This is a tribute to the recently retired ‘Romford Pele’, arguably the last of the Highbury old guard, and if not in actuality, a true one club player.

Recently, as I lay on the black sandy beaches of Santorini, I received a text from a friend back home, sadly informing me that a member of the old guard had finally hung up his boots. After a glistening sixteen year career I thought a tribute to his reign was more than deserving for a player who has brought so many so much joy.

Ray was a rare breed of player who rose through the Arsenal ranks. With his distinctive curly, blond locks he will always be a fans’ favourite, remembered for his unquestionable passion and willingness to get stuck into a game. Always tracking back, often tackling like a man possessed, he was a player who could unsettle the most stable of defences with menacing thrusts of possession and the ability to shock any keeper through goal bombardment from long range.

His nickname “The Romford Pele” was bestowed upon him by his fellow professionals on the London Colney training ground and later, with some element of tongue in cheek, widely adopted by the Highbury masses.

On reflection Ray was well worthy of his adopted title. Even if the Romford lad was worlds away from the Brazilian legend, his levels of professionalism and commitment to the club allowed him to gain a Pele-esque cult following among Arsenal Fans which is still demonstrated today by those who sing his name loud and clear around the pubs of Highbury on match days.

Despite showing so much early promise under George Graham, Parlour was slow to score in the following seasons and at one stage went nearly two and a half years between goals. Under new manager, Bruce Rioch, Ray’s instalment at the centre of Arsenal’s midfield seemed to allow more freedom, and the creativity that was so evident in the early stages of his career returned. He gathered further momentum following the appointment of Arsene Wenger early in 1996/97 season. Reinstated on the right after the sale of Paul Merson in the summer of 1998, Ray played an instrumental part in the free flowing football instigated under new manager Wenger, picking up a well deserved ‘Man of the Match’ accolade in the 1998 FA Cup Final against Newcastle.

Since then he has accumulated many great moments including a clever hat-trick in the UEFA Cup Quarter Final against Werder Bremen in March 2000, a superb hat-rick roared on by the Highbury crowd at Newcastle nine months later. And who can forget the spectacular 30-yard winner, hammered into the North Bank goal against Valencia in the Champions League Quarter final at Highbury - leaving the Valencia keeper in a daze?

Despite his less than glamorous hairstyle, Ray was often able to score the spectacular goal. The crowning moment for me must be that 2002 FA Cup Final goal which was on from the moment he hit it, despite a certain blue eyed Soccer am pundit muttering “Oh no he got through! Oh, it’s alright It’s only Ray Parlour...” before watching Ray duck and dive past a bewildered Chelsea backline of Melchiot, Gallas and Desailly - who could only watch the ball sail past Cudicini to leave West London at that point literally a million miles, or should I say Roubles, away from any future success.

His own highlight however came in a celebrated win in Italy, where Ray was instrumental in putting an impressive Inter Milan to the sword in the Siro. It was a game in which Arsene Wenger had handed Parlour the captain’s arm band, highlighting the respect that Wenger held for the midfielder, Parlour describing the honour as his “finest hour in an Arsenal shirt”.

With the current celebrity climate demonstrating the lack of commitment and passion players nowadays have towards their club’s crest, Ray is, I believe, the last of a dying breed. Despite leaving the Gunners in 2004 for the north east and Middlesbrough (a decision heavily influenced by the recent divorce from his wife who literally took his home from beneath him) and then on to Championship side Hull, it remains evident that Ray was really a one club player, a Gooner through and through, who demonstrated his determination to please with heart on the sleeve performances before the Highbury masses. Even after making his last professional move to Hull, the guy couldn’t bear to leave Arsenal, asking to train with the Arsenal first team Monday to Thursday to regain and maintain his Premiership fitness and reduce the amount of travelling he would have to make from his Hertfordshire Home. So here’s to Ray, a true unsung Arsenal hero.

Ray Parlour

Arsenal appearances: 392 (76)
Arsenal Goals: 32
International appearances: 10

FA Premier League - winner 1998, 2002, 2004
FA Cup - winner 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003; runner-up 2001
League Cup - winner 1993
European Cup Winners Cup - winner 1994; runner-up 1995
UEFA Cup - runner-up 2000

If you want a bit of the Romford Pele on youtube, click here