Ray Shaw

Who was Ray Shaw?

Raymond "Ray" Shaw was an English professional footballer and manager who played in the Football League for Birmingham.

Shaw was born in Walsall, Staffordshire. He began his football career as an amateur with Walsall, and played local football for Streetly Works and for Darlaston, before turning professional with Birmingham in 1937. He made his debut in the First Division on 25 September 1937 as an emergency centre forward in a 2–1 defeat at Preston North End. He played only occasionally over the next two seasons, but was first choice at the start of the 1939–40 season which was abandoned on the outbreak of the Second World War. Shaw made 111 appearances for the club in the wartime leagues, and a few more when the Football League resumed in 1946, before retiring as a player to join Birmingham's coaching staff.

He succeeded Alf Wood as manager of Walsall in October 1964, stabilising the club in mid-table in the Third Division and twice leading them to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. After three-and-a-half years in post, he handed over to Dick Graham and took up a coaching position with Leicester City.