Ray Jones Anniversary

[HammersmithR]

He is just the striker we need at the moment. Would have gone to be a great talent. Plays a bit like big Andy Carroll at Newcastle.

I was only 20 miles from Burnley until I started getting load of messages saying he had died and the game was off. We went straight back to London and down to the ground.

Really gutted for his family.

[westlondonranger]

R.I.P ray gone but never forgotten

[WALKONBY]

both sadly missed

[stainrodisalegend]

Obviously a tragedy about ray jones but at the risk of sounding uncharitable he was meant to be a professional footballer who was out on the lash and died in a car crash. Many more innocent people could have been killed. Undoubtedly he had considerable potential but I for one aren't going to enter into this annual "poor, poor ray" ceremonies.

[IsleworthRanger]

Obviously a tragedy about ray jones but at the risk of sounding uncharitable he was meant to be a professional footballer who was out on the lash and died in a car crash. Many more innocent people could have been killed. Undoubtedly he had considerable potential but I for one aren't going to enter into this annual "poor, poor ray" ceremonies.

I stand to be corrected but was it ever established that he had been drinking the night he died?

I know he was not in the Burnley squad and had been to a club with friends on the Friday night but dont recall that he had caused the crash due to excess alcohol

[Ginger Ninja]

Obviously a tragedy about ray jones but at the risk of sounding uncharitable he was meant to be a professional footballer who was out on the lash and died in a car crash. Many more innocent people could have been killed. Undoubtedly he had considerable potential but I for one aren't going to enter into this annual "poor, poor ray" ceremonies.

i think you're wrong about him drinking. if im wrong then fair enough. i think he was joyriding and driving dangerously.

[paulmason]

Undoubtedly he had considerable potential but I for one aren't going to enter into this annual "poor, poor ray" ceremonies.

[singingranger]

He hadn't been drinking as I understand, I don't think he was a drinker, hec may have had a fast car but he was an 18 year old lad that may have made a mistake. I look back at when I was 18 I am not proud of many things.

[paulmason]

I stand to be corrected but was it ever established that he had been drinking the night he died?

I know he was not in the Burnley squad and had been to a club with friends on the Friday night but dont recall that he had caused the crash due to excess alcohol

His two friends were ruled to have been "unlawfully killed" and I'm sure how or why they were unlawfully killed would have come out in the court case to prosecute Ray Jones if he had survived.

This was a tragedy for all concerned.

[Ginger Ninja]

His two friends were ruled to have been "unlawfully killed" and I'm sure how or why they were unlawfully killed would have come out in the court case to prosecute Ray Jones if he had survived.

This was a tragedy for all concerned.

agreed. thoughts also go out to the families of the 2 young men that died in the car with jones.

[coneysboots]

agreed. thoughts also go out to the families of the 2 young men that died in the car with jones.

Terrible tragedy all round. But as said if he would have survived he probably would be facing manslaughter charges. Much like Lee Hughes, who is regularly crucified for his actions.

[dpmd]

RIP Ray. Your goal away at Cardiff live on Sky will live long in the memory. I still remember the commentary: "And it's Ray Jones the teenager!"...

[stainrodisalegend]

Apologies and stand corrected if he hadn't been drunk, to his family also. But as said joy riding, driving dangerously, potential manslaughter charges if he had have lived....

Also take the point he was a young lad and we all did v foolish things. Just feel a bit queasy about all this worship when however you package it he was still at least in part responsible for people dying.

[Scarlet pimple]

I have two sons around about poor Rays age, both were out driving when i heard the new's cry'd like a baby, for Ray and the fear i had for my sons.

Thankfully sons are still with me, unlike Rays parents.

[swanleyhoop]

Shame this thread is being used to enter some legal/criminal debate -- it's not why it was started.

Yes, Ray Jones was a young man who drove erratically to show off in front of his friends. Like many 18 year olds do -- only difference was he didn't get away with it. Very easy to take the high moral ground here forgetting that he was doing what THOUSANDS of teenagers do every Friday and Saturday night.

For those that met Ray Jones, he will be remembered as a lovely young man, who had an error of judgement and paid for it with his life and the lives of his friends. I remember how chuffed and surprised he was when I told him he was Josie's favourite player and wanted his name on her shirt.
Unfortunately there are now more shirts with his name on the back than probably any other player of recent times.

RIP him and Daphne.