FORMER Burton Albion player and director Ray Bowering has sadly passed away at the age of 85.
Ray played for the Brewers from the age of 17, up until the 1960s. He later become a director of the club and continued to support the Brewers both home and away alongside his wife Marlene. Both also volunteered for the club for many decades.
In 1956, less than six years after the club’s formation, Ray was part of the club’s famous FA Cup run, in which player-manager Reg Weston’s side travelled to Charlton Athletic in the third-round. Competing in the Birmingham League Division One at the time, the Brewers had previously got through seven rounds of the world's oldest football competition defeating Atherstone Town, Tamworth, Bedworth Town, Sutton Coldfield, Brush Sports of Loughborough, Wycombe Wanderers and Halifax Town, before being defeated by First Division Charlton.
Ray went on to serve in the Army, where he completed his National Service. In 1957, he had just 5 days leave to marry his wife Marlene, before he set off to Germany where he was based for six months.
He later became a cooper at the brewery, followed by running two pubs in the town, The Shoulder of Mutton in Barton under Needwood and one in Newhall.
Up until recent years, Ray was on the Board of Directors, in which he unfortunately had to stand down due to ill-health and became an Honorary Vice President. During his time as Director, this also led to him having the experience of visiting the board room at Old Trafford when the Brewers played Manchester United in the 2006 FA Cup.
The thoughts of everyone at Burton Albion are with Ray’s family and friends at this sad time.
Photo: (L-R) Ray Bowering with former Brewers manager, John Barton.
Photo Credit: Ian Leech