- Birthdate: 15 July 1920
- Birthplace: Bolton, England
- Date of death: February 2005
- Other clubs: Southport (1939-46), Southport (2 / 1951-57), Bradford Park Avenue (1957-59), Wigan Rovers (1959-60)
- Signed from: Attended trials
- Signed for LFC: September 1946
- Liverpool debut: 19.10.1946
- Last appearance: 22.04.1950
- Contract expiry: 30.06.1951
- Win ratio: 29.03% W:9 D:8 L:14
- League games / goals: 28 / 0
- Total games / goals: 31 / 0
- League clean sheets: 7
- Total clean sheets: 7
Player Profile
Cyril Sidlow was the club’s recognised last line of defence in the years immediately following World War II but Minshull deputised for him in six matches in the fantastic 1946/47 championship season. He earned the distinction of saving a penalty from Bill Shankly when Preston North End visited Anfield on 7 April 1947, twelve and a half years before he became Liverpool's boss. Albert Stubbins revealed Minshull's strategy in his newspaper column the following week. "Before our Easter Monday games with Preston Jack Balmer commented that Bill Shankly, visiting wing-half, always placed penalty kicks to the left side of goalkeepers. During the game when Preston were awarded a spot kick, the wily Shankly ran at the ball as though to slam it - instead he attempted a place shot. Ray Minshull was prepared, and his clever save ended any hopes Preston had of saving the game - and proved Jack Balmer to be correct."
Although Minshull was at Anfield for four seasons, he only made 31 appearances for the club and had to leave Merseyside to find regular first-team football. He was given a free transfer and upon the completion of his Liverpool contract he signed for Southport on 1 July 1951, making 217 league appearances for them. Minshull was Wigan Rovers' player-manager in the Cheshire County league in the 1959/60 season and coached in Gibraltar and Austria. He became a highly-popular youth development officer at Everton in the 70's and 80's, unearthing a number of gems such as Gary Stevens, Steve McMahon and former captain Kevin Ratcliffe who is very grateful to Minshull for bringing him to Merseyside. "I would have first met Ray when I was 14 years old," recalled Ratcliffe. "He used to come across to my house to speak to my dad before I signed for the club. He brought lots of us into the club. Ray was a great fellow even though he was also a tough disciplinarian."
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
3 |
270 |
Stoke City |
3 |
270 |
Manchester United |
2 |
210 |
Nottingham Forest |
2 |
180 |
Wolves |
2 |
180 |
Preston North End |
2 |
180 |
Blackpool |
2 |
180 |
Portsmouth |
2 |
180 |
Sunderland |
2 |
180 |
Huddersfield Town |
2 |
180 |
Arsenal |
1 |
90 |
Fulham |
1 |
90 |
Grimsby Town |
1 |
90 |
Charlton Athletic |
1 |
90 |
Sheffield United |
1 |
90 |
Middlesbrough |
1 |
90 |
Aston Villa |
1 |
90 |
Newcastle United |
1 |
90 |
Bolton Wanderers |
1 |
90 |
Burnley |
Total |
Venue |
15 |
Away |
15 |
Home |
1 |
Neutral |
Total |
W |
D |
L |
Win % |
Manager |
31 |
9 |
8 |
14 |
29% |
George Kay |
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
19.10.1946 |
Huddersfield Town |
Leeds Road |
League |
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Southport |
1939-1946 |
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Southport |
1951-1952 |
England Third Division North |
20 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
Southport |
1952-1953 |
England Third Division North |
38 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
Southport |
1953-1954 |
England Third Division North |
31 |
0 |
31 |
0 |
Southport |
1954-1955 |
England Third Division North |
45 |
0 |
46 |
0 |
Southport |
1955-1956 |
England Third Division North |
46 |
0 |
49 |
0 |
Southport |
1956-1957 |
England Third Division North |
28 |
0 |
28 |
0 |
Southport |
1957-1958 |
England Third Division North |
9 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
Bradford Park Avenue |
1957-1958 |
England Third Division North |
19 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
Bradford Park Avenue |
1958-1959 |
England Fourth Division |
9 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
Wigan Rovers |
1959-1960 |
Cheshire County League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Total |
245 |
0 |
254 |
0 |