Terry Turner: Ray Kennedy

May 3rd 1971. Arsenal need a point from their last game to beat Leeds United to the title. And Arsenal are away to Spurs their great North London rivals. Near the end of the match with the score 0-0 Arsenal get a corner and Geordie Armstrong floats a cross into the penalty area. From a crowd of players, a big dark-haired figure finds space and crashes a header past Pat Jennings and in off the underside of the bar. The result stays one nil and Arsenal win the league and a few days later beat Liverpool in the Cup Final to win the double; the first team to do so since Spurs. The scorer is the nineteen-year-old Ray Kennedy who later asks “Is it like this every year?”

Ray Kennedy’s football career nearly stopped before it had got properly started. Persuaded to sign for Port Vale by none less than Stanley Matthews he was rejected later for being too slow and clumsy. Returning to amateur football and becoming a prolific forward, he is spotted by Arsenal and signed up. Not yet fully established in the first team, Kennedy starts getting important goals including one in the Inter-City Fairs Cup against Anderlecht. His big break comes after Charlie George breaks his ankle in the first game of the 70-71 season and Kennedy becomes the striking partner of John Radford. They go on to form a very successful partnership in the double-winning side.

Arsenal’s form drops in the next two seasons and Kennedy suffers a loss of form and confidence. He is also fined for putting on two much weight. Speculation begins about him moving on and in July 1974 he is sold to Liverpool for £200,000. Many people are baffled at Arsenal’s decision to sell Kennedy to a big rival. John Radford goes on record as saying that this will be a big loss.

Kennedy’s signing is the last piece of business done by the out-going Liverpool manager Bill Shankly. Initially Kennedy’s performances as a forward are restricted because of the paring of John Toshack and Kevin Keegan. At this crossroads in his career the new manager Bob Paisley suggests to Kennedy that he plays on the left of midfield and this turns him into one of the most successful footballers of his era. In his time with Liverpool he wins five first division titles, a UEFA Cup and three European cups. He is now regarded as a Liverpool great.

Sadly, Kennedy’s performances as a professional footballer increasingly began to suffer from fatigue after games and slowed movement in an arm. There were some physical signs from as early as the early 70s and by the early 80s the effects were clearly observable. Kennedy was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in late 1984. His autobiography Ray of Hope describes the effects on his physical and mental health and his relationships. There is also a moving documentary of the same name available on YouTube. Included there is footage of a testimonial between Arsenal & Liverpool where former team-mates sing his praises.

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