Ray Kitchener

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Ray Kitchener
Ray Kitchener.jpg
0Full Name Ray A Kitchener
0Date of Birth 31 October 1930
0Place of Birth Letchworth, England
0Position Left winger
0Chelsea career 1954-1956
0Debut 11 February 1956
0Games (goals) 1 (0)
0Other clubs Hitchen Town
Norwich City

Ray Kitchener (31 October 1930 – June 2013) was a winger who made one appearance for Chelsea in 1955, having joined from Hitchin Town the previous year.

Contents

Before Chelsea

Born in Letchworth Garden City, Kitchener started his career at Letchworth Boys Club, before joining Hitchen Town and going on to make his debut in 1952; scoring twice in a win against Wolverton in the FA Cup. He helped his side to a second-place finish in the Athenian League during his time at the club and in 1953-54 Hitchin reached the quarter-finals of the FA Amateur Cup, but the young winger was injured for the match and therefore spared a crushing 10-1 defeat against Crook. Kitchener's performances had caught the eye of Chelsea scouts, and though he was initially reluctant to become professional (and therefore losing out on what was a realistic prospect of representing England at amateur level), he later accepted an invitation from Ted Drake to join Chelsea's post-season tour of North America and subsequently signed for the Blues. [1]

Chelsea career

Kitchener saw his club win the league title for the first time in their history in the 1954-55 season. Though he didn't appear for the first team over the course of the campaign he appeared regularly for the reserves, earning a winner's medal as his side won the Football Combination. His only first team appearance for the Blues came the following season, in a 2-2 away draw against Manchester City.

After Chelsea

Kitchener left to join Norwich City in 1957 and later played in the Eastern Counties League. He died in 2013 at the age of 82 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. [2]

Statistics

Season League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1955-56 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 1 0
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