Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
140	140	0	34	10	0	122

An outstanding junior sprinter, Ray Cording was signed from the Featherstone junior team in May 1950 as one of the 'golden twins' [Keith Goulding, his centre, was the other], who had set the junior game alight with their exploits. With such a reputation, the Rovers had no hesitation in introducing him to senior football at home to Batley on 30 August 1950 at the tender age of eighteen. He soon opened his try-scoring account with his first at home to Barrow on 9 September. 

The confidence was repaid as Cording soon developed into a promising winger and he hit the headlines with spectacular tries which confirmed his undoubted talent. In March 1951, he was selected to play for England Under 21s v France, but he had to withdraw through injury. At Castleford on 17 March he 'took a blindside pass on his own 25 and beat man after man in a series of swerves and side-steps and then passed to Alan Tennant who had less than 10 yards to run and score'. In April he scored a great try at Dewsbury, 'using the touchline cleverly, he evaded Harry Street, Pollard and Thompson in a magnificent run',

Allied to his pace he had a deceptive long loping stride and a devastating side-step off either foot, similar in style to the great St Helens winger, Stan McCormick. In January 1952, however, the Rovers were in a dilemma because of injuries and it was decided to put Cording in the stand-off position, partnering young Ray Evans. The Rovers lost 6-2 at Hunslet, but the half-back combination had worked. A month later, the RL Challenge Cup commenced and the partnership was to prove an effective component in a Rovers team which shocked and amazed the RL world with victories over Wigan and Leigh to reach their first ever Wembley final.  Although defeated by Workington, the Rovers played their part in an entertaining game.  Evans and Cording were still the choice at the start of the 1952/53 season, but supporters were divided on which position Cording was best suited for. He performed well at stand-off, but did not have the acceleration associated with a number 6, whereas there was no doubt that his long striding style lent itself to the space afforded on the wing. In January 1953, he played his last game at stand-off and returned to the wing permanently.  Unfortunately, he then dislocated his shoulder scoring against Doncaster and was out for the rest of the season.

Another scintillating 80 yard effort at Bradford at the opening of the 1953/54 season showed he was back in business and endorsed with six tries in the opening five games. The try-scoring then petered out with only eight in that season and seven in 1954/55. This was disappointing, but there was still a buzz when he got the ball. However, a knee injury sustained at Bramley on 14 September 1955 effectively ended his career. He had a cartilage operation and attempted to resume training two years later, but it was to no avail, and a promising career had come to a most disappointing end for player and supporters alike.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey