| John Ray | |
| Fullname: | John Walter Ray[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1968 11, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Newmarket, England |
| Height: | [2] |
| Position: | Defender |
| Youthclubs1: | Colchester United |
| Years1: | 1987–1988 |
| Clubs1: | Colchester United |
| Caps1: | 1 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1988 |
| Clubs2: | → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) |
| Clubs3: | Aveley |
| Clubs4: | Barking |
| Clubs5: | Billericay Town |
| Clubs6: | Ford United |
| Clubs7: | Grays Athletic |
| Years8: | 1998–2000 |
| Clubs8: | Romford |
| Caps8: | 70 |
| Goals8: | 2 |
| Clubs9: | Tilbury |
| Totalcaps: | 1 |
| Totalgoals: | 0 |
John Walter Ray (born 21 November 1968) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League as a defender for Colchester United.
Born in Newmarket, Ray was a regular in the Colchester United youth teams and reserves, and was offered a short-term professional contract with the option of a further year towards the end of his apprenticeship with the club in the 1987–88 season after impressing manager Roger Brown. Having sat on the substitutes bench for a number of games, Ray finally played his one and only Football League game on 30 January 1988, as a substitute for Tony English, where he handled the ball to concede a penalty and allow Scarborough to score their third in a 3–1 defeat for Colchester at the McCain Stadium.[2] [3] [4]
Following his solitary appearance, he went out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers alongside fellow youth product Scott Young before he was released by Colchester on his return. He subsequently joined a host of Essex-based non-league clubs, including Aveley, Barking, Billericay Town, Ford United, Grays Athletic, Romford and Tilbury.[2]