City’s scouts spotted Ray playing for Redditch Town and he signed professional terms in November 1957, making his first-team debut a month later. A small but adaptable forward he came into the side when either Ray Straw or Peter Hill were injured. Ray twice scored braces in home games in a 2-2 draw with Brighton and a 2-1 win over Norwich but generally he struggled in a very poor side.

In the final game of the 1957-58 season he was one of three Hills in the forward line – he played centre-forward flanked by Peter and Brian. After three games early the following season he was back in the reserves and left the club in July 1959, signing for Rugby Town.