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Ray Ranson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ray Ranson (born 12 June 1960 in St Helens, Merseyside) is an English former footballer and entrepreneur. He started his football career with Manchester City, and subsequently played for Birmingham City, Newcastle United and Reading. After his playing career ended, he amassed a multimillion pound fortune working in the fields of insurance and sports finance, and in 2005 headed a consortium in an attempt to purchase Aston Villa.
Ranson's sporting career began when he was signed as an apprentice by Manchester City in 1976. A defender who usually played at right-back, he made his senior debut in a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest on 23 December 1978.[1] He went on to be capped several times by England at under-21 level[2] and was part of the Manchester City team which reached the 1981 FA Cup final.
In November 1984 Ranson was transferred to Birmingham City, where he played 137 times in the League. With Birmingham he won promotion to the First Division in 1985, but the club were relegated the following season. He spent nearly five years at Birmingham before joining Newcastle United, for whom he made his debut on 26 December 1988 in a 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday, the first of 83 League appearances for the club.[3] In 1993 he returned to Manchester City on loan, making 17 appearances to bring his total for Manchester City to 233. After his loan expired he joind Reading.
Ranson's playing career ended due to injury in 1995.[4] A year later he took a job working for Benfield Grieg, the insurance company owned by Chelsea director Matthew Harding.[4] Ranson invested heavily in the company, and sold his stake for several million pounds in 2002. He then started a venture funding football transfers on a sale and leaseback basis, including several deals with then Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale.[5]
Ranson twice headed a consortium in unsuccessful attempt to purchase Aston Villa. The first bid £30 million in April 2004, and the second takeover attempt was valued at £45 million.[6]
- ^ Ray Ranson - Manchester City. Football Heroes. Retrieved on January 30, 2007.
- ^ Clayton, David (2002). Everything under the blue moon: the complete book of Manchester City FC - and more!. Edinburgh: Mainstream publishing. ISBN 1-84018-687-9.
- ^ Ray Ranson - Newcastle United. Football Heroes. Retrieved on January 30, 2007.
- ^ a b Profile - Ray Ranson. The Independent. Retrieved on January 30, 2007.
- ^ Could Aston Villa soon be benefiting from the business skills of former Man City star Ranson?. Professional Footballers' Association. Retrieved on January 30, 2007.
- ^ Villa reject Ranson takeover bid. BBC. Retrieved on January 30, 2007.