Ray Pointer was a player who encapsulated the very essence of the game. His career, spanning over a decade and encompassing more than 400 Football League appearances, was a testament to his skill, determination, and an uncanny ability to find the back of the goal. Undoubtedly, he was not just a footballer; he was a phenomenon, a true crowd favourite whose all-action style would have made him a star in any era.

PART ONE

Ray Pointer’s story begins not in the hallowed halls of a professional academy but on the gritty pitches of Cramlington Welfare and Dudley Welfare. Born in 1936, he was a late bloomer in the world of professional football, not signing for Burnley until he was past his 18th birthday. However, his talent was undeniable, and it was Burnley scout Charlie Ferguson who spotted his potential. What’s more, he had already caught the eye of Blackpool, but it was Burnley chief Alan Brown who secured his signature after a trial in 1955. Initially signed on amateur terms, his rise was steady but sure, and by 1957, he had turned professional.

Pointer´s debut for Burnley came in October 1957, just before his 21st birthday, in a match against Luton Town. Although he didn’t score on his first outing, he didn’t have to wait long to make his mark. A week later, the striker hit the fourth goal in a resounding 6-0 win over Sunderland, announcing his arrival in style. That season, he scored eight goals, but it was the following campaign that truly established him as a force to be reckoned with. In the 1958/59 season, he scored an amazing 27 goals in 37 League appearances, a feat that not only cemented his place in Burnley’s history but also earned him a call-up to the England under-23 squad.

His international debut for the under-23s arrived in a match against Italy at the iconic San Siro in Milan. England ran out 3-0 winners, and Pointer scored two of the goals, showcasing his composure and clinical finishing on one of football’s grandest stages. This performance was a harbinger of things to come, as Pointer’s star continued to rise. The 1959/60 campaign saw him win a Football League Championship medal with The Clarets, contributing a respectable 19 goals to their triumphant campaign. By now, he was widely regarded as one of the finest centre-forwards in England, and his consistent performances made him impossible to ignore.

In September 1961, Pointer finally received his first full England cap, playing in a 4-1 victory over Luxembourg at Highbury. He scored in that match, further enhancing his reputation as a reliable goal-scorer. A month later, he made two more appearances for his country, first against Wales in a Home International at Ninian Park and then against Portugal at Wembley. The latter match was particularly significant, as England’s 2-0 victory ensured their qualification for the 1962 World Cup in Chile. Pointer scored one of the goals, with the other coming from his Burnley teammate John Connelly. It seemed certain that Pointer would be on the plane to Chile, but in a decision that baffled many, he was left out of the squad in favour of Alan Peacock and Gerry Hitchens. Consequently, his international career came to an abrupt end, with two goals in three caps to his name.

Despite this setback, Pointer’s club form remained impeccable. The 1961/62 season saw him score 25 league goals, helping Burnley finish as runners-up in the league and reach the FA Cup Final, where they were narrowly defeated by Tottenham Hotspur. One of those goals, an equaliser against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April 1962, was his 100th league goal for Burnley. This milestone placed him in an elite group of Burnley players, alongside legends such as Jimmy McIlroy, George Beel, Bert Freeman, and Louis Page. Since then, only Andy Lochhead has joined this exclusive club, a testament to Pointer’s enduring legacy.

PART TWO

However, the 1962/63 campaign marked the beginning of the end for Pointer at Burnley. A chipped bone in his ankle, sustained in April 1963, severely hampered his fitness and form. With young talents like Lochhead and Willie Irvine emerging, Pointer found himself increasingly relegated to reserve team football. His final League goal for Burnley came on the 19th of September 1964 in a 3-2 win against West Ham United at Turf Moor, and two months later, he made his last appearance for the club. In total, he netted 118 League goals for Burnley, with 133 in all competitions, a record that speaks volumes about his contribution to the side.

In August 1965, Pointer left Burnley for Bury, where he enjoyed a brief but prolific spell, scoring 17 goals in just 19 games. His form attracted the attention of Coventry City boss Jimmy Hill, who signed him in December 1965. He continued to find the net with regularity, adding another 11 goals for Coventry to take his seasonal tally to 28, the best of his career. However, his time with The Sky Blues was short-lived, and in 1967, he moved to Portsmouth, where he transitioned from a striker to a midfield role. And even though his goal-scoring exploits diminished, he remained a valuable asset, playing 149 League games for Pompey and contributing 13 goals.

Pointer’s final years at Portsmouth were marked by his involvement in coaching the club’s junior players, a role that hinted at his future beyond playing. His last appearance at Turf Moor, as a Portsmouth player, was a poignant moment. The reception he received from the Burnley faithful was nothing short of rapturous, a fitting tribute to a player who had given so much to the Lancashire club. The applause that greeted him as he emerged from the tunnel was a reminder of the everlasting mark he had left on Burnley’s history.

After retiring from playing, Ray Pointer returned to the north-west, where he became Blackpool’s youth coach under Bloomfield Road manager Harry Potts. When Potts returned to Burnley, Pointer followed, taking on a coaching role that saw him work with talented youngsters like Vince Overson, Brian Laws, and Micky Phelan. He also had a stint coaching at Bury before eventually stepping away from the game.