the play-off final just a month beforehand.

Rioch had a successful playing career, and played as a hard-tackling midfield for Luton, Aston Villa, Derby, Everton and Torquay, as well as 24 caps for Scotland, which saw Rioch feature in the World Cup in Argentina during 1978.

Rioch began his managerial career at Torquay in 1982, and became very successful. He managed to take Middlesbrough from the old Third Division all the way to the top flight, despite huge financial restrictions.

Rioch left Middlesbrough in 1990 following relegation, and went to Millwall for two years before he went to Bolton Wanderers where he had huge success again. As at Middlesbrough, he took Bolton from Division Two to the Premiership in successive seasons! This was done by a fantastic First Divison play-off win over Reading in 1995, where Wanderers won 4-3 after extra time. The same season Rioch took Bolton to Wembley in the League Cup Final, and were only defeated 1-0 by Premiership giants Liverpool due to a goal by Steve McManaman, now of Real Madrid.

Rioch then took over at the helm at Arsenal, but he only stayed at Highbury for a year as the Arsenal board quickly took action to get Arsene Wenger to replace Rioch. However, Rioch still had success during his short stint at Arsenal, and guided the Gunners to 5th in the Premiership. Rioch was also the man who managed to prise Dutch ace Dennis Bergkamp away from Inter Milan to re-ignite his career in North London. Rioch had set the foundations for Arsenal to become a successful side, and two seasons later they won the Premiership.

Rioch then left for QPR as assistant under Stewart Houston, and then in 1998 became manager of Norwich City, and finished his first season at Carrow Road in 9th position in the First Division, their highest league finish since Norwich were relegated from the Premiership in 1995. Rioch left Carrow Road in March 2000, claiming the club lacked ambition. If anything, ambition is something Latics have a plentiful supply of, and of course with the financial backing of Chairman Dave Whelan, the future is beginning to look very bright indeed.

John Hollins (Chelsea) See SWANSEA CITY FC - Photo of Hollins for this profile

JOHN HOLLINS - Manager

Appointed July 1998.

During his playing career, John Hollins made a total of 939 appearances for three clubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers.

This started in 1961. John was just 16 when he made his debut for Chelsea. During his fourteen years with the Blues he scored 69 goals in 592 appearances. In addition he was part of the UEFA Cap and European Cap Winners Cap teams. In two consecutive seasons 1970/71 and 1971/72 John picked up the Player of the Season Award. He also holds the record for the number of consecutive first-team appearances (167 between 1968 and 1970).

In 1975, John headed to Queens Park Rangers where he was to stay for four years. During this time be made 177 appearances and scored 6 goals. He was awarded the Player of the Year in 1977/78.

John's next step was Arsenal in 1979. In 1982/83 he picked up another Player of the Year award and was also a member of the European Cap Winners Cap team. He put on an Arsenal shirt 140 times and scored on 17 occasions. John was awarded an MBE in 1982 for his services to football.

He retained to Stamford Bridge in 1983 as player/coach of Chelsea where he was to wake a farther 30 appearances and score 2 goals and was part of the Division Two Championship team. Two years later he went info management taking charge of the team he started with. Daring this team his team won the Full Members Cup at Wembley.

Between 1988 and 1993, John was the proprietor of John Hollins Management Ltd. The business, which had a full FA coaching Licence involved player management, sports promotion and youth coaching.

His next port of call was back to Queens Park Rangers in 1993 where he was to take up the role of Reserve team manager at Loftus Road. John succeeded in winning the reserve League in 1995/96 and in 1997/98 he was promoted to Assistant Manager.

In July 1998, John left London and headed to Soufh Wales where he was to take over at the Vetch. In his first season, the Swans reached the Division Three Play Offs but lost over two legs to Scunthorpe United.

Last season, he guided the team one step further. The Swans won the Division Three Championship and broke numerous records along the may adding to John's already remarkable career.

(Info courtesy of David Dulin's excellent Swansea City Handbook 2000/1 - on sale from the Club Shop price £3)

See more July 2000 news at the following ...

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