Ray Kennedy

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Lore & Background

Kennedy turned professional for Arsenal in November 1968. He made his first-team debut 10 months later and went on to win the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970, the First Division and FA Cup Double in 1970–71, and then play on the losing side in the 1972 FA Cup final. His form then declined, and he was sold to Liverpool for a club record £200,000 fee in July 1974, at the same time that Bill Shankly resigned as manager. He initially struggled at the club, but after manager Bob Paisley converted him to a left-sided midfielder, he went on to help Liverpool become the dominant club in English football from 1975 to 1982. During his time at the club Liverpool won the First Division five times (1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, and 1981–82), the FA Charity Shield four times (1976, 1977, 1979 and 1980), the European Cup three times, (1977, 1978, and 1981), and the UEFA Cup (1976), UEFA Super Cup (1977), and League Cup (1981). He also picked up runners-up medals in the FA Cup (1977), UEFA Super Cup (1978), League Cup (1978), and World Club Championship (1981) and won the Match of the Day's Goal of the Season award in 1978–79. He was a strong player with an excellent first touch, intelligence, and all-round ability. This allowed him to transition from a forward to a midfielder at Liverpool. Despite his trophy successes with Arsenal and Liverpool, after winning six caps for the England under-23 side, he could not translate his club form into a good international career. He was used as a stand-in for Trevor Brooking before he retired from international football in frustration in March 1981. His only international tournament appearance was at Euro 1980. Bob Paisley described him as 'one of Liverpool's greatest players and probably the most underrated'. Kennedy joined Swansea City for a £160,000 fee in January 1982 and added a Welsh Cup winners medal to his collection four months later. However, the effects of Parkinson's disease began to reduce his effectiveness on the pitch, and he dropped into the Fourth Division with Hartlepool United in November 1983. During the 1984–85 season, he spent a brief time as player-manager of Cyprus club Pezoporikos and later played for Northern League club Ashington. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in November 1984. His life after football was difficult, as he had to deal with the effects of Parkinson's, the loss of his business,

In Their Own Story

The 1972–73 season tested Kennedy's resolve as poor form and weight gain saw him drop to 60% capacity. After a fine and dietary changes, he recovered enough to help Arsenal finish second, though his confidence fluctuated. By the 1973–74 season, with captain Frank McLintock departed, Kennedy failed to score from October to mid-January. Speculation mounted about moves to Sunderland or Newcastle, but he released a statement in February claiming his game had improved since becoming single: 'my game has gone downhill since I got married but has started to pick up again now I am in bachelordom'. Despite ending the season in good form, manager Bertie Mee decided to move him on. In July 1974, Kennedy was sold to Liverpool for a club record £200,000 fee, coinciding with Bill Shankly's resignation. Although he initially struggled, Bob Paisley converted him to left-sided midfielder, unlocking his potential to help Liverpool win five First Division titles and three European Cups.

Reader's Guide

Ray Kennedy was born on 28 July 1951 in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, to Martin and Veronica Kennedy. He was the eldest of four children. He was spotted playing schoolboy football by a scout at Port Vale and began training at Vale Park after manager Stanley Matthews persuaded him to sign schoolboy forms. However, at age 16 Matthews felt Kennedy was 'too slow to be a footballer'. The club released him. He returned to north-east England in March 1967, worked in a sweet factory, and played as an amateur for New Hartley Juniors, forming a successful attacking partnership with Ian Watts. He was spotted by Arsenal playing for New Hartley Juniors and signed an apprentice contract in May 1968, then professional forms in November 1968. He made his first-team debut on 29 September 1969 against Glentoran in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and his First Division debut as a substitute on 18 October 1969. He scored his first goal for Arsenal in a 3–1 win over Sunderland. He appeared as a substitute in the first leg of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final and scored a late goal in a 3–1 defeat; his goal proved decisive as Arsenal won 4–3 on aggregate. In the 1970–71 season, he replaced the injured Charlie George as John Radford's strike partner and featured in all remaining league fixtures as Arsenal won the Double. He scored his first hat-trick against Nottingham Forest and scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on the final day to secure the league title. In the FA Cup final, Arsenal beat Liverpool 2–1 after extra time. In 1971–72, Arsenal finished fifth in the league and lost the FA Cup final 1–0 to Leeds United; Kennedy lost his first-team place late in the season due to fatigue and was a substitute in the final. He finished as the club's top goalscorer for the second successive season with 19 goals in 55 appearances. In 1972–73, he struggled with form and weight, was fined £200, then shed weight and rediscovered form; Arsenal finished second in the league and reached the FA Cup semi-finals. In 1973–74, Arsenal dropped into mid-table, and Kennedy failed to score from 6 October to mid-January, with speculation of moves to Sunderland and Newcastle.

Did You Know?

• Kennedy scored a late goal in the first leg of the 1970 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final, which proved decisive as Arsenal won 4–3 on aggregate.
• He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the 1970–71 season to secure the league title for Arsenal.
• Bob Paisley described Kennedy as 'one of Liverpool's greatest players and probably the most underrated'.
• Kennedy was forced to sell his medal collection and caps in 1993 to fund medical expenses related to Parkinson's disease.