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Ray Cottrell... loyal and long ser
Not many people can claim to have played
in every league/level their club has played
at. But at the time he retired from the
game, Elmore stalwart Ray Cottrell had
done just that.
Now a sprightly 73 years old and a regular
at Horsdon Park on matchdays, Ray – who
played most of his career in the forwards,
although he said he reverted to full back
when he lost his pace – has fond memories
of his playing career at Elmore.
Ray played almost exclusively for Elmore,
bar a very short spell at Tiverton – “I just
didn’t like it there, so came back to
Elmore,” he said.
“I remember when the club was formed
back in 1947– I used to come along and
watch the side then and have supported
them ever since.”
Ray joined the club and started playing for
the colts in 1954/55. During the next 20
years he appeared in junior, senior and
premier Devon and Exeter League football
and in the South Western League
football for the club.
He retired in 1976 after
serving 20 years as a
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