Swansea-born Ray John made nearly 150 league appearances for Exeter City between 1954 and 1958 contributing eighteen goals in the process. Signing from Barnsley, he later made around thirty league appearances for Oldham Athletic before moving to Margate. 

Ray signed for Tottenham Hotspur as a 17-year-old after impressing in a match between Tottenham Juniors and a South Wales XI on April 1 1950. Soon called up for National Service in the RAF, he was allowed to go on 'loan' to Wycombe Wanderers for two seasons. Not retained by Spurs at the end of his time in the RAF he was picked up by Barnsley where he was a reserve team regular.

Ray signed for Exeter City in July 1954 on a free transfer and made his debut for the Grecians against Norwich City at Carrow Road on 15 September of that year. Turning out in 26 league games (4 goals) in his first season, Ray really established himself in 1955/56 when he played 40 league matches scoring eight times.

Having requested a transfer in November 1955, he nevertheless remained at the club into 1956/57 when he was an ever-present scoring five league goals in the process. Thereafter Ray featured less-often - 26 league appearances in 1957/58 and just six in 1958/59 after asking for a transfer in October 1958.

Turning down a £1,250 move to Torquay United, Ray agreed to sign for Oldham Athletic in December 1958, where he was reunited with former Exeter boss Norman Dodgin in a part-exchange for Jimmy Thompson. Making 32 league outings for Oldham, scoring five goals, Ray later signed for Margate where he suffered a string of injuries before moving on to Sittingbourne.

Ray lived in Margate until his death in July 2009.