Ray Parlour

The unsung hero and Romford Pelé who powered Arsenal's Double-winning sides with relentless work rate.

Raymond Parlour (born 7 March 1973) is an English former professional footballer who spent fifteen years at Arsenal FC, playing from his debut in January 1992 until 2004. Known as 'The Romford Pelé', a nickname coined by Paul Day reflecting his solid play and down-to-earth personality, he was a midfielder celebrated for his high work rate and commitment. Often described as an 'unsung hero' and a 'fans' favourite', he spent much of his career in the shadow of Patrick Vieira but remains a legendary figure who bridged the transition from George Graham to Arsène Wenger.

Quick Facts

Full name: Raymond Parlour
Born: 7 March 1973
Birthplace: Romford, England
Height: 1.78 m / 5 ft 10 in
Position: Midfielder
Total caps: 400

Lore & Background

In the 1993–94 season, he made 32 appearances, but it was in the 1997–98 'Double' winning campaign where he truly shone. He was named man-of-the-match in the FA Cup Final against Newcastle United, setting up Nicolas Anelka for the second goal in a 2–0 victory. Two years later, during the 2000 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 away win at Werder Bremen. His most iconic strike came in April 2001 when he scored a 30-yard winner against Valencia in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Perhaps his most famous goal occurred in May 2002, opening the scoring in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea with another stunning 30-yard strike that famously caught presenter Tim Lovejoy off guard. Despite these moments, he was often overlooked by journalists and England managers like Glenn Hoddle, who preferred Darren Anderton for the 1998 World Cup squad.

Reader's Guide

Parlour's Arsenal years ran from 1985, when he joined as a 12-year-old trainee, to his free transfer to Middlesbrough in July 2004. Joining as a trainee at age 12 in 1985, he made his debut in 1992 and became a regular under Arsène Wenger from 1996 onwards, playing on the right wing or central midfield. Fans should note his record of 333 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, a club record that has not been surpassed by any other player. His honours include three Premier League titles (1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04), four FA Cups (1992–93, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03), and the 1993–94 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. While often overshadowed by contemporaries like Vieira, his loyalty was absolute until July 2004 when he joined Middlesbrough on a free transfer after his contract expired.

Did You Know?

He was incorrectly disallowed a goal against Finland in October 2000 when his 30-yard strike hit the crossbar and crossed the line but was ruled out by a linesman.
In June 2012, he briefly came out of retirement to play for the semi-professional Wembley FC in their FA Cup fixtures.