A Tribute to Ian Rayworth

Posted 25th October 2024

The passing of Ian Rayworth on October 18th, a former President of the Football Club, deprives the OWFC of a great servant and someone who played for virtually every one of our sides, the statistics showing that he made a total of 682 appearances – only four players have played more – and scored 10 goals; quite a few have managed more!

            He spent the latter part of his playing career in the 8^th Xl where he not only nurtured and encouraged fresh talent still at the school, but regularly drove many miles each Saturday picking them up from Mollison Drive and then returning them safely home afterwards.  Stuart Paton, the current OWA President, was one of them and will be eternally grateful for Ian’s kindness.
            But, and upon returning home, Ian’s weekend work was not done, for he was invariably one of the first to call in on a Sunday morning with the match report, something worthy in itself but particularly so when you consider that he and his good friend,  Fred Brindle,   had spent the day before introducing his young team mates in  the joys of Old Wilsonians football and ensuring they got home safely

            Earlier in his OW career, when Ian played in the higher sides, there were often as many as four Ians in the side, a goal-keeper  and three defenders,  and the shout of ‘Ian’s’ ball’ caused havoc in the OW’s defence ,  with opposing forwards often benefitting from this confusion,  whilst I have no doubt that this also  contributed to the 70 plus own goals that Ian Forbes scored.
            Ian was a year older than me and my first skipper – at both football and cricket – at the school.

He was a regular attendee at our Vice Presidents days and we will all miss him, but our immediate thoughts and condolences go to his wife Maureen and the rest of the Rayworth family.    Pikey