RAYMOND GASTON

This week our regular series on Coleraine’s greatest players looks at Raymond Gaston, a prolific striker during his four separate spells at The Showgrounds

Raymond started his career at Coleraine, playing for the club’s youth and reserve teams, winning an Intermediate Cup winners medal with the latter in 1965. In February of that year he also made his debut for the first team. Regular centre forward Ken Halliday didn’t arrive in time for a match against Ards at The Showgrounds, so Gaston was given his chance and he didn’t disappoint, scoring as Coleraine won the game 2-1.

His form had attracted the attention of Wolverhampton Wanderers and he signed for them at the end of that season. But he never really settled in England and after a short while he returned to Coleraine, becoming a first team regular. By 1968 he was on top of his game and combining brilliantly with strike partner Jimmy O’Neill, he helped Coleraine win the Ulster Cup, scoring 13 goals in 11 matches, only one of which was lost, the other 10 ending in victory. In one particularly memorable performance, he scored twice as Coleraine won 2-1 at The Oval, never the happiest hunting ground for the Bannsiders.

His form for Coleraine earned him international recognition in September 1968 as he played for Northern Ireland in a 3-2 victory over Israel in Jaffa, coming on as a substitute for the great Derek Dougan. Once again he attracted interest from English clubs and at the end of the season he joined Oxford United, but again his stay didn’t last and by 1970 he was back playing for Coleraine again. His final spell at the Showgrounds was in the 1972/73 season, during which time his son, current Coleraine defender Paul was born.

He also had short spells with Ballymena and Finn Harps during his career, but Coleraine were always his team and in retirement he is still a regular at The Showgrounds.

Coleraine Record: 114 Appearances (plus 13 as a substitute) 63 Goals