Ray Owen

For the Australian politician, see Ray Owen (politician). For the teacher and scientist, see Ray David Owen.

Raymond "Ray" Owen (birth registered third ¼ 1940^[1] – 5 February 2006) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, and a chairman of the 1980s and 1990s. He played at club level for Widnes and Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 694), as a scrum-half, i.e. number 7, and he was chairman for Widnes from 1987 to 1991.

Ray Owen

Personal information
Full name	Raymond Owen
Born	third ¼ 1940 Prescot, England
Died	5 February 2006 (aged 65) Widnes, England
Playing information
Position	Scrum-half
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1960–64 Widnes 55 11 33 1964–69 Wakefield Trinity 82 19 2 0 61 Total 137 30 2 0 94

Background

Ray Owen's birth was registered in Prescot district, Lancashire, England, and he died aged 65 in Widnes, Cheshire, England.

Playing career

Championship final appearances

Ray Owen played scrum-half, scored a try, and was man of the match winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy, in Wakefield Trinity's 21-9 victory over St. Helens in the Championship Final replay during the 1966–67 season at Station Road, Swinton on Wednesday 10 May 1967, and scored two tries in the 17-10 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the Championship Final during the 1967–68 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 4 May 1968.^[2]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Ray Owen played scrum-half in Widnes' 13-5 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1963–64 Challenge Cup Final during the 1963–64 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 9 May 1964, in front of a crowd of 84,488, and played scrum-half in Wakefield Trinity's 10-11 defeat by Leeds in the 1968 Challenge Cup "Watersplash" Final during the 1967–68 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1968, in front of a crowd of 87,100.^[2]

County Cup Final appearances

Ray Owen played scrum-half in Wakefield Trinity's 18-2 victory over Leeds in the 1964 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964.

Club career

Ray Owen made his début for Wakefield Trinity during August 1964, and he played his last match for Wakefield Trinity during the 1968–69 season , he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored.^{[citation needed]}

Rugby league career

Ray Owen was chairman of Widnes during the glory years of the 1980s, and was still involved, as chairman of the Widnes Past Players Association, up to his death.

Genealogical information

Ray Owen was the son of the rugby league footballer Harry Owen, and Margaret (née Leather, birth registered during third ¼ 1912 in Prescot district), the younger brother of the rugby league footballer for Widnes, and Liverpool City, Harry Owen, Jr. (birth registered during fourth ¼ 1932 in Prescot district), and the older brother of Christine Owen (birth registered during first ¼ 1943 (age 80–81) in Prescot district), and David Owen (birth registered during second ¼ 1945 (age 78–79) in Prescot district)^[3]

References

1. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
2. Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
3. "Statistics at rugby.widnes.tv". rugby.widnes.tv. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.

External links

• Search for "Owen" at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Ex-Vikings chief dies
• Football: Ray Was a True Great; Tributes Pour in for Popular Widnes Chief
• Football: Ray Was a True Great; Tributes Pour in for Popular Widnes Chief
• Rugby Cup Final 1968