OK, so you’re Ray Houghton. That don’t impress us much. So, you got the looks. But have you got the touch (still)? Don’t get us wrong – we think you’re alright. But can you still do it on an away day at Stalybridge on a cold winter’s night? And herein lies a valuable lesson about that fan-fuelled desire for a marquee signing when you’re a non-league side. A fella who’d turn in big performances at the peak of his career ain’t necessarily gonna do it on his way down.
That’s not to say it doesn’t happen. For us, we got some top mileage out of Steve Guppy and Brian Stein. Elsewhere, how can we ignore the fact that Woking and Clive Walker tortured us for more seasons than we care to remember. And Tony Daley had a decent swansong over at Forest Green Rovers. Equally, however, there are older professionals for whom lower leagues are unforgiving on tired limbs. And the result can be far from satisfying for all concerned.
Now, where does Ray Houghton fit into all of this?
Ray Houghton: Who Is He?
By the time we were coming to the end of the Millennium, Ray Houghton already had a long career behind him. The midfielder started as a not-so-happy Hammer in 1979; finding it hard to break into the first team after going pro. So, it’d be in 1982 – when Fulham calling – that it would start to fall into place for him. He firmly established himself as a decent performer in the middle of the park; earning more than 100 outings… and a 1985 move to Oxford United.
At the time, the Us had just won promotion to the top flight – and Houghton was seen as the man to help keep them in the division. And that’s what he did, while also pocketing a League Cup winner’s medal too. To add to his rising stock, international honours soon came his way. Though born in Glasgow, he qualified for Ireland. Overlooked by Scotland for the 1986 World Cup, Houghton would earn his first call-up when Jack Charlton took charge of Ireland.
Embed from Getty ImagesNow seen as an assured performer in midfield, Houghton again helped the Us survive in the top flight come the end of the 1986-7 campaign. The secret, if it was such, was now out. With the 1987-8 season getting started, Liverpool agreed to part with £825,000 for his services. In just three seasons at Anfield, he’d go on to become a league champion twice and an FA Cup winner to boot. In all, he’d spend five years with the Reds – and won another FA Cup in 1991.
You can already see that Houghton wasn’t averse to silverware as a player. He’d pick up yet more with his next club – Aston Villa – after joining them in 1992. Mind you, that was only a single League Cup. And there’d be few highlights after swapping Villa Park for Crystal Palace in 1997. In fact, the Eagles were relegated on his watch. But it’s hard to pin that one on him; he’d joined them in March 1995, with little time to turn around that oil tanker.
Oh, and what about that thing in 1994?
By the time Houghton had wound up at Villa Park, he was well-established in Jack Charlton’s Ireland side. He’d been out to Euro 88, where he scored the decisive goal in a famous victory over against England. Then came selection for the 1990 World Cup squad, in which Houghton again faced off against the nation in which he plyed his trade. A 1-1 draw there, however, was a footnote to Ireland’s progress through to a narrow quarter final defeat against Italy.
At the time, Charlton leaned heavily on lads who weren’t necessarily Irish – but had parents or grandparents who were. Houghton, thanks to his dad, was one of them.
Tony Cascarino, as an aside, was not.
Anyway, losing to the Italians in the 1990 World Cup stuck with Ireland. And it brings us onto what is perhaps the most iconic moment in Houghton’s career. Ireland were the only side to make it out to USA in 1994 from the islands they share with the four other British nations. In their group were a hotly tipped Italy side. But any idea Ireland would roll over for the Azzuri were binned by Houghton’s decisive, looping 11th-minute effort over Gianluca Pagliuca.
When did he sign and who from?
After just over two seasons at Crystal Palace, Houghton was starting to wind down his career. Reading would be his last club as a fully-fledged professional; joining the Royals in summer 1997 and spending a couple of seasons there. If you like little quirky facts, his first season at the club was their last at Elm Park. His second? Well, you can guess. It was their first at their new Madejski Stadium. Anyway, his time with the Royals ended in summer 1999.
It was from Reading that Houghton popped up at Broadhall Way. He turned out for us in pre-season, but didn’t actually sign on until October. What a piss-poor sense of timing that looks to be on paper too. By the time the first two months had elapsed of the 1999-00 campaign, a bright start by Boro’ – six wins from six – had started to peter out into mediocrity.
Did he play often?
The hope, we presume, is that Houghton’s experience would help stop the early signs of rot that had set. Sadly, this didn’t come to pass – though we’d stress that our ongoing problems were not of the veteran midfielder’s doing. In the end, he played five times for us; his career with us contained exclusively within the month of October 1999. His record? A draw (against Bath City in the FA Cup) and four losses (including the replay against Bath City in the FA Cup).
With his career on the download by this point, Houghton had understandably looked off the pitch to earn a wage. He’d started picking up media spots as a pundit and the like. We guess that would’ve been a factor in why he didn’t sign for us at the start of the 1999-00 campaign. Anyway, it was something that he couldn’t juggle with his Boro’ commitments. And we’re sure it paid better at the time too. So, with that, he decided his playing days were definitely over.
Where is Ray Houghton now?
You’ll still find Houghton treading the media boards if you know where to look. Usually, you want to direct your gaze across the Irish Sea; the ex-Liverpool midfielder contributing to the RTE coverage of various international tournaments from the 2010 World Cup through to Euro 2020. He’s also seen action with talkSPORT and LFC TV in the UK too. In addition, there was a stint (perhaps still ongoing) as a consultant to the Football Manager game.
Embed from Getty ImagesMany folk in Ireland will still recall his goal against England in 1988. If not, then fans on both sides of the Irish Sea will remember his winner against Italy in 1994. After all, it’s not like the Welsh, Scots, or English had any other interests in that World Cup. On the domestic front, it’s easy to see why Liverpool and Villa fans – for example – will look back on Houghton’s time as a player fondly. But what about us here at Boro’? How do we remember the midfielder?
Or do we even give his time in a Stevenage shirt a second thought?
With thanks as ever to stevenagefootballarchive.com.
Main Photo: Unknown (email for credit/removal)
