Sadly one of the true legends of this club passed away today, Ray was a stalwart through our glory years, signed by Bill Shankly in the late 60’s when the club was drifting he left over a decade later with 5 league titles, 3 European Cups, 2 UEFA Cups, the FA Cup and League Cup to his name.
Like Keegan at the other end of the pitch Ray was big time, he was at his best in the big moments, his clean sheet record is stuff of legend in itself but what’s not often spoken about was his resilience, in an era when keepers weren’t protected from target men centre forwards and played on all sorts of surfaces from mud baths to frozen ice rinks Ray missed just 7 games in a decade for us, in fact no other player in English football played more top flight league games during the 1970’s than Ray Clemence.
He was one of the people who helped make this club what it is, his reception when he returned to Anfield with Spurs said it all, that was more than respect for an ex player, that was love.
RIP you great man and thanks for the memories.